ALA Council I

This is the first of three formal meetings that occur with all ALA Council members. (There are Chapter Council members like me from each state, At-Large Council members who are voted in by ALA members, and Division and Round Table Council members.)There were reports from the ALA President, Leslie Burger, the upcoming President, Loriene Roy, and Keith Michael Fiels, the Executive Director of ALA. ( If you would like to see any of these reports before they get posted on ALA's website, you can contact me.) Nominations to the ALA Executive Board were announced and there is a forum to get to know the candidates. This is the first meeting where resolutions are introduced. Two resolutions were on the agenda, although discussion on these was postponed until Council II on Tuesday: "Resolution to Advocate Ending the Funding for the Iraq War" and "Resolution on Impeachment of President George W. Bush." Since both of these issues fall outside of library issues I will abstain from voting on these. It is frustrating to many council members that some of these non-library resolutions are introduced, but on the other hand, ALA prides itself on its democratic process, and it is very important that we "practice what we preach."

The president's main initiatives have included:

1. The "Emerging Leaders' Program." We have 3 librarians from Colorado, Dianne Fricke, from Colorado Springs, Nicole Van Thiel, and Heather Clark from BCR. There will be a continuation of this program next year.
2."ILoveLibraries.org" This is an in-progress online advocacy site to learn more about the great things that libraries do. They are trying to get this pushed out by National Legislative Day on May 1 and 2.
3. The "National Library Agenda." This is a broadly framed agenda that talks about our key action/interest areas. There is a draft document available at:
http://wikis.ala.org/nationallibraryagenda/images/f/f4/Discussion_Draft_MW_2007_final_1-11-07.pdf This tool will help shape ALA's advocacy initiatives, both at the national level as well as the local level.

The upcoming President, Loriene Roy, reported on the following:
1. She has been working with the "Committee on Committees" to find people to work with during her term.
2. She is doing work on "Workplace Wellness Initiatives."
3. Feasibility plan on a "National Library Camp."
4. Develop online parlimentary procedure.
5. Work on national database for practical experience for LIS students.

The Executive Director's report:
1. Great progress with Congress concerning the closing of the EPA libraries.
2. Three-phase plan for restructuring the ALA library site. There will be some market research done at ALA Annual. The new design will be implemented after the Annual Conference. The notion is not that the project will be finished, but will be the beginning of continual improvement. 3. New workshops on "Lawyers for Libraries."
4. Continued work on Advocacy.
5. Further distribution of the executive director's report will be done, e.g. Chapter Association personnel.