2006 straw poll results
These are unscientific polls that reflect the opinions of only those AL Direct readers who have chosen to participate.
Contents
September 27
Should community members serve on public library materials-selection committees to ensure that local standards are considered for acquisitions?
YES..........21%
NO...........79%
Number of responses.....178
Sample comments:
Positive responses often reflected an inclusive approach that might ultimately avoid challenges:
- “Perhaps ‘It depends on the community’ should be added here. If the community has a tradition of being engaged in library or other agencies’ work, it’s a natural, but may take some build-up otherwise.”
- “New-in-town staff members involved in book selection may have great need of their input. Concerned members of the community will accept the library’s choices with less fuss if some of their peers are on the committee. It’s probably worth any possible drawbacks.”
- “Absolutely. It’s the public’s library, paid for via their taxes. Interested and representative members of the public ought to be involved in the process at the front end. This is a proactive approach. Hopefully it helps staunch some of the negative press we get when we (necessarily) must reject calls for banning or withdrawal of material some find objectionable.”
- “Although I voted yes, my professional staff disagree with me and do not want to invite community members into the selection process because they believe it compromises their professional role and responsibilities.”
Negative responses were concerned that community input would result in delays and collection-development restrictions:
- “The responsibility for materials selection rightfully belongs to professional librarians and subject specialists who have both the training and experience in their field. Input from community members should always be welcome and given serious consideration from library selectors.”
- “Community members on selection committees could delay ordering and would be more likely than professional librarians to bring their own preferences to the selection process.”
- “As long as libraries have avenues for acquisition suggestions, I don’t see why the public should be on materials selection committees. Too many of them want to restrict what others read; they don’t understand the philosophy of open access.”
- “Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that one of a (public) library’s roles is to educate, to broaden horizons. Restricting library acquisitions to reflect the narrow political or religious views of some communities goes against everything libraries stand for.”
- “Librarians theoretically should be reading professional journals and reviews that the average person does not. We could wind up with too much junk and not enough quality on our shelves.”
- “We self-censor much too much as it is.”
September 20
Will your library host a candidates’ debate or any other political forum in the run-up to the November elections?
YES..........15%
NO...........85%
Number of responses.....52
Sample comments:
- “League of Women Voters reps are coming to explain ballot issues. We have a lot this year.”
- “Trying to get candidates to attend is next to impossible.”
- “Both sides have used our meeting rooms for public foums, but no debates.”
September 13
Have your library’s news and issues been covered accurately by the general media?
- Always (5%)
- Usually (49%)
- Sometimes (28%)
- Never (2%)
- Rarely covered (15%)
Number of responses..........81
Sample comments:
- “For as much as the library lets its news out, it’s been covered fairly. However, there is much more inside news that needs to get out, but doesn’t.”
- “The general tendency is to go after a scandal (real or perceived), and to miss all the important and good stories that can be reported from libraries.”
- “We’re an academic institution and it’s the student newspaper that makes most of the erroneous statements.”
- “We have a professional, proactive relationship with the media through our Public Relations/Marketing Dept. This makes a big difference and has allowed us to be in the front of issues instead of reacting to them.”
- “We only have a small newspaper here which follows the desires of the people. Luckily, we are in the favor of those people at the moment.”
- “We are a suburban library serving a town of about 13,500 people and geographically adjacent to a medium-sized city with a population of about 160,000. When we send a press release to the local, small press paper (a freebie) it is well represented. However there has been little proactive coverage on the part of that paper. Coverage is always initiated by the library. As regards the regional press, they very rarely cover anything we send them and never seek us out.”
September 6
Where does your library shelve its collection of graphic novels?
- Throughout the stacks (24%)
- All together (42%)
- By age (49%)
- Closed stacks or special collections (1%)
- Other (4%)
- Don’t collect (4%)
Number of responses..........184
Sample comments:
- “Most are shelved in the PNs, but several of the history ones are in that section. We add a note that it is a graphic novel, so it can easily be identified.”
- “Some are in the 700s and the manga size ones are in the YA area.”
- “There’s definitely no attempt made to separate graphic fiction from graphic nonfiction. It’s all lumped together.”
- “Our library system shelves graphic novels in the nonfiction juvenile, teen, or adult collections in LC call number order. Some community libraries have placed them in a separate location, due to their popularity.”
- “We have just begun to collect graphic novels and one of the biggest debates was where to shelve them. So after considerable wrangling, it was decided that they would be shelved according to age, thereby avoiding as much controversy as possible.”
- “At the suggestion of a local graphic-novel store owner, we located our collection near the circ desk. This ensures that the books are checked out rather than developing legs and just walking out. Students really enjoy finding these fun books so easily and later, after we get them to enjoy reading, they discover the rest of the library.”
August 30
This year marks the 25th observance of Banned Books Week. Do you feel more or less pressure to remove materials from your school or library, or to not buy what might be considered controversial for your collection, as compared to five years ago? Why do you think this is the case?
- More...........28%
- Less...........31%
- Same..........33%
- N/A..............6%
Number of responses..........85
Sample comments:
Those who answered “more pressure” said:
- “Probably because I am now a director in the front line of these types of issues. There seems to be a louder mantra in many parts of society that if something does not meet my family values then it must not be appropriate for the ‘community’s values.’”
- “I work for a corporation that is concerned about its stockholders!”
- “As our society becomes more permissive, parents seem to be focusing on anything they can control. I also feel like the Christian Right has been fostering this kind of protest, too.”
Those who answered “less pressure” said:
- “We’ve always had a very welcoming policy about so-called controversial books, but now it seems that proving access and exposure to new or different ideas is an important part of the librarian’s job.”
- “People are more concerned with what’s on the internet than what’s in a book.”
- “I moved from a tiny, conservative town (where censorship was occasionally an issue) to a large, liberal city (where it hardly ever is).”
Those who answered “the same” said:
- “Here at the public library, what we call requests to reconsider have been rare and usually end with the acceptance of our researched and thoroughly explained decision. However, this spring there was a very public and energetic challenge to several titles on the local school district’s summer reading list. We’re hoping it’s done and won’t spill over to us but we’re also continuing to be vigilant. People here tend to be fiscally conservative but socially either open minded or tolerant, so before this situation at the school district, challenges were usually from individual concern or curiosity and have been worked out with the person one-on-one. What happened this year was that an organized group with a minority opinion saw a political opportunity and they took advantage of it. The challenge was opposed by many people, had little credibility with the local press, and was eventually rebuffed by a large majority on the school board so hopefully, it’s done. Time will tell.”
- “Most users do not feel the necessity to ask to have a book withdrawn on their own. Usually the request is prompted by someone telling them to do it. Most individuals decide for themselves and their children.”
August 23
Does your library offer the use of word processing, spreadsheet, or presentation software to your patrons?
- Word processing........94%
- Spreadsheet..............85%
- Presentation.............78%
- None.........................6%
Number of responses..........250
Sample comments:
- “Our library campus has computer labs which offer these services. The library has few computers. In our new library to be built next year we plan to have many more computers, so the policies will probably change.”
