Thank you for keeping up with the ALA NMRT Councilor Blog during this Midwinter. I hope it was helpful in keeping you up to date on the happenings and an insiders view of the larger ALA.
If you feel this was a good use of my time as your Councilor, let me know!
My email address is Susan.Jennings@chattanoogastate.edu.
Thanks for your support! It’s a pleasure to represent you on Council.
Susan J
Filed under General Information
We are in the home stretch…last Council Session. Because it is a heavy, heavy agenda… we are starting earlier this morning.
After recognition of all those Memorial and Tribute resolutions (honoring the life and work of outstanding individuals) (they are not read but a moment held)…the election results for Executive Directors were announced. Executive Board Members elected were Sara Kelly Johns, James G. “Jim” Neal. Congrats to both!
Reports following. All passed with no problem…
Next Resolution: Membership Dues Proposal (from Executive Board)…
“Beginning in September 2013 and continuing annually through September 2017, personal member dues will be reviewed by the ALA Executive Board, which may approve a dues adjustment not to exceed the percentage change in the national average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest dollar. Any increase beyond the above provision proposed by the Executive Board will require approval by a vote of Council and a mail vote of ALA personal members.
This provision shall be formally evaluated by the Executive Board and Council in 2016 with input from ALA personal members. Any subsequent dues adjustment will require approval by a vote of the ALA Executive Board, Council and a mail vote of ALA personal members.”
Now.. debate… debate is including statements of support… but… still the idea of progressive due structure and worries about linking the membership dues to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) continues to come up.
The resolution passed…. now… the vote will come to YOU… watch your ballot. More information about this will come forward soon from me. I’ll try to post here.
Now… The resolution on Fossil Fuel: referred to BARC.
The Whistleblower resolution: referred to the Committee On Legislations and The Intellectual Freedom Committee.
Announcement of the petition candidates for Councilor at Large spots in the next election this spring.
Final tally for MW registration:
5519
1075 6694 total (500 more than last year)
4037
10731 total registrants
800 above Dallas 400 below San Diego.
On June 6th 3 – 4:30 CST — there will be an ALA Virtual Membership Meeting.
Meeting ADJOURNED! 😉
Filed under General Information
So we have been discussing the Membership Proposal for an hour (seems like 15! 😉
It’s finally over with the motion being referred to the Executive Committee to recraft the motion to include a evaluation process — This will be brought back to Council 3.
Now… on to Council 2 business …
Now hearing from the Council Orientation Committee… good tips for new Councilors. I was lucky as I had friends on Council that could advise me along the road during my first year.
Reports: FTR (The Freedom to Read Foundation) needs more members … please join as you are able.
10558 total registrants for ALA Midwinter – Seattle.
Announcements now. We are getting ready to transition to a Candidates forum.
S–
Filed under General Information
Hi tweeps and peeps:
Starting Council 2 (if you want to see pics, you can friend me on Facebook to see)…
Good energy in the room — great bunch of people!
First off: Getting the Treasurer’s Report now (more info)
Midwinter is becoming more and more of a “conversation” and less “business meetings only.”
Next.. we are talking about he ALA Programmatic Priorities (which I will add in later)… Council passed the programmatic priorities.
Council has approved bylaws changes recommended have been passed to “clean up” the bylaws and making it more accessible to members.
Now… we are informally discussing the ALA Membership Dues increase…. biggest things… worried about following the CPI… and that the membership will not vote on every increase (but left to the Executive Board). I’ve posted this question on FB if anyone would like to respond quickly… I’ll go ahead and post so that you all can respond.
Susan
Filed under General Information
Getting reports from The Executive Director and Treasurer’s Report.
Announcements:
No further announcements.
Short and Sweet!
Susan J
Filed under General Information
Well… at least I THINK it is. Wanted to report a quick minute on things done since last I blogged.
