ALA Annual – Chicago 2009

I am making the last of my preparations to attend ALA Chicago.  The programs look terrific.  The challenge for people attending will be trying to pick programs that are scheduled at the same time!   If you are attending ALA, don’t forget the unbelievable exhibits.  The opening of the exhibits is Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.

I also wanted to take this time to thank everyone that I met or worked with during my president-elect year.  It has been a great year, and I look forward to a greater year serving as ALA President.  Many thanks to the PRL Working Group and its co-chairs, Patty Wong and Julie Todaro.  They have been working diligently on the various aspects of my presidential initiative. Plans are to have their worked rolled out this fall.

I had the opportunity to travel to various conferences and meet ALA members in their home states.   Folks everywhere have been absolutely gracious and hospitable.

It is my intention to keep this blog more updated sharing my thoughts while traveling representing ALA and ALA members.  Stay tuned….

Working the Hill — Library Legislative Advocacy

I just arrived home last night from a day on the Washington D.C. hill. It was great meeting with other Colorado delegates and visiting the offices of our various Colorado legislators. Although we met with various staff members, these trips are well worth the trouble.  Here are some highlights…..

We were really pushing for LSTA funding that includes improving literacy through school libraries and asking each legislator to sign on to the letter from several of their fellow congressmen in support of the additional appropriation for LSTA. What was interesting is that several of the legislators’ staff members thought that we were asking for earmarks. And, the mood has definitely changed on the Hill. Earmarks are “out!” We explained that the LSTA request dealt with  part of the appropriations bill and was not a request for earmarks — that is, it was additional funds to be added to the appropriations bill. Our delegation couldn’t figure out why they didn’t “get it.” All I can figure out is that, in this new administration, there is a big backlash against earmarks. Boy, I’d like to take bets to see how long that philosophy lasts!  

Because we didn’t seem to get the point across (and because I think sometimes staff think that the constituents really don’t know what we are talking about….), we asked the ALA Washington Office to contact both staff members of the two offices to explain to them clearly that the LSTA funds we were asking for were definitely now earmarks. Sometimes it takes one Washingtonian talking to the other to get the point across.  At the time of this posting, Senator Mark Udall agreed to sign onto the letter.

We also spoke about the reauthorization of the Patriot Act and asked for reform to Section 218.  This was the section that ALA and other associations took issue with.  We explained that we support national security and terrorist prevention but that we believed there had to be a balance between that and our user’s right to privacy and First Amendment rights.  That is, that any request to search library records should first go through some kind of judicial review(search warrant) and that the person whose information was requested should also be informed of this request.   These checks and balances are necessary to make sure that our users’ constitutional rights are not violated.   Stay tune on that issue…..

Additionally, we spoke against H.R. 801 which is a bill that would amend copyright law and disallow the National Institute of Health (NIH) from providing access over the Internet after a 12-month embargo to NIH research supported  by our tax dollars .  This research is critical to medical professionals and hospital staff  in small towns and rural areas who do not have access to medical libraries/librarians who can find the information for them.  Access to this research at one’s fingertips equalizes this access between the haves and the have nots.

These are just some highlights of what we shared with our legislators and their staff.  Even though there are different interests who visit this offices on a daily basis while Congress is in session, I appreciate the fact that librarians also are active advocates and sit at the table (or stand in the hallways) with these folks.   They remember us (librarians) from year to year.

Advocacy should not be underestimated and establishing a relationship with our legislators and their staff is an important part of what ALA members should be doing whether in person or virtually.  Get engaged in advocacy next legislative session.  The ALA Washington Office through its District Dispatch

http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/

is always sending notices to contact your legislators and provide you with the information you need to share with your legislators.  Sign up for the Dispatch, please.  You do not have to take the trip to “the Hill” to do this!

My Heart Gets Heavier….