- “We were first able to offer these software programs thanks to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant. They were so popular that we eventually added them to all public access computers.”
- “Absolutely! We are the resource for those who do not have computers at home or do not have access to computers anywhere else. In addition to the standard need for school homework, we have patrons who actually use our computers to conduct their businesses.”
- “We are a corporate library and our users, the employees, can log on to the LAN and work on these and other softwares. We have some software that are localized on the library PC that they can use. We also keep older versions of these softwares on various PCs for our users.”
- “My director thinks this should not be a service offered to the public, we should be more of an information center. I disagree.”
August 16
Where does your library rank in its use of blogs, wikis, social software, and other Web 2.0 technologies?
- Extensive..........4%
- Some..............31%
- Planning..........35%
- No plans..........30%
Number of responses.....150
Sample comments, all from those with no implementation plans:
- “Our library just redid the website and OPAC, and yet it still looks and feels like something from 1996.”
- “I’ve been lobbying for this for the past two years, but the ‘leaders’ of this library are so far behind in instituting innovative technologies, that it has bcome one of those political, face-saving-in-denial situtations.”
- “Though Web 2.0 technologies offer advantages to libraries and library patrons, their importance is overemphasized. Blogs, wikis, etc., can promote increased participation, ‘buy in’ on the part of contributors, and even expanded literacy, but they can also appeal to low levels of thinking and distract people from more meaningful areas of library services. In short, they run the risk of dumbing down the information-seeking/information-exchanging process in exchange for the quick satisfaction of seeing results on a screen.”
August 9
Does a library engage in censorship when it refuses to consider for purchase controversial materials that are not covered in traditional review sources?
YES..........55%
NO...........37%
Don’t know....8%
Number of responses.....225
Sample comments:
Positive responses considered the library’s collection development policy and the lack of comprehensiveness in traditional review sources. A few took issue with community backlash:
- “If a library’s mission is to offer materials with diverse viewpoints that patrons can use to educate themselves and make their own decisions on an issue, then the library should select materials from diverse sources, even if it means staff must do the reviewing, and not limit itself to only the traditional review sources and publishers.”
- “I believe Londonistan was censored because it was critical of radical Muslims. If it was a book critical of America it would have been purchased with no problem.”
- “I really wish that you had a ‘maybe’ included. It took us quite a while to pick up The Turner Diaries, which we consider to be noxious but important. That’s only one example, of course, but the first that springs to mind.”
- “The ‘refusing to consider’ part is what makes it censorship.”
- “The use of traditional review sources has become a device to protect librarians and libraries from legal action against them for purchasing materials that one or more in the community consider unfit for the collection. The fact that libraries are forced to justify materials at all is a form of ‘forced’ censorship.”
- “Traditional review sources miss many smaller publishers.”
Negative responses largely cited budgetary constraints:
- “As the acquisitions librarian, I often stress to my selectors that with our finite budget we cannot purchase all the novels, cookbooks, memoirs, and/or parenting books published every year. We certainly cannot purchase books on social forecasting about cities on the other side of the world. Dallasistan sure, New-Yorkistan maybe, but not Londonistan.”
- “If you have a clear collection policy that states where positive reviews must appear in order to consider purchase of a item, or if you deem that the item will have limited circulation or reference use. (This seems like a MLIS Comprehensive Exam Question!) Also, I don’t believe it is censorship if you can obtain the item as an ILL from another library for your patron. We certainly don’t have to buy every book our patrons ask for.”
- “With the state of our materials budget, we can’t get everything we need, much less everything we want. The line has to be drawn somewhere. It isn’t censorship, it’s finances.”
- “Traditional review sources are the guide by which materials are chosen. The reviewers, who have knowledge of the subject covered, are in the best position to determine if the information provided by the book is accurate, current, and unbiased. After all, haven’t we been taught from day one not to judge a book by its cover?”
- “I regard the carefully considered purchases that I make using public funds an act of responsibility. That’s a professional service I provide for my community, not censorship. Perhaps the review sources are the censors, since they don’t review these materials, but I suppose they live within budgets too.”
Comments from those who were unsure:
- “As long as the policy for controversial materials is the same as that for noncontroversial materials, I don't think it’s censorship. A library should either rely on traditional review sources for all purchase decisions, or be willing to justify those decisions it makes without the aid of the traditional review sources (which, after all, is exactly what those of us in administrative positions get paid to do, and what most librarians seem reluctant to do—make a decision, stand by it, and be able to justify it under scrutiny).”
- “There is a fine line between censorship and selection and I’m not sure there is a clear distinction. Selection often reflects the bias of the individual selector; one wonders if the cumulative effects of that bias become censorship. Of course, conforming to standards can also prejudice selection against smaller presses, lesser-known authors, self-publishing, minority interests, and other antidemocratic vices. A sticky wicket, methinks.”
August 2
Does your library block access to such social-networking sites as MySpace and Friendster?
- Sites are blocked for all users (17%)
- Sites are blocked for teens and/or children (8%)
- Sites are not blocked (70%)
- Other (5%)
Number of responses.....191
Sample comments:
- “Blocking is censorship, plain and simple. Better that the school and public libraries take an active role in educating people how to use these sites safely. Blocking access is just the adults’ way to avoid the issue of a very real problem that isn’t going to go away.”
- “In fact, it’s these very sites that bring the teenagers into the library.”
- “We actually have a presence on MySpace and Friendster to try and attract students.”
- “This legislation is perfect example of Congress trying to legislate what libraries are already taking care of on the local level through the use of library policy.”
- “We have conducted overview training sessions of social networking sites for all our state library staff.”
- “We are a DoD Library and as such have to follow the DoD internet access policy. Personally, I get tired of ALA ranting about open computer access. Let’s face it: Libraries always have censored the materials they have made available to their patrons (e.g., how many public libraries subscribed to Screw and other demeaning and pornographic publications?). What is so different about the internet?”
- “Our sites were blocked because students were socializing instead of doing their schoolwork.”
- “I work in a high school and even the teachers are blocked. Would really like to change this.”
- “To keep ourselves consistent, we comply with CIPA for both visuals and print. Many of those sites are blocked due to images and/or text that appear in ‘personals.’ Anybody 17 or older can request the filter be removed for their session on the PC.”
- “At a high school library, I find these sites do not meet the educational component of our school’s technology policy.”
July 19
How do you use Wikipedia for answering reference questions?
- As a first choice for some questions (17%)
- When it comes up in a search-engine result (17%)
- As a secondary choice when other online options fail (22%)
- When print sources fail (6%)
- Rarely or occasionally (38%)
- Never (20%)
- Other (11%)
Number of responses.....201
Sample comments:
- “Knowing how Wikipedia works, it’s a good tool for reference, but we must educate patrons as to the authenticity of the entries.”