VERY well attended Council Forum at 8:30 local time last night. Council Forum is a place where folks/committees putting forth resolutions can get advice and sort of get the “feel” of whether their resolution (as presented) will pass a Council vote. It is a very informative time and one where Councilors can easily express their opinions. It lasts until usually 10 local time and then time for bed for some of us “old” folks! 😉
Last night’s Council Forum included discussions on several proposals… two of the most highly discussed (and probably most controversal) were… the proposal to tie ALA Membership dues to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and a resolution to urge ALA to divest its portfolio from Fossil Fuel companies.
We’ll see the results today when these proposals are presented… As always, I will be blogging semi-live so that you can keep up-to-date with happenings. At least I’m hoping someone is reading these updates! 😉
Susan
Filed under General Information
After a nice lunch with Tennessee Colleagues, I’m back at the Resolutions Table waiting for ALA resolutions to come in. Quiet afternoon so far… Next…. Vendor Meeting on behalf of my school…. and then the President’s Program from 3:30 – 5pm. Hoping that I’ll get a moment to visit the exhibits sometime during the conference….
Until later…
Susan
Filed under General Information
Good Morning Tweeps and Peeps…
And a cloudy, rainy morning from Seattle Sheraton Ballroom…
Council I is beginning… 8:40 am we are beginning the announcements and introductions of special guests.
Council activities are run fairly smoothly and operates by rules we adopt. Eli (Pronounced “Ellie”) Mina is the ALA Parliamentarian. We have minute “recommendations” but is not meant to stifle debate or limit us. There are microphones all around the room for speakers to address the body from the floor. Lights at the front of the room warn speakers when their time to speak is over.
I THINK there are about 180 or so councilors that represent divisions, roundtables, and members at large.
We are now discussing the election of 2 members to the ALA Executive Board. The Executive Board represents the ALA Council by advising the ALA Executive Director et al between meetings. It is a very important job. Candidates are Daniel A. Berdaner, Peter D. Hepburn, Sara Kelly Johns, and James G. Neal. We will know who is elected by council by the end of Midwinter.
Council 1 mostly seems to be reports of “catch up”… Councilors are informed about members nominated for Executive Board (see above), actions that the Executive Board have taken “in the meantime,” report from the Digital Content & Libraries Working Group,” (some of these things I will link out later once the approved recommendations are published on ALA.org).
Break and good chance for networking….
We broke up into small groups to discuss the future of ALA… aspirations and results we would like to see. My small group (made up of 3 academic librarians, one school librarian and one special librarian) thought of many ideas that others brought up across the room. Here are some of the VERY raw notes of what our group talked about:
Small Group
Aspirations for future of ALA:
Relevance of Membership: Benefits — More Librarians state and nation. Keeping ALA vital: concern: Number of people that are out there that aren’t members of a national association — or state organization —
Value added membership — making connections — on the local/state level
Making ALA THE Organization for people to look to for innovation –
Look to ALA for continuing professional development
Disseminate better information about the toolbox that ALA already has
Better communication so that people will use more things that ALA has — communication to improve use of existing resources — don’t reinvent the wheel.
Advocacy — telling others what libraries do and how librarianship has changed
Sent out to different states
Marketing Campaign: Mass media — marketing to the average joe — Effort to make public service announcements — Reach out to Vendor for their help.
ALA end up being major player in legislative process related to schools, education, literacy and related topics. –major interest groups
Grassroots advocacy as well as top down in making connections and advocating – support for both.
Important results that you want to see
Results:
School Librarian in Every School
Show change in profession
Public Libraries being a top priority in local governments
More collaboration among different types of libraries — supporting resource sharing — and showcase successful collaboration efforts
Straight Forward messages — target it directly — when legislative initiatives wwwwwwwq- talking —
Advocating when the time comes (being aware of when legislation is pending on a local, state and national level) — who is showing up and advocating —
Quit talking… start doing advocacy — go to meetings…. send emails, write leters, etc.
