More Information on Annual Conference

Martin Garnar, incoming CAL President, and I attended several meetings together on Chapter Relations. Our own Joel Robinson, from Marmot in Grand Junction, has been working with Flo Brown for over 20 years on the orientation session for Chapter Leaders like our present Beth Wrenn-Estes and our incoming Martin Garnar. Martin and I came away with a lot of ideas of how CAL can partner effectively with ALA and take advantage of all the work they are focusing on Chapters. First couple things to remember is the Advocacy Institute coming as a pre-conference to CAL and the Lawyers for Libraries, which Martin organized. More information will be forthcoming.

Here's some additional information posted on the ALA Council listserv by Jim Casey, fellow ALA Councilor.

Among the many legislative initiatives highlighted at the conference were "two bi-partisan bills that would enhance important open government laws, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Presidential Records Act and whistleblower protections. --- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Amendments of 2007 HR 1309 introduced by Rep. Clay (D-MO) with two co-sponsors, includes reforms to reduce backlogs and delays in responding to FOIA requests; provides incentives for agency compliance; and in general, strengthens FOIA. (Passed 308-117). The OPEN Government Act of 2007 (S. 849), introduced by Sen. Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) with nine co-sponsors, is similar to HR 1309 and was reported out of the Judiciary Committee in April 2007.

Librarians wishing to keep up to date on the latest issues before Congress should note the following sites: http://www.ala.org/washoff for ALA Washington Office. http://www.ala.org/ogr ALA Office of Government Relations. http://www.ala.org/oitp. For the Legislative Action Center updates and to learn how to help ALAWO http://www.capwiz.com/ala For copyright updates: http://www.ala.org/copyright

ALA MEMBERSHIP MEETING I: ALA Councilor Steven Matthews and ALA Past President Michael Gorman spoke with great skill in defense of their respective positions in a discussion of “Should ALA take stands on ‘non-library’ issues.” Both the featured speakers and those who addressed the issue from the floor were cogent and insightful. The issue wasn’t resolved, but was given a very respectable presentation by all parties concerned. -- Surprisingly, no resolutions were presented from the floor despite the fact that a full quorum was present. The Resolutions Committee was available and ready to act, but the meeting remained quiet and uneventful. The attendance was 235 and by any measures a very successful venture. Councilor Larry Romans and his Membership Meeting Committee did an excellent job of planning for this Conference."

There were several thought-provoking speakers at conference including former Senator Bill Bradley, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Closing session of conference featured Garrison Keillor. "Despite its early time at 8 AM to 9 PM on Tuesday, June 26, 2007, hundreds of Conference attendees waited in long lines to hear a 45 minute talk by author, humorist and radio personality Garrison Keillor. Mr. Keillor reflected upon his early years and how he had come to view the Library as a refuge from a world that he sometimes found to be alternately ridiculous and oppressive. His admiration for the work of libraries and librarians came out amid the often hilarious remarks and depictions. Our huge audience seemed to enjoy every morsel of his remarkable monologue. A portion of his remarks was published
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/06/27/keillor/ ."

I want to thank the Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) for giving me the opportunity to represent Colorado at ALA. It is a privilege and honor.