- “I was about to say never, but realized that I have used it once, and sent the URL for the Wikipedia reference source to the person. The Wikipedia reference contained links to U.S. government Federal Information Processing Standards FIPS of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. I might use it again as a source to find a lead for other sources that I consider trustworthy.”
- “Part of using any reference source is to critically evaluate its use on-the-fly.”
- “If I’m looking up something that’s kind of obscure, the typical search engines often don’t help. But many of the Wikipedia articles include links to other, more obscure websites that provide additional information. Although the quality of the information can vary widely, it still can be helpful.”
- “I like to use the references cited as a launch into further inquiry.”
- “As it has been proven several times, the Wikipedia makes about the same number of mistakes as well-known costly encyclopedias. It is much more contemporary than any printed one. And Sandy Berman and I use it often when asking the Library of Congress to create new subject headings. Recently I discovered that LC had used the wikipedia themselves to create a new subject heading.”
- “Why would I use Wikipedia’s search engine when it’s so well indexed by Google, and I get other sites for comparison and verification at the same time?”
- “This is a highly unreliable source. I might use it to guide me to other things or spark some ideas for search terms, but I would never accept it as a final authority.”
- “I have read two studies now, one in science and one in history, comparing Wikipedia to standard reference sources. Both concluded that factually, Wikipedia’s accuracy is comparable to standard print sources. It is not a scholarly source, however, and the trick in using Wikipedia, as in any information source, is matching the information source to the question. It is not appropriate for every question, but it is certainly appropriate for some.”
July 12
Should public libraries offer people living in temporary shelters the same borrowing privileges as those who have a more permanent address?
YES..........59%
NO...........37%
Don’t know....4%
Number of responses.....346
Sample comments:
Positive responses reflected the overall goal of serving all members of the community, though many favored some restrictions (especially on AV materials):
- “Aren’t we charged with supporting all of our constituents? It is especially the poor who lack resources like computers and books to aid them in their journey to a better life.”
- “Any material losses should be absorbed by the library as the cost of doing business. There should be NO economic barriers to public library service. We are violating our professional ethics by establishing discriminatory policies or abridging the rights of those without a permanent address. We are violating their First Amendment rights to receive information, which is a necessary predicate to the right to free speech. A lawsuit in this case should be a wake-up call to our profession to treat everyone equally.”
- “Perhaps some restrictions as to the number of items would be reasonable. Having a library card conveys a sense of place and belonging as well as access to information and maintains a link with the community.”
- “The children should be allowed to check out materials. Adults could be given temporary cards that could be revoked if materials aren’t returned on time.”
- “Public libraries serve the PUBLIC, not the housed. If I found myself in a shelter, the public library would be one of my few connections to information, culture, sanity, and hope.”
- “People living in temporary shelters may need the books more than those living in so-called permanent housing. They may have lost the books they owned, along with most everything else. How dare we discriminate against them? At my library, we are actively engaged in outreach to people in temporary housing. Libraries can be an important resource and a source of stability in an otherwise chaotic world.”
Negative responses focused on practicalities and the tax-supported basis of the public library:
- “Even the local shelter staff have advised us not to issue cards to the folks staying there, as the turnover of clients is frequent and ‘lost items’ are a chronic problem. We do offer them any of the items in our ongoing book sale for free, and of course they are able to use all of our services while in the library.”
- “Ideally, everyone should get equal access. But in this time of money shortages for libraries—accountability needs to be a factor.”
- “Perhaps the shelter itself could have a borrower’s account that residents could use?”
- “Can’t we use some common sense every once and awhile? Public libraries are lending libraries, not giving libraries. Media is to circulate and it’s hard enough to get things back from patrons who can be contacted and reminded at their permanent address.”
- “When certain library materials are not available to taxpaying users because they were checked out and not returned by non-taxpaying users, that’s more of a blight on free access to information than restricting the number of items a temporary resident can check out at one time. Those materials have to be purchased, and when they don’t come back they need to be replaced, and somewhere the money has to be found to pay that bill. True universal access depends not on who can borrow how much of what, but on being able to take the funding that we can get, purchasing the most useful and relevant materials for the community, and establishing use guidelines that allow the largest number of people the most access to the information, while taking steps to ensure the retention of materials and minimize the need to replace lost items.”
July 5
Should state officials mandate that a certified librarian staff every public school library, as the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has done in Milwaukee?
YES..........92%
NO............7%
Don’t know....1%
Number of responses.....359
Sample comments:
Positive responses often cited observations or studies that supported the active role a certified media specialist plays in student success:
- “I work in a college library and see the difference between kids that come from a school with no librarian and those that come from a school with a librarian. BIG difference in their research and analytical skills.”
- “Wisconsin tends to set rules of this sort. The state was heavily influenced by German Socialism and LaFollette’s Progressivism.”
- “This was successfully tackled in Kentucky several years ago. I hope more states begin to realize the importance of a certified school library media specialist!”
- “My principal has told me that librarians ‘only do about 10 minutes’ worth of work each day, and that he doesn’t need a librarian, he needs me as a teacher. The accreditation requirements for Tennessee only specify a half-time librarian for a high school our size. However, I spend more than half of my time teaching Reading for the Content Areas and World History (both subjects in the library at the same time). I applaud Wisconsin’s state officials and hope that whatever has possessed them, that it is contagious!”
- “A certified teacher/librarian is critical to teaching and learning in our 21st-century school systems. The old days of memorizing facts are gone. Locating and using information is the most critical need in teaching students. Librarians have the skills and training to help them succeed! Teacher librarians are leaders in technology integration, also. We need more of these superheroes in all schools . . . K-12!”
- “I was part of the transition team when Oklahoma passed a similar requirement. It improved reading skills across the board.”
Negative responses:
- “A librarian does not need to be certified to be an efficient librarian.”
- “While this insures there are employment opportunities for librarians, I don’t like ‘big brother’ making the decision what should and should not be.”
Information on the Wisconsin ruling appears here.
June 28
Judging by nationwide media coverage, did the American Library Association conference in New Orleans, June 22–28, make a difference?
YES..........79%
NO...........21%
Number of responses.....325
Sample comments:
Positive responses emphasized the enthusiastic welcome by the city and its citizens:
- “I was overwhelmed by the gratitude of the people of New Orleans.”
- “ALA was making a difference even before the convention. I was at a regional program of the Madame Alexander Doll Club in February. MADC is scheduled to hold its convention in New Orleans next year, and there was some concern among members about going. However, the New Orleans’ tourist bureau film, which features ALA representatives, was shown, and afterwards the president of MADC made this point: ‘If ALA feels comfortable holding its big convention in New Orleans this year, we’ll have no problem with our little convention next year.’”
- “As a native of New Orleans, I am incredibly proud of my fellow librarians and the Association. It is not every day that we have a chance to make such a significant contribution to a major metropolitan area. And New Orleanians will love you forever!”
- “New Orleans folks thanked us so profusely that it sounded like it made a difference to them. In terms of coverage of our conference by the national media, I saw and heard more coverage of our conference in print and TV broadcasts than I ever had before. Our volunteer projects were heavily covered by the local media.”
