At the ALA Annual Meeting in July, the ALA Council took a number of actions. The entire official list should be available shortly at http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/councilactions/index.cfm. Here are some of those actions – this is not a complete list – that may be of particular interest to MLA members. Note that these are only the text of the “Resolved” clauses. The “Whereas” clauses are omitted. If you have any questions about any of these actions, please contact me at modmedia |at| earthlink |dot| net.
Interpretation to the Library Bill of Rights regarding Services to Persons with Disabilities. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution mandates the right of all persons to free expression and the corollary right to receive the constitutionally protected expression of others. A person’s right to use the library should not be denied or abridged because of disabilities. The library has the responsibility to provide materials “for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.” (See also the Library Bill of Rights.) When information in libraries is not presented in formats that are accessible to all users, discriminatory barriers are created. Adopted 2009.
Resolution on Accessibility for Library Websites: “That the American Library Association (ALA):
Urges all libraries to comply with Section 508 regulations, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, or other criteria that become widely accepted as standards of accessibility evolve, so that people with disabilities can effectively use library websites to access information with ease; and
Urges the federal government and state and local governments to provide adequate funding to allow libraries to comply with accepted standards and laws on accessibility for people with disabilities.”
Resolution on Civil Marriage Equality Regardless of Sexual Orientation: “That the American Library Association affirms that civil marriage and other civil rights protections are essential to making all families safer and more secure; opposes civil marriage discrimination in the federal or in state constitutions; and supports the right of every person to marry, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples, wherever they reside.”
Resolution Supporting Federal Research Public Access Act: “That the American Library Association (ALA):
Urges Congress to ensure public access to research conducted by federal agency employees or through funds administered by federal agencies through passage of the Federal Research Public Access bill S. 13732; and
Urges Congress to amend the bill to calculate the combined research expenditures from both intramural and extramural research activities to reach the $100 million threshold as articulated in the current draft of the legislation.”
Resolution on the Reauthorization of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT ACT: “That the American Library Association (ALA):
Urges Congress to allow section 215 of the USA PATRIOT ACT to sunset; and
Communicates this resolution to the U.S. Congress, the President of the United States and others as appropriate.”
Resolution Promoting Sunday, October 4, 2009, as Intergeneration Day Means Libraries: “That the American Library Association (ALA), through the adoption of this resolution:
Urges its member libraries to support the goals of Intergeneration Day Means Libraries by considering to offer multi-generational activities during the week of October 4, 2009; and
Urges its divisions and round tables to support and promote Intergeneration Day Means Libraries by adding a link, if possible, from their website to the Intergeneration Foundation website at http://www.intergenerationday.org.”
Resolution Endorsing Legislative Proposal for Universal Health Care: “That the American Library Association (ALA):
Reaffirms its support for affordable universal health care, including the option of a single-payer health care program; and
Sends a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States and to all U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives.”
Resolution to Expand Electronic Participation: “That ALA Council directs the Executive Director:
To implement the most cost effective solution to provide transparency and access to Council activities for the benefit of ALA members; and
To continue to monitor methods of improving Council transparency; and
Begin providing member electronic access to Council meetings for Midwinter 2010.
An Action Plan to Remedy Current Library Budget Crisis: “That the American Library Association (ALA):
1. Immediately address the severe national erosion of budgetary support to all libraries with deliberate, concerted and unyielding effort by developing and instituting a critical crisis management approach to remedy library budgetary losses through the creation of an action plan to alert legislators, stake holders, and constituents to action through all media and interpersonal channels available; and
2. Communicates to the President of the U.S., all members of Congress, and all state governors that during tough economic times when people more than ever need the resources available in American libraries that those libraries more than ever need continued and increased government support.”