This past weekend an icon within our profession, Judith Krug, passed away from a battle with cancer. Judith’s name was synonymous with intellectual freedom. As one mutual friend who is also champion of intellectual freedom wrote:

“I feel like a part of me is gone never to return. She was my inspiration, my dear friend, and impetus to do much of what I did in the area of intellectual freedom. She was always there when I needed prodding and had questions……..She pushed me when I would become discouraged, always with a smile…….I will forever be thankful for her helping me to build my philosophy of professionalism and First Amendment rights. She was indeed a godsend to the library world and to me personally. I sincerely mourn with her family in the loss of a fantastic lady.”

As the director of ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, Judith had many protégés. She commanded the respect of friends and foes alike when it came to fighting for our First Amendment rights.

I remember the day that I called Judith while I was library dean at Colorado State University. This was before the passing of the Patriot Act; and a law enforcement officer was demanding some ILL records without the appropriate search warrant. I called her after our university counsel advise me that we give the officer what he requested. Judith was not only patient and understanding, but she was also very supportive and walked me through the process to consider. Which I did!

I think there are probably hundreds of stories like mine. She will be sorely missed. However, I have all the faith in the ALA Intellectual Freedom staff to continue Judith’s fight for First Amendment rights.

Goodbye, great colleague….

Understanding the Millennials

Greetings!
I just arrived back from the ACRL (Association for College and Research Libraries) National Conference in Seattle. Like the Reforma National Conference this past fall, it was a marvelous conference because it focuses specifically on programs and events that assist academic librarians and other library staff in their professional development.

The speakers were very good. I focused my attention on programs particularly dealing with the Millennials/Next Gen folks. It’s important for ALA leaders to understand this group of young librarians (birth years – approximately 1979-1994 and around ages 15-30) and to think about how we can engage them in ALA and prepare them to be our future association leaders.

I attended a breakfast where Richard Sweeney talked about the Milennials. This was the second time I had attended Richard’s session. And, I learned new information from Richard’s second session. Besides sharing the characteristics of this generation, he also talked about how the Millennials describe the library of the future.

The second session I attended was that of Dr. Lynn Connaway, an invited speaker for the conference. Lynn is a senior research associate for OCLC and spoke on how academic librarians need to explore new opportunities for extending current services that would engage the Millennials. She and her colleague’s research focused on virtual reference services and millennial users and non-users.

Both speakers confirm my resolve to continue to reach out more to our millennial association members. After attending the two sessions, I also hosted a luncheon of three millennials (of which two were MLS students and 2 were less than 4 years in the profession) and a Generation Xer. I just sat back and mostly listened to their conversation. These folks are excited about coming into the profession; and it is important to harness that excitement and respond favorably to their professional needs from an association point of view.

How we approach the Millennial librarians/staff for professional and leadership development needs to be seriously considered. We have a generation that thinks differently than the Baby Boomers; responds differently; and communicates differently. We need to be aware of those differences (and their interests) and develop programs to fit their needs. This is no different than what we do in our libraries to determine what our users want and how we deliver those services to make our libraries relevant to those users.

It’s With a Heavy Heart

The message below is a message I drafted on Wednesday but didn’t post because we could not release the names of the two ALA colleagues who lost their lives here in Denver.  I have revised the original message now to add the names .…

I am just winding down seven days at ALA’s Midwinter Conference here in Denver today. I was sitting in the ALA executive board meeting when it was announced that a colleague of ours, Kate McClelland and her successor, Kathy Krasniezwicz, was killed on their way to the Denver airport to return to Connecticut. I keep seeing Kate’s face, her cheery smile, and her darling haircut. I can’t believe she is gone….

We both were in the same cohort of president-elects within ALA. She was the president-elect of ALSC and I, the president-elect of ALA. I remember how encouraging she was. I had hosted her and other ALSC folks for a meeting to talk about a youth services initiative I wanted to do. She then sat at the table for a luncheon I hosted the next day. We laughed about our impending inauguration in July. She kept referring to our “big girls’ prom.”