- “I originally questioned ALA’s wisdom in deciding to hold the conference in New Orleans. But our ALA leaders were right. We needed to be there and we did make a difference!”
- “The number of librarians who helped in painting, moving, and replenishing the public and school libraries was phenomenal! I enjoyed the opportunity to paint the interior of the NOPL Children’s Division a sunshine, butter-cream yellow to make it a fresh, inviting place for neighborhood families to read and learn.”
Negative responses emphasized that the city has only begun to recover. Several people mentioned they had not seen any media coverage of the conference in their area:
- “Overall, I think the conference went well, but the continuous misrepresentation of the status of New Orleans does a continuing disservice to the city. ALA trying to present things as if everything were normal has probably done more damage to efforts to gain funding and resources for recovery than any good.”
- “New Orleans needs time to rebuild. ALA made a mistake.”
June 21
Are you pleased that First Lady Laura Bush has been invited to speak at AASL’s town hall meeting on school libraries in New Orleans?
YES..........48%
NO...........42%
Indifferent......10%
Number of responses.....331
Sample comments:
Positive responses indicated the invitation was a balance to other speakers and a plus for Gulf Coast school libraries. Several responders expressed surprise at the news and said they would have planned to attend conference had they known:
- “We’d be idiotic if we didn’t capitalize on having a librarian in the White House.”
- “It shows concern about New Orleans from the White House, although too little, too late!”
- “Absolutely, it is about time that ALA represents all American librarians and not just one political view, minorities, and alternative life styles. If I had realized she would be there, I would have joined AASL and made it a point to be at the conference. I am an academic librarian and live in Arkansas.”
- “I don’t like her husband at all but she is a good choice.”
- “As a native New Orleanian, I can attest to the fact that there was a huge need to improve the school libraries before the hurricanes. Any attention is merited, and the First Lady can draw some positive attention to the needs of the libraries.”
- “She’s a most appropriate speaker on the topic. And if we can have Michael Moore speak at ALA conference, we also can have Laura Bush.”
Negative responses were antagonistic to the policies of the Bush administration in general felt the First Lady’s efforts for school libraries were limited:
- “Laura Bush has done nothing for libraries or librarians. The National Book Fair is similar to book fairs that librarians put on all over the country, with no recognition. I’m not impressed with her at all and I’m surprised that AASL wants someone to speak that looks like a doe caught in the headlights. What does she know about school libraries? Her children went to private schools.”
- “The policies of her husband are an affront to anyone who remotely respects intellectual freedom and diversity. I certainly won’t be attending any event at which she will appear and I think, considering the appalling neglect of her husband’s administration to the plight of the Gulf Coast, that her invitation is in extremely poor taste.”
- “I understand the politics of it, both for ALA and the President. I am just concerned the President’s people will spin this better and faster to their advantage than the ALA could possibly even dream of.”
- “She is the human face of an administration that stands against all that ALA stands for—the rule of law, equal rights, constitutional safeguards of our rights under the Bill of Rights, and just plain honest and decent government. Mrs. Bush is using ALA to paper over the disastrous consequences of her husband’s corrupt and inept government.”
- “Back in 2001, I used to say that having a former librarian as First Lady was the only part of the Bush presidency I could tolerate. However, a lot of water has passed over the levee since then and I can’t help wondering at her complicity in all that has transpired. Can she sleep at night with the images of suffering poor coastal residents and dead Iraqi children on parade? Has she had the audacity to challenge her husband and cronies on any topic you could name for the past five years? I’m sorry, but this invitation seems like gratuitous pandering to me.”
Indifferent responses:
- “While I think it is appropriate to invite her, I believe the town hall meeting should have been held in one of the standard time periods (i.e., 1:30–3:30).”
- “It is well worth having a diverse set of viewpoints represented in this particular medium and although I rarely share her views, I would like to know what they are, especially since she is in a position of power.”
June 14
Should the FBI be allowed access to the Jack Anderson papers to remove leaked classified documents?
YES..........13%
NO...........87%
Number of responses.....142
Sample comments:
One positive response emphasized egalitarian access:
- “Absolutely. No one should be denied free access to information; not even the FBI.”
Negative responses focused more on the “removal” portion of the question:
- “This would be an incredible act of government waste to dedicate people to recovering information that was released long ago. Why dedicate such resources to closing the barn door after the horse sauntered out?”
- “A resounding NO! This administration is the most secretive in history, and its effort to retrospectively classify public documents is deeply distrurbing. Also, if successful, the attempt to control a reporter’s private papers is deeply disturbing.”
- “They can have the same access to the archives as any other user, and have the same rights to remove material (i.e., none at all).”
- “Even though I’ve had family members in both the FBI and CIA, I strongly disagree with the FBI even having access to Anderson’s papers. Whatever happened to freedom of the press? Gone with the Republicans. Anderson did a column on Daddy Bush and his mistress many years ago. That’s probably why the administration wants to get in those papers. They’re doing a very good job of cleaning up their spotty history, including a Nazi sympathizer pre-WWII.”
- “Looks like Orwell just got the date wrong.”
June 7
Do you see any threat to your users’ privacy if the government mandates internet service providers to retain network data for two years?
YES..........88%
NO...........12%
Number of responses.....161
Sample comments:
Positive responses were concerned about misuse of the data:
- “At my institution, the library counts as an ISP, since it operates on a subnet of the university system. We delete records of user visits to the proxy server after 30 days, and many of us are uncomfortable even with that.”
- “There is always potential for misuse of data collected with the understanding that the information you have provided was protected by an agreement of privacy between you and the provider. A third party, such as the government, should have little access to this information. Internet providers probably need to assert that when a person alters the intended use of data to commit a crime, then the privacy of that person is no longer valid. Justification for searching should go to the judicial system and a proper warrant should be obtained.”
- “‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’ Freedom of speech and of the press and peaceably to assemble includes cyberspace, mail, telephone, billboards, and talking out loud. Privacy or the right of a person to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures includes cyberspace. Can the post office open our mail? Can they copy it and keep it in a file for two years just in case someone may want to view it in the future? This mandate will harm our privacy and the Constitution.”
- “To live well, live hidden. (Old French saying)”
Negative responses felt a mandate would be justified:
- “Child predators on the Net is a serious, legitimate concern. As long as warrants and subpoenas are still needed to access them they should be kept.”
- “I agree with the reasons cited for why they request the retention of said information, but there must be just cause for access to that information, as well as no creep in the purpose for the use of the information. We must be diligent in protecting users’ rights in cases that are outside of reasonable suspicion or the purposes outlined in the accepted law.”
May 31
Do you think federal library employees have the right, under the First Amendment, to expose suspected agency misconduct and inefficiency in the course of their employment?
YES..........93%
NO............6%
Don’t know....1%
Number of responses.....233
Sample comments:
Positive responses felt that civic duty was paramount:
- “This is not a right; it is a responsibility.”