Identify possibilities for easy inroads — explore possible connections
*********
Announcements:
Registration:
MW 5519 advanced, 978 onsight = 6497 attendees. 3866 exhibitors = 10,363
Council Forum I will meet at 8:30 pm in the Sheraton – Isaqua Room (3rd floor) — Council Forum is a good place to informally talk about issues that will be brought before Council at the next Council meeting. Councilors use this opportunity to express their thoughts about issues, bring up concerns and give advice to those bringing forth resolutions before Council. No official actions of council will take place at this meeting but it’s a good way to discuss in a more informal “forum” way.
We adjourned Council I … breaking for 5 minutes or so until ALA/APA Council Convenes. See this link for definition. http://ala-apa.org/ All ALA Councilors also serve as ALA/APA councilors as well.
Until later….
Susan J
Filed under General Information
Part of my job as an American Library Association Councilor is to serve on committees. During my first year (and now, during my second year), I serve on the ALA Resolutions Committee. It is the job of the Resolutions Committee to vet resolutions by members of ALA to come before the Council at conference. We also give advice on resolutions to committees if they ask. So… we had a meeting today to make sure we were all on the same page for this conference. My colleagues and I will staff the Resolutions Committee table during this conference. My shift begins today after our Membership Meeting.
The Membership Meeting is a place where ALA members can come to hear about the work of the association. No actions are taken at this meeting but members will hear reports of what’s coming down the pike. The meeting is going on now if you want to attend (Grand Ballroom at the Sheraton).
Today, we will hear reports from The President, President-Elect and Executive Director (Maureen Sullivan, Barbara Stripling, and Keith Michael Fiels). We will also have reports by the Budget Analysis and Review Committee (BARC), ALA Treasurer’s Report, Endowment Trustees Report, ALA Nominating Committee report… followed by announcements. The Membership meeting will kick off the work that the association will do in the next few days (and our strategic directions).
More a little later!
Stay tuned!
Susan J
Filed under General Information
Hi all:
Just wrapping up the NMRT Executive Board meeting… we have been discussion what is going on at the Association Level (talking points to follow below), approved a preliminary NMRT budget (to be finalized this summer), discussed the future of NMRT Scholarship and Professional Grant funding, the upcoming discussion at ALA Council on ALA Membership Dues increase proposal, and promoting NMRT to potential and current members.
Thanks to our Executive Board liaison, Kevin Reynolds, here are some of the highlights of what has been going on in ALA:
1/18/12
Board Talking Points
Midwinter 2013
Midwinter update
•
Advance registration as of Friday January 88 was 5519 compared (at 1 week out) to 4823 for Dallas (2012) and 5180 for San Diego (2011).
•
110 have registered for the “day of service” event. This event was proposed in Think Tank (Facebook), picked up and organized and marketed by members across the country, with Seattle-area coordination by Councilor Ann Crewdson.
•
Inspired by the new OLOS toolkit on services to the homeless, members will be volunteering at Seattle homeless shelters.
School Libraries
•
Increasing support for school libraries is a top Association advocacy priority. Between local budget cuts and the anticipated reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the urgency has never been greater.
•
A Task Force on School Libraries, with membership from most of the divisions, is currently working on plans for a campaign to increase public awareness of the value of school libraries
•
Target audiences include parents and community members, educators and superintendants and national policy makers and elected officials.
•
At annual conference, 28,000 ALA members signed an online petition to the white house in support of school libraries. This shows the power of ALA members when we all work together.
•
Stay tuned for more information as the campaign gets underway this spring.
Dues Proposal
•
The Membership Committee has proposed that the ALA dues be tied to the consumer price index, with an annual review and approval by the ALA Executive Board.
•
Both PLA and ACRL membership have adopted similar models within the last couple of years.
•
The ALA dues proposal would result in small increases, which would take the place of larger increases, which has been the approach up till now.
•
With an average CPI increase of 2-2 1/2 percent a year, this would translate into $2-3 per year on average for a regular member, and perhaps a $1 increase for students, retired, unemployed, etc.
•
These small increases would minimize the effect on members, while allowing the Association to maintain its efforts in areas such as advocacy, intellectual freedom, research, diversity and other programs.