I hadn’t known Kate for very long like her ALSC friends knew her. But I so related to her — we had similar sassy hair styles; loved funky clothes; and we were short and spunky!

It is with a heavy heart that I and others say goodbye to Kate and her colleague, Kathy. Heaven now has a spunky librarian already planning programs for the children who preceded her…..  Kathy will be serving side-by-side with Kate.

I want her family to know that she was always upbeat and so committed to children’s services even in her recent retirement. She still had so much to offer our library profession. What a loss….

I didn’t know Kathy like I knew Kate.  But, I can honestly say that any librarian devoted to children’s services has a place in heaven.  My sympathy goes out to Kathy’s husband and children.

You Go, Philly! Advocacy At Its Best!

Talk about advocacy — have you folks read/heard what is going on in Philadelphia? It appears in his infinite wisdom, the mayor proposed closing 11 branch libraries [see citations below]. Advocates for the library have sued the city saying that it is violating a 1988 ordinance that states that these closures of publicly-owned buildings cannot occur without the approval of the Philly city council.

It appears that the first level of justice agreed — Justice Heidi Fox ruled in favor of the library advocates. Good for her!

There are key phrases that have come from this experience (and we know “it ain’t over yet”) — phrases such as “library branches are essential to the fabric of our community;” “libraries (branch) are  ‘vital components’ of each neighborhood.”  However, the mayor has also introduced some new phrases for libraries from city government –  “knowledge centers; “community-based learning centers.”  Doesn’t matter what he calls them, they are still libraries with library employees providing access to information that help the “community” with new knowledge; and libraries have always been “community-based learning centers.”  Call it what you like — if it looks like a library, works like a library….. it’s a library.  The mayor’s phrases sound like the beginning of justification for cutting libraries in his city.

As our economy keeps tanking, there are going to be more of these measures introduced by city administrators, school administrators, and high education administrators. And, now more than ever, ALA and its members are going to have to fight these measures and turn the spigot of advocacy on much stronger.

We need to become more proactive — and by that I mean, we need to be prepared to fight this fight. Let’s not wait until it happens to us. There are different ways to prepare:

• Sign up for ALA’s Advocacy Institutes whenever you see one being offered; and/or
• Sign up for any library advocacy workshop that might be provided as your state conferences; and/or
• Keep tabs on the Advocacy Initiative that will be forthcoming in my ALA presidency as we develop that Initiative to focus on grassroots/frontline/member-driven advocacy training. This Initiative will also concentrate on advocacy for literacy which is tied to helping our “communities” become a more literate and well-informed society that can rally behind the value of libraries and library personnel.

One of the most effective advocates for the Philly library branches was a a 14-year old student who has been using her branch library since she was in kindergarten! She stated that if it wasn’t for the library, she wouldn’t have access to a computer or printer. This is the best example of how literacy and advocacy work effectively together. The student who developed her literacy skills — reading and techno literacy — at her branch library (and probably school library also) has turned around and used advocacy hopefully to keep hers and other branches opened.

If she can advocate, so can frontline/grassroots library personnel. I keep talking and writing about that vast amount of human resources – ALA members – that need to be tapped and trained to be successful advocates for their respective libraries and for themselves as library employees who make a difference in people’s lives!

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/36428979.html

http://www.kyw1060.com/For-Now--All-Phila--Library-Branches-to-Stay-Open/3577021

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2008/12/30/us/AP-Philadelphia-Libraries.html?emc=eta1

Libraries: Information Access, Social Justice, and Socializing Information

I just returned from the Guadalajara International Book Fair and the Colloquium for Academic Librarians sponsored by the University of Guadalajara. This was my second time to both events.

I am writing today to let you know that “we are not alone.” But, more specific, we may be more ahead than other countries relative to libraries and equal access to our residents.