- “As a former federal employee, I observed much inefficiency among federal employees. As a taxpayer, I would appreciate some accountability by agencies to root out inefficiency . . . and not just by talking to the masses and pretending everything is fine or placing the responsibility on the front-line supervisors, who often have little real authority to do anything about it.”
- “For such whistle-blowing to be effective, the employees taking action need to first report problems to library management, seek answers and explanations, and document the resulting communications.”
- “I believe that federal employees have an obligation, not just a right, to expose suspected misconduct and inefficiency. We the taxpayers expect propriety and efficiency in government, and want problems addressed when needed.”
- “I think any federal library employee who suspects such misconduct should very carefully weigh the facts before taking any action, but I also feel that saying they should stay silent in the face of misconduct is to go against every foundation that the library profession and this nation was built on.”
Negative responses took more jaded approaches:
- “I was working for the federal government in 1995 when all government employees were on furlough for over 6 weeks. During that period a dirty little secret emerged: Federal employees are not protected by the Constitution (i.e., they have no constitutional rights). This week’s judicial decision, and the wording used by the Supreme Court, exactly reflect that view. I might wish that federal library employees have the right to expose suspected agency misconduct. Unfortunately, and sadly, I know that they don’t.”
- “I don’t have a problem with employees exposing actual illegal behavior, but in my experience claims of agency ‘inefficiency’ are routinely made by disgruntled employees looking to get even for a wide range of perceived (and maybe actual) slights or grudges they have with mangagement.”
Information on the Supreme Court decision appears here.
May 24
Do you support legislation making English the official language of the United States?
YES..........56%
NO...........44%
Number of responses.....522
Sample comments:
Positive responses reasoned that an official language was unifying and would not limit linguistic diversity:
- “The U.S. is one of a very few countries that does not have an official language. This does not disrespect other languages or their speakers. It simply recognizes that a common official language is essential for democracy and full participation of a diverse population. English includes more words than any other language we know, primarily because it has adopted and accommodated so many words from other languages.”
- “Making English the official language in no way limits organizations from providing multilingual services.”
- “Those who come to this country to live and earn a living should be prepared to function in English.”
- “For a country that depends upon debate and information sharing for making democratic decisions, an official language is essential. Ratifying English as our official language would make the nation more comfortable with continued immigration. The United States has great linguistic diversity, and this will not change with official English legislation.”
- “One of the reasons we have illiteracy is because we have not specified the language in which all of us can communicate.”
- “We need to continue recognizing Spanish as the dominant second language, however.”
Negative responses viewed making English official as either stifling or unnecessary:
- “I concur with ALA’s stance and would add my fear that if English becomes the official language, then others might interpret such legislation as a mandate to remove materials in other languages from our library shelves.”
- “Right now in my library a mother is sharing rhymes with her child in an Asian language, a father is talking with his child in another language, and another adult is picking up summer reading information in Spanish—and yes, other children are finding books and talking in English. We are a diverse country and cutting off part of our population by insisting on English all the time will not serve any constructive purpose.”
- “This would just be a step toward government-sanctioned prejudice against nationally diverse members of our communities.”
- “Spanish will probably become the lingua franca, as the estimated 42 million Hispanics will double in population in a short time. Anglo-Americans need to relax; learning Spanish would be a wise decision for them.”
- “English as the unofficial language is sufficient.”
May 17
Should minors be prohibited from accessing chat rooms and social-networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook on school or library computers, as the pending Deleting Online Predators Act, H.R. 5319, would require?
YES..........26%
NO...........74%
Number of responses.....356
Sample comments:
Positive responses considered social networking out of place in a school environment or protection from predators more important than access:
- Several respondents said schools should prohibit them, but public libraries should not.
- “Although the library should be a place where all information is avalible, children need to be protected from predators as much as possible.”
- “We have blocked chat rooms for two years now, considering such access to be both outside our mission and a danger to children.”
- “MySpace is not information access, it is a social outlet.”
- “I hate to say yes, but after using chat reference with students (me being the librarian) and being inundated with junior-high pranks and foul language, I now think that school just isn’t the appropriate place for chat rooms. Students need to develop their skills in verbal communication and working in cooperative small groups in person rather than online.”
Negative responses felt that legislation was inappropriate or misguided:
- “The decision should be made by schools and libraries and their communities, not mandated by the federal government.”
- “Open access is too important. It is up to parents to know what their kids are into, and some responsibility for good judgment rests with the children themselves.”
- “We should be concentrating more on educating minors about online ‘stranger danger’ than allowing the government to go around trying to identify every resource that is potentially harmful to children and then passing legislation which would effectively bar free access to such information, communication, and certain avenues of discourse.”
- “All this bill will do is serve to drive kids away from the library and into places where there is no supervision and where they can get into trouble. As librarians, the last thing we should do is drive patrons from the building.”
- “Anyone tracing IP addresses would be less likely to identify a child by a public address than a home address.”
May 10
Do you consider RFID and biometrics technology secure enough for use in your library?
YES..........38%
NO...........62%
Number of responses.....101
Sample comments:
Positive responses considered that RFID technology, at least, allowed for adequate protection:
- “As long as you take all the necessary precautions to secure your network and limit the information on the RFID tags.”
- “The range of the thing is about 8 inches. No problem.”
- “RFID, but not biometrics.”
Negative responses had security and privacy issues:
- “It’s too easily hacked into and the expensive tags can be removed by anyone.”
- “RFID doesn’t work very well, and biometrics is just plain creepy, scary, and unecessary.”
- “I’ve heard sufficient anecdotes from colleagues at institutions that already have it to know that RFID needs to be improved.”
May 3
Will the Library of Congress’ decision to cease creating series authority records affect your library’s technical or public service capability?
YES..........89%
NO...........11%
Number of responses.....589
Sample comments:
Positive responses foresaw many problems affecting cataloging, acquisitions, children’s services, and user access:
- “This is a terrible decision. School librarians always use series titles to help students find books, and if LC’s not keeping track of the information, who will be?”
- “This decision will make ongoing control of series in bibliographic records much harder and will likely mean the end of series authority control in most if not all U.S. libraries.”
- “As a vendor cataloger, with libraries still wanting and needing controlled series, LC’s decision will increase the time it takes to upgrade LC copy to the full-level records we are used to providing.”
- “With no LC authorities to go by, we will be establishing series authority headings ourselves, and what we choose will not be consistent with what other librarians choose. Federated search capabilities that include more than one library catalog in a single search make consistent headings more important than ever.”
- “Our current library system cannot effectively handle 490 0#s. If I were in a library with Voyager or a system with similar architecture, I would be less concerned. Keyword access to series words in combination with other entries (publisher, place of publication, author entries in 1XX or 7XX) on the record could mostly replace controlled series titles.”
- “We will continue to create and maintain some series locally because of access points or receiving issues. It will be a real pain if OCLC continues to overlay member records with LC records, as good series information may be lost.”