•
Any other increases beyond these CPI increases would have to be approved by the membership, as is currently the case.
•
This proposal will be discussed by the ALA Council on Monday at Council II, and if approved, will be placed on the 2013 ballot.
•
The last ALA dues increase was six years ago.
Digital Content Working Group
•
The DCWG has been very busy since the 2012 Annual Conference, working closely with ALA leadership and many units.
•
Two reports have been released: Ebook Business Models for Public Libraries and a correspondingScorecard, which provides framework for evaluating and comparing different business models
•
ALA has taken a more assertive position – PresidentMaureen Sullivan’s public statement protesting against Hachette’s price increase and the open letter to publishers that criticizes the inability to purchase some ebooks
•
ALA delegations have met with publishers, theAssociation of American Publishers, and the Association of Authors’ Representatives. Meetingshave involved educating and advocating for library interests and laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
•
ALA released a communications advocacy toolkit in November, which provides practical support for librarians to get op-eds or articles in their local newspaper and engage in other advocacy at the local level
•
A new Ebooks & Digital Content portal has been created on the ALA Transforming Libraries website
•
In 2013, the DCWG we will continue current effortswith publishers, but will also tackle other issues, such as self-publishing, publishers other than the Big Six, school libraries, accessibility and privacy. Work is underway in Seattle on specific priorities for 2013.
•
The group has heard from many ALA members and really appreciates the feedback and support.
Community Engagement Initiative
•
All around us, libraries of all types are discovering that as libraries look outward, they can make a dramatic difference in their communities.
•
Libraries that more actively engage with their communities discover new and innovative services, increase their relevance, and build deeper community support.
•
Last September, we announced the launch of a new national initiative called The Promise of LibrariesTransforming Communities, a ground breaking partnership between ALA and the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation.
•
Launched as a Presidential initiative and nowsupported through a grant from IMLS, the initiative’s goal is to provide thousands of libraries of all types with the tools and training they need to lead community engagement and innovation.
•
Supporting the transformation of libraries is a strategic priority of the Association, and the transformation of the relationship of libraries to their communities is a key component of this process.
•
Over the course of the next six months, we will be creating and sharing programs, webinars, tools and other resources that will allow every library to begin using community engagement in their local communities. Our longer term goal is to see thousands of libraries if all types using tested tools and techniques to increase their relevance and impact.
•
A series of conversations at Midwinter are the next step. A number of conversations and presentations at Midwinter will introduce participants to the Harwood and other community engagement models.
•
At the same time, ALA has already begun to work on using the Harwood practices to transform the Association. Beginning at Midwinter, we will be undertaking a series of community conversations within the Association and the many “communities” that we represent. The goal of this effort will be innovation and the transformation of how we work and relate to each other as an Association.
•
We hope you will become part of this initiative, and will be sharing information with you on a regular basisgoing forward.
New Diversity/OLOS Director
•
Michelle Harrell Washington will be joining ALA as the new Director of the Office for Diversity (OFD) and Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS).
•
Michelle is coming to ALA from the Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries, has served as the Multicultural Services Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.
•
Michelle will be here at the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle. We hope that you’ll welcome her to ALA!
15 by 15 Planned Giving Campaign
•
The goal of the 15X15 Campaign is $15 million in planned gifts by 2015
•
Since the launch of the campaign in June 2012, 10 people have joined the Legacy Society, bringing the total number of Legacy Society members to 37.
•
To date, more than $3.09 million in gifts have beenpledged
.
•
Planned giving is a great way to leave a permanent legacy by supporting programs that you care about.
•
Gifts may be designated for ALA, divisions, round tables, offices or specific programs and projects. It’s a great way to make a permanent impact on the Association, libraries and the people we serve!
•
For more information, visit the ALA web site or callALA Development Director Kim Olsen Clark.
***********************************************************
Off to the Ebsco Luncheon…. more to follow.
Best,
Susan J
Filed under General Information
ALA NMRT Councilor Susan L. Jennings, 2012-2014 