At the Colloquium, I attended a session entitled The International Politics of Information and Its Social Impact where four speakers from various Latin American countries, Spain, and the U.S. (Jim Rettig) spoke. I was intriqued by Jose Raul Vaquero Pulido from Spain (presidente@documentalistas.org). There are two points I want to share with you about his talk:

First, in Spain, the librarians have been struggling with the social issue of government corruption which, when talking with a librarian colleague of mine from Mexico, is also an issue in Mexico. Pulido emphasized that an informed populace contributes to maintaining a strong democracy. By that I mean, just getting the information/ knowledge out to the Spanish citizens is critical so that they are able to identify and fight corruption . He talked about socializing information which is the basis of our ALA core values — information should be free and accessible to everyone. He also maintained that libraries must facilitate equal access to information for everyone.

I know here in the U.S., we should be grateful not only for our professional values but also for our progress in this area. Nonetheless, I was struck with how government corruption was such an issue and how an informed Spanish populace could fight that corruption if they had more access to information. He referred to it as “Information for Citizen Change.”

Mr. Pulido acknowledged that there needs to be a balance between the right to access information and the right to privacy (sound familiar?). One of the proposals he made was for the need to change how information was managed in Spain to allow more access.

The second point of his talk was mentioning that the Spanish governments (local and national) value information and knowledge, but they don’t value librarians. This struck a chord with me because of my advocacy initiative during my presidency will be about preparing ALA grassroots members to articulate and advocate for the value of libraries and librarians/library staff. (http://camilaalire.com/iniatives.html)

This is more basic than advocating for certain legislation; this is about advocating for the core of who we are (library workers) and what we do (provide free and equal access to information thru libraries) to protect and improve our democratic society. It is about continuing to “socialize information” so that all of our residents have the opportunity to access information and to use that information to help maintain our democracy.

Libraries are core to our democracy. And if our libraries around this country start closing, we begin to jeopardize that democracy because we are restricting free and equal access to information. So we may not be at the point that our colleagues in Spain and Mexico are relative to fighting government corruption through access to information, but we definitely cannot let our guard down and do nothing to maintain what we have. We must continue to enlist and prepare more ALA members to advocate for the value of our libraries and of ourselves as library employees! To do so will keep our libraries open and, in the long run, help protect our democracy.

Si, se puede! (Yes, we can!) – Part 2

Si, se puede! The voters of Jamesburg, New Jersey, have proven that. They defeated a ballot measure that would have turned over the control of the entire operation of the Jamesburg Public Library. This after the borough council had originally proposed the closure of the entire library.

Yes, we can! The Jamesburg Library Board of Trustees and library friends mounted an advocacy campaign to defeat the measure. It can’t get anymore grassroots than that. As the board president, Carol Hetzell, stated: “Here we are in an economic crisis and you want to take out a place where people come to do resumes, to look on joblines, where they don’t have to travel to by car. I’m a taxpayer. I know money’s tight, but this is senseless.”

Now just imagine what it would be like if we could empower and prepare ALA grassroots members to articulate their value and the value of the library(ies) in which they work with people in their communities! That is what my grassroots, member-driven initiative is all about (see Site Map at top right, click on “Initiatives”).

It IS true that there is power in the people. There is such an unleashed member power potential within ALA; and, you know who you are. When the Initiative Workgroups rollout their work to engage the members of ALA, be one of those persons! I will keep you posted via this blog.

Si, se puede! (Yes, we can!) ……. Our future is in our own hands.

CAMILA

Si, se puede! (Yes, we can!)

Si, se puede!” (Yes, we can!) was the rallying cry of the Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers for many years. It still is. This is a cry of hope and of action! I remember farm workers carrying Chavez in a cot every night, who was fasting in support of the plight of farm workers. This nightly rally in Phoenix was held for all of the volunteers from all over the country working to register voters in the greater Phoenix area. I remember Ted Kennedy and Coretta Scott King coming to the rallies in support of the efffort.