- “We only recently integrated series titles in our title browse because sometimes patrons know only the series title and will browse the title index looking for it. While many patrons prefer keyword searching, the precision that series titles (with appropriate See and See also references) provide will be missed.”
- “From a Technical Services perspective, it means more in-house labor at additional expense, unless some other cataloging body (such as PCC) accepts responsibility for coordinating the creation and maintenance of these authority records. If cost and backlog become significant forces for changing LC policies (and I completely understand such a possibility), this decision may only be the first in a more generalized ‘offloading’ of certain LC activities to the cataloging profession in general. Maybe it’s time for the profession to step up to the plate and start a wider involvement in the creation of authority records in general, rather than depending so heavily upon a single institution to shoulder most of the burden.”
- “LC will stop classing together all series that, prior to May 1, were classified in the same call number. This means that books in series which have the same classification number that are cataloged prior to May 1, will be all together on the shelf, with the same classification number, and the rest of the titles in the series, cataloged by LC after May 1, will each get a separate classification number, and be shelved all over the library in their respective subject classification. Browsing to find all titles in a series that were classified together, and on the shelf together, will go away after May 1.”
Negative responses seemed to involve institutions that either do not rely on series entries or create their own:
- “We rarely follow their lead in this matter anyway. We also create series statements where the Library of Congress has none for the benefit of our patrons who search for items using a series title rather than the title proper.”
- “Our system doesn’t seem to follow any authority record now which makes helping our patrons. There is a complete disconnect between our public service staff and tech service staff with our administration always siding on whatever is easier for tech services.”
April 19
Would you willingly forego a salary increase or sacrifice benefits to help your library through a financial crisis?
YES..........42%
NO...........58%
Number of responses.....261
Sample comments:
Positive responses often cited qualifying circumstances:
- “I would forgo a salary increase if the crisis was legitimate, but all on the staff should forgo the increase and that includes directors and others who make disproportionately more than the operations people.”
- “I would, but it is a choice that in the long term enables poor library funding and undermines the concept of good compensation for library employment.”
- “I would give up an increase but not a reduction in current salary. However, I don’t think just one person or a selected few should be asked to sacrifice, and it shouldn’t be one staff member telling another that he should be the one to make the sacrifice (as recently happened to me!).”
- 12 respondents said they had already, willingly done so, at least once.
- Several said yes to a salary increase, but no to benefits.
Those who said no indicated there were better solutions:
- “Many librarians don’t get adequate salaries/benefits the way it is. Continuing to diminish a librarian’s worth through salary structure decreases is not the answer.”
- “I have a family to think about and a mortgage. There’s no fat now, so I really wouldn’t accept a cut without a fight.”
- “It sets a bad precedent.”
- “Budget shortages need to affect our users, who are the only ones who work to remedy the money problems. Cut hours, services, and materials before salaries, so they can see us bleed. If we don’t value ourselves and what we do, why would we expect others to?”
April 12
Should the Boy Scouts of America’s policy of excluding agnostics, atheists, and gays prohibit libraries from cooperating with the organization in joint programs?
YES..........47%
NO...........53%
Number of responses.....392
Sample comments:
Positive responses viewed cooperation with an exclusionary organization as contrary to the core values of a public library:
- “Libraries should make materials and facilities available to the Boy Scouts just as they should to all organizations or individuals. However, libraries should limit their partnerships to organizations that do not adopt policies instituted for the sole purpose of excluding groups of individuals due to sexual orientation, theological stance, or any other trait or belief.”
- “Libraries need to vote with their $$$ and actions to hold American institutions accountable for views which seek to marginalize certain groups. If we join with these groups we offer legitimacy and support for their views.”
- “It is in direct contrast to the Fair Practices Ordinance of the Civil Code of Philadelphia and therefore would be totally inappropriate at the Free Library of Philadelphia (where I work). If you live in a community where bigotry is normalized, it is possible that library participation with the Boy Scouts of America is appropriate. It all depends on whether you think libraries should reflect their communities or should aspire to improve their communities.”
Negative responses either gave greater weight to the social good promoted by the BSA or felt that the philosophy of the local troop mattered more than that of the national organization:
- “Even if they have some bigoted attitudes in their policy, the movement is basically a good one for boys to develop leadership and other good values.”
- “While I disagree with the Boy Scouts’ stance, I believe cutting off cooperative programs would be counterproductive for both organizations.”
- “I think this should be decided on a case-by-case basis and should depend on whether or not the local group upholds the discriminatory policy or not. Many groups on the local level do oppose this policy. Let’s support them and hope that eventually enough local groups will help overturn the national policy.”
April 5
Do your National Library Week activities bring significantly more patrons into the library?
YES..........12%
NO...........88%
Number of responses.....112
Sample comments:
Positive responses emphasized using NLW as a publicity hook:
- It “helps publicize the library and puts a focus on what is going on,” said one respondent, “especially when we bribe them with chocolate!” noted another.
- “Our activities bring in about 20 more people a day.”
Negative responses were skeptical about the usefulness of the event and supporting materials, calling it a “fake holiday”:
- “We put up the ALA posters but did not see an increase in activity or interest.”
- “Most libraries don’t make any big deal out of National Library Week. I almost forgot that this was Library Week right now—and I work in a library!”
- “The ‘@ your library’ campaign has to go! It is so very bland; it is meaningless.”
March 29
What one or two books have you read recently that had the most significant impact on you?
Number of responses….152 (with 170 titles)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini emerged as a clear winner, with 15 mentions. Other books favored more than once were:
-
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion (4 mentions)
-
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century by Thomas L. Friedman (3 mentions)
-
Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry (3 mentions)
-
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (3 mentions)
-
The Bible (2 mentions)
-
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (2 mentions)
-
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (2 mentions)
-
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (2 mentions)
-
The Plot Against America by Philip Roth (2 mentions)
-
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (2 mentions)
-
Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (2 mentions)
A total of 170 titles were given (97 fiction, 73 nonfiction). A breakdown by type of book follows:
Adult fiction.....42
Science fiction / fantasy.....13
Historical fiction.....13
Horror / Gothic fiction.....2
GLBT fiction.....4
Classic literature (pre-WWII).....7
Young adult fiction.....11
Children's books.....5
Biography / Memoirs.....16
History.....12
Current events.....7
Politics.....3
True crime.....1
Law.....1
Business / Economics.....8
Philosophy.....1
Religion / Spirituality.....8
Self-Help.....6
Medicine.....2
Environment / Science.....4
Pets.....2
Writing / Book Trade.....2
Library and information science titles were noticeably absent.
Comments included:
- “I consider it to be a character flaw that I don’t read much fiction. I’ll work on it this summer.”
- “I have a stressful library position. I read cheap trash like mysteries to relax me every evening. I don’t read quality fiction or nonfiction. I read well-reviewed children’s books with my adoptive granddaughter. We talk about the themes.”
