The Short, Sweet and Surreal ALA Council II Session

I'm not going to give one person all the credit or blame, but the ALA Council sessions in 2023 just seem to have a different vibe. There is laughter where there were once tension, and the mundane got a breath of fresh air almost right from the start as we tested our voting links with the mock resolution "ALA endorses the Chicago Bears as the Optimal football team." Then after an amused pause, Lessa stating that there's no way this was being opened up for debate because we will run over time, to which laughter broke out. It's true we would have been there forever, especially after the final vote was 26 yes, 89 no, and 18 abstain. Sorry Bears, but now it's onto business.

The Committee on Organization, after updating everyone on what COO has been doing, brought forth two resolutions. The first being to change the conference committee to adjust the programming jury so they have more time to review the slate of programs for each ALA conference and that deadlines are more aligned with various round tables and affiliate group meetings. The second is to modify the name, charge and composition of the Council Orientation Committee. Since the pandemic has opened up more online services, their initial charge of conducting a program introducing new or returning (coming in for a new term) councilors to ALA Governance procedures has been expanded to everyone. The increased education and training opportunities prompted them to make an adjustment to the Council Training & Engagement Committee. There was no discussion, which when this group doesn't debate something you know it's a sure thing. Both resolutions received unanimous approval.

The Policy Monitoring Committee moved to amend the ALA Policy Manual's Core Competencies of Librarianship, based on prompts to review during LibLearn X, when the competencies were insisting on an MLS/MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution, which is not a requirement for many school librarians. There was also a motion to insert into the ALA Policy Manual a statement that ALA will provide virtual access to all ALA membership meetings, making them all officially hybrid. Both were met with unanimous approval.

The co-chairs of the Core Values Taskforce shared that they have been working for nearly 2 years to find out what values librarians hold most important, trying to get as much feedback as possible. They concluding an update with a request for an extension until LibLearn X in January 2024 to determine the best recommendations in defining the core values of librarianship and ALA. The motion was unanimously approved.

A resolution on guaranteeing virtual participation in ALA governance was amended to replace "may be held virtually" to "shall be held virtually." The motion was referred to the Bylaws Committee but I want to take a minute to what this would mean. If approved, it would include full virtual and hybrid participation from now on. There were questions about the requirements for attendance and registration (people know how unhappy I am at the astronomical price for virtual participation). We have proven we can still have our meetings virtually and in hybrid situations, so hopefully the recommendation from the Bylaws committee doesn't take a year because it would be great if a councilor who wanted to keep up their ALA responsibilities but didn't have the means to attend in person didn't have to pay full price when they're just going to meetings. There's a lot of things to consider, but surely a compromise can be met.

The last action item of the day was a resolution Condemning Discrimination against Library Workers and Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community. ALA Councilor Erin Berman shared that in 2022 alone, over 2200 reports were made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for LGBTQ+ based sex discrimination. And this year so far there have been 520 anti LGBTQ+ laws introduced across the US. Though it's been a year since the ALA Executive Board officially condemned the threats, violence and other acts of intimidation taking place in libraries, the resolution asks ALA to put forth a public statement condemning the wrongful termination of library workers and all efforts to discriminate against library workers. There's also a clause to create a task force to determine a strategy for addressing & tracking retaliatory employment.

I am glad to have this brought forth (and approved with a resounding yes), especially as just yesterday a GOP chairman in my area wrote a letter to the editor adamantly challenging our public library's pride display, making false claims that people are no longer comfortable sending their kids to the library and that "people who want to protect children aren't welcome." It bothers me that someone who holds such a position would spin this narrative. Just like we have to fight for representation, we need to fight for our library workers, especially when those dare to insinuate that children are at risk. But I'll get off my soapbox and back to the meeting.

A report for the day showed that the number of registrants was still increasing, with a total of 15,706 (9,394 paid). Then I didn't know what to do with myself as the second Council meeting ended 90 minutes ahead of schedule. 90 minutes where I was brought in during uncertain times. Uncertain when I was going to get off my computer because people wouldn't stop talking.