And, now, we have a president-elect who successfully used that rallying cry in his campaign and his acceptance speech last night – YES, WE CAN!

Today I woke up with mixed feelings. I went to bed with the “Yes, we can” rallying cry coming from over 100,000 folks in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. I woke up this morning to find that in that same state, all 10 library-related referendums failed. (I must also admit that in my own county, Douglas County, the library referendum failed again.)

There is some good news — The library-related referendums passed in Fulton County (GA), New Mexico (first time for tribal libraries), Clackamas County (OR), Walpole, Brockton (MA), Fairfield County (PA). These are the ones we have heard of so far.

Yes, we can – This should also be our rallying cry.

• Yes, we can – provide the information necessary for our users to make informed decisions affecting their daily lives — employment, education, recreation, lifelong learning, and literacy.
• Yes, we can – advocate the value of all our libraries, no matter the type.
• Yes, we can – advocate the value of all librarians and library staff.
• Yes, we can – advocate for all types of literacy because a literate populace is an informed populace.
• Yes, we can – have an affect on our democracy.
• Yes, we can — enlist all levels of ALA membership to use various types of technology to get the word out about libraries!

President-elect Obama’s campaign will be my model for ALA. It was so successful because he enlisted the grassroots of this country to get involved and vote. His success was not only enlisting young voters but also getting them to vote! The timing is just right for us in ALA.

My initiative is to have more of an impact on our communities (however we define our communities) through member-driven (aka grassroots) advocacy for libraries and library personnel.

• Imagine this — preparing any front line librarian and library staff member to talk about the impact (value) libraries have on the lives of their neighbors, friends, and relatives.
• Imagine this — having these same library employees articulate this value at the same time that library administrators are doing the same with decision-makers/legislators.
• Imagine this — presenting a united front where the same mantra of value is repeated to many different audiences such that people are willing to support ($$$) their libraries — public, academic, and school.

Only then can we be successful in informing our populace that libraries can make a difference in their lives! It can’t be and shouldn’t be just the work of library administrators. We have a vast human resource of ALA members who can get involved at the grassroots level. Think about the Obama machine’s success - Yes, we can! (Si, se puede!) rallying grassroots ALA members to get involved. We have a national model to follow!

To prepare ALA grassroots members to get involved, I have formed two groups of ALA members to develop an advocacy program (that includes advocacy for all types of literacy) that is not necessarily tied to one’s ability to attend conferences; that empowers ALA members to get involved with the tools necessary to do so; that utilizes the latest technology and social networking techniques to engage our young librarians; and that ultimately makes a difference in people’s lives.

Si, se puede!

CAMILA – Pumped in Colorado!!!

….on the streets of El Paso

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend and participate at the Reforma National Conference III in El Paso, Texas. It was a wonderful venue to hear folks present on issues relative to libraries serving the Latino and Spanish-speaker users; reaching out to the Latino community of library non-users; and other topics that would help attendees do a better job of serving this growing population in our country.

Besides attending programs and presenting programs, I was able to spend time with longtime Reforma friends and meet new friends. And, the fiesta that culminated the conference — a delicious banquet and dancing (!) until midnight to a wonderful band — was so much fun! If that wasn’t enough, I am reminded of my college days when we ended any party with a good bowl of menudo…only this time, we got back on the streets of El Paso on a quest for a delicious bowl on menudo. And, El Paso did not let us down on that point either.

But, back to my original purpose here. ALA is a strong proponent of these specialized national conferences offered by its divisions and affiliates. I plan to attend the ACRL National conference and the AASL national conference next year. I attended my second PLA conference this past last spring.

The beauty of these conferences is that you have the time to attend programs rather than run from meeting to meeting. If you are unable to attend ALA’s Annual conference, please consider attending these conferences. They are tailored to the interest of library staff who represent that specialized area. If you are able to attend both, even better.

You can check on the ALA website to find out the schedule of these various upcoming conferences.

CAMILA