- “A Froggy Fable by John Lechner has come in handy as my library district reorganizes. This simple picture book helps to remind me that change is inevitable but that it is always possible to adapt.”
March 22
Do you agree with the Bush administration’s proposal to fold both the NCES state and public Library Statistics Program and the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science into the IMLS?
YES..........36%
NO...........64%
Number of responses.....116
Sample comments:
Positive responses generally favored streamlining, with some caution:
- “If it is possible to develop an overall mission for the umbrella organization, more seamlessness can be achieved.”
- “Only if the funding of all programs is maintained by IMLS, and funding is not harmed.”
- “Never combine two questions into one. Yes on statistics. NCLIS should just be killed.”
Negative responses were skeptical of the administration’s intent, as well as the ultimate outcome:
- “This will hurt school librarians’ case that we are a vital part of education, not a separate municipal entity.”
- “The NCES state and public library statistics program is a vital tool for library decisions. I lack a strong opinion on NCLIS, but it should remain an independent body that works to help libraries. I fear the administration’s decisions would thwart rather than assist library services. What does the First Lady have to say about the subject?”
- “If it’s a Bush administration proposal of any type, I’m unlikely to agree with it. This is a functionally incompetent administration!”
March 15
Do you plan to participate in a virtual conference on a topic related to your work within the next year?
YES..........60%
NO...........40%
Number of responses.....164
Sample comments:
-
“I wish that more state and regional library structures would start making use of these technologies! It is not as easy for front-line librarians to leave their buildings for meetings as it is for upper-level administrators, and therefore (at least in my state) the voices of those of us on the front lines are not heard.”
-
“Absolutely! I love participating in virtual conferences. I can’t wait for the upcoming ACRL/CNI/Educause one.”
-
“I prefer to attend conferences and training away from my office, even if it’s only across campus. There are too many distractions at my desk.”
March 8
Do you think the modifications in the Senate compromise bill (S. 2271) on the Patriot Act offer adequate civil-liberties protections to libraries and their patrons?
YES..........14%
NO...........80%
Number of responses.....145
Sample comments:
Although few, positive responses tended to belittle the civil liberties concerns of librarians:
- “The Patriot Act was fine before hysterical librarians and miscreant Democrats began tinkering with it.”
- “I would be happy with the Patriot Act without the modifications.”
Negative responses tended to assume that the deficiencies in the Patriot Act should be by now self-evident:
- “I am very proud of the stance that ALA has taken on this library-related issue.”
- “I think the Patriot Act is an abomination of civil liberties across the board, not just in libraries. I would like to see it expire altogether—forever.”
- “I recommend anyone who has not seen Good Night and Good Luck to see it and compare it to what is going on in our government right now.”
- “I agree with the ALA president that we still have work to do to further protect our patrons' privacy and protect librarians.”
Details on the reauthorized Patriot Act are available here.
March 1
Should publicly funded libraries ensure that an opposing viewpoint is included before hosting a program on a controversial topic?
YES..........44%
NO...........56%
Number of responses.....355
Sample comments:
Positive responses focused on neutrality and balance:
- “Libraries should remain opinion-neutral, except to advocate for freedom to disseminate information, civic dialogue, and first amendment free-speech rights. By that standard, libraries should ensure many diverse viewpoints are heard.”
- “My library recently allowed a display of Right to Life materials in our display case with the idea that Planned Parenthood would display the following month. Many patrons expressed their displeasure with the display and were not interested that the opposite viewpoint would be shown the following month. As a result, my Executive Director decided to not allow such displays, but would instead schedule topics of a potentially controversial nature as programs, where opposing viewpoints could be presented at the same time.”
- “Just as a well-developed collection should include books and other materials with opposing points of view, so should library programming. An opposing viewpoint doesn’t necessarily have to be given through the same medium as the featured one. An example of how this could have worked in the case of the controversial Patriot Act film: Perhaps a pamphlet with listings of resources both for and against the Patriot Act distributed before and at the showing would be sufficient to show library patrons that they are free to evaluate the film at face value or through the lenses of any number of other sources.”
Negative responses centered on allowing some types of alternative viewpoints a forum of their own at a later time:
- “I think that those with opposing viewpoints are welcome to share their views at another date and time, if they so desire.”
- “Libraries present ideas, including stupid and nasty ones. To tiptoe around trying to seek some mythical balance is the way of the weenie. Let the kooks and weirdos have their own programs and their own say without diluting it.”
- “A library is a public forum. It is not the library’s role to monitor the content of the public forum or to gather a balanced representation of political parties, except to exclude expressions of opinion that violate civil or criminal law.”
- “It depends on the issue. We don’t provide forums for hate and intolerance. The idea that there are always two sides to any issue is part of our modern plague, deconstructionism, which decrees that ALL viewpoints have value, no matter how unsupported or unscientific. The fact is, public meeting places don’t allow every single viewpoint to be discussed—such as neo-Nazis or anti-Holocaust.”
February 22
Should public libraries continue to serve as a distribution point for IRS forms?
YES..........80%
NO...........20%
Number of responses.....390
Sample comments:
Positive responses emphasized the service and convenience aspects, as well as the fact that the forms bring people into the library:
- “Many people still don't have computers to file online and many people wouldn't know where to get the paper version if we didn't have them. As far as I know, only post offices and libraries provide this service.”
- “Isn't it great that folks think of the public library as a community resource? Plus having the forms available frees up computers for other customers as the customers doesn't have to take the time to go online to download them.”
- “Where else will people without computers or computer skills be able to get them? I just think the government should recognize what we do for them, and give us a little more consideration at budget time.”
Negative responses voiced resentment over the lack of support for the added responsibility:
- “The forms are available online. We are happy to print them if we need to. The forms take up too much space and too much time to maintain the display.”
- “Only if they pay us to do it. I don't think we should shoulder their duties without being paid for doing their work.”
February 15
Should librarians support the right of newspapers to publish commentary or images offensive to Muslims or other religions?
YES..........75%
NO...........25%
Number of responses.....339
Sample comments:
Positive responses viewed free speech as unassailable, whatever the message:
- “If we support freedom of speech and intellectual freedom, we have to support it even when it is offensive to us.”
- “Any content may be viewed as offensive by some section of the population if you try hard enough. This is not to undermine valid concerns regarding content; however, how can we accurately analyze and discuss why it is offensive if we are unable to access the content?”
- “We’re not in the censorship business. I’m offended by some newspaper editorials and cartoons, too, but as a librarian I must support newspapers’ right to free speech, no matter how distasteful I might find some of it.”
Negative responses emphasized speakers’ responsibility to respect the sensibilities of other people:
- “The question overlooks the difference between freedom of speech and deliberate insult under inflammatory conditions. It is still illegal to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded theater unless there is a fire. Descriptions of the image are adequate. Printing an image of Mohammed is a sacrilege across Islam. Why not respect that?”
- “Offensive images have no place in civilized society. Libraries began and continue to primarily function as depositories and resource centers for civilized language and thought.”
- “I would support the right to collect these materials, but not the right to publish them.”
February 8
Should public libraries auction naming rights to their library on Ebay?
YES..........45%
NO...........55%
Number of responses.....257
Sample comments:
Positive responses looked on the idea as innovative:
-
“Why not? Sounds like a creative way to promote funding. All of the major sports stadiums are named for their sponsors.”
-
“Unfortunately, libraries must resort to unusual methods in order to raise money. I think using Ebay shows ingenuity.”
Negative responses focused on problematic consequences:
-
“The library brand has too much integrity. What if some tobacco company or hate group bought the privilege?”
-
“The purchaser might expect to be able to influence the library collection or policies, etc., along with the name. The ramifications range from annoyance to disaster!”
February 1
Should your library reclassify James Frey’s controversial book A Million Little Pieces as fiction?
YES..........68%
NO...........32%
Number of responses.....299
Sample comments:
Positive responses focused on the author’s intent as well as the book’s effect on the historical record:
-
“Mr. Frey has indicated that he previously tried to get the book published as a novel. However, he only succeeded when his editor worked to make it appear as a biographical sketch.”
-
“Now that he’s admitted some of his ‘facts’ were complete fabrication, it would do an injustice to those biographers who are careful with the facts to leave this one in the nonfiction area.”
Negative responses seemed satisfied with the publisher’s fix and a certain level of ambiguity:
-
“I do think current copies of the book should be replaced, if possible, with the new edition that will contain a foreword by the publisher and the author.”
-
“We’d have to reclassify half the other memoirs as well. All memoirs are fictionalized to a degree; Frey just took it further than most.”
January 25
Should ALA Council pass a resolution condemning the Cuban government for its imprisonment of dissident “independent librarians”?
YES..........76%
NO...........24%
Number of responses.....609
Sample comments:
Positive responses preferred ALA to make a statement in favor of the freedom to read and freedom of speech:
- “ALA should pass a strongly worded condemnation of the Cuban government for any and all documented suppression of the freedom of speech and other basic liberties, especially as they apply to libraries and librarianship.”
- “Yes, and it should do so because of their activities, loaning out books and allowing people to visit their collections.”
- “While I appreciate the argument that the ‘independent librarians’ don’t have a lot in common with American professionals, it’s interesting to consider whether ALA has a place in fighting for global intellectual freedom.”
Negative responses indicated either a disagreement with ALA interfering in the political affairs of foreign governments or with the status of these individuals as professional colleagues:
- “How would we view it if the library association of Great Britain should pass a resolution condemning the American government for treatment of “War on Terror” prisoners? What should a professional association in one country have to say about politics in another?”
- “They are not librarians and were convicted and imprisoned for accepting money from a foreign government (the U.S.), similar to U.S. Code Title 18.”
- “I am against doing something like this because it is clear that the ‘independent librarians’ are U.S.-funded and trained dissidents, and the idea that they are ‘librarians’ is mainly propaganda. The sympathy that exists for their cause is based on manipulation. Our intellectual freedom principles are being used as a tool.”
One response took a middle-ground approach:
- “There are two issues. (1) Whether foreign interests should be able to fund the activities of dissidents in another country. (2) Whether citizens and citizen groups in opposition to a government should be able to maintain libraries as information houses and meeting-room spaces for expressing their opposition. To support foreign interference is ethically shaky. To support the freedom to disagree, the freedom to express one’s opinions, and the freedom to collect information supporting one's views is much more solid. I would suggest condemning the imprisonment of all nonviolent dissidents. If you want to advocate for freedom of information, advocate free, unrestricted access to the internet. For information in book form, advocate dropping the U.S. blockade.”
Details on ALA’s and IFLA’s statements on Cuba can be found here.
January 18
Should ALA increase its membership dues by $10 for each of the next three years?
YES..........13%
NO...........87%
Number of responses.....510
Sample comments:
Positive responses acknowledged that dues are a fundamental component of any healthy membership organization and that the future effectiveness of ALA depends on the willingness of its members to tax themselves:
- “Our dues are low in comparison to other professional associations, and we must support our lobbying efforts, litigation, etc.”
- “I have witnessed ALA members rejecting the need for a dues increase while chowing down on an $80 meal at an ALA conference. It’s a question of priorities. The ALA budget, with new projects and initiatives added every year, cannot even keep up with inflation.”
Negative responses consisted largely of gripes about the Association and about low salaries, along with the notion that ALA dues are already too high:
- “ALA is the most expensive organization I belong to. My current salary is $35,000 a year. I’ve worked in libraries since 1981! I have an MLS. I pay for three library memberships, SLA, ALA, and NYLA. I can’t even afford to travel yearly. Let’s have some progress on salaries and then we will be able to afford to raise dues.”
- “ALA needs to narrow its focus to serving libraries and librarians so that it can operate on less money instead of trying to buy influence over public policy on social issues unrelated to library service.”
- “Before agreeing to an increase I would like to see what they plan on spending the money on and how each line item would benefit the members.”
Details about the proposed ALA dues increase, which will appear on the March ballot, are available here. An interview with ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels, in which he answers questions about the need for the increase, appears here.
January 11
Did ALA make the right decision in recommitting to New Orleans as its 2006 Annual Conference site?
YES..........59%
NO...........41%
Number of responses.....495
Sample comments:
Positive responses centered on the importance of assisting with the city’s recovery:
- “The people of New Orleans are excited by ALA’s recommitement and the revenue that will be generated from the ALA members. They are counting on all Americans to help them during this difficult recovery period. Hats off to the ALA for supporting the state and New Orleans in such a generous and grand way!”
- “I am very happy that the ALA has recommitted to New Orleans as the site of the 2006 Annual Conference. I am from New Orleans and committed to rebuilding. New Orleans is home and you can bet New Orleans is committed to bringing all of the business it can back to New Orleans. We are not going anywhere but up! Sincere thanks.”
- “Absolutely the right decision. We need to support the reconstruction of the city—and demonstrate our confidence to those who live and work there.”
- “Some organization had to be the first big conference to recommit. I'm proud it was ALA.”
Negative responses had mostly to do with perceived health risks and the manner in which the disaster was handled by the government:
- “I don’t feel they're ready for a large influx of conventioneers. The infrastructure is still fragile, i.e. hospitals, safety, public transit. Only the French Quarter and part of the surrounding area is walkable. I also don’t think it is right for people to go somewhere and be tourists to others’ misfortune. The fact that many minority people are not being treated fairly by government agencies and insurance companies gives ALA an opportunity to join in solidarity with these people and make a statement that ALA will not return to New Orleans until equality and justice are given to these people who have lost so much.”
- “The decision is making it difficult for me to decide to go. I feel the toxic environment outside of the French Quarter is a serious consideration against attending.”
- “I am apprehensive about going and may yet cancel. One friend said simply, ‘I don’t want to eat food prepared with that water,’ which may be an irrational fear, but it’s real.”
Details about the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans are available here.
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