Financials

 

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Treasurer’s FY 2011 Annual Report

Jim Neal

Jim Neal,
ALA Treasurer

At the 2010 Midwinter Meeting in San Diego the Executive Board and Council affirmed the development of the FY 2011 budget within the context of the 2015 strategic plan and the previously expanded list of programmatic priorities. The ALA Programmatic Priorities were as follows:

  • Diversity
  • Equitable Access to Information and Library Services
  • Education and Lifelong Learning
  • Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession
  • Intellectual Freedom
  • Literacy
  • Organizational Excellence

ALA is an Association that is as diverse in its interests, activities and membership as any in the world. Despite this diversity we work in a profession that is heavily reliant on the general health of the overall economy. History suggests that the health of the profession lags the general economy by eighteen months when coming out of a recession. So as the economy continues to struggle in its recovery from the “Great Recession,” the negative impact continues to be felt by the profession. In FY 2011 ALA entered the year with the understanding that pressures from the mounting federal budget deficit, state/local budget cuts and a slow growing to sputtering economy would negatively impact the interests and activities that are dear to librarians and the profession of librarianship. As a result, many of our members were faced with the difficult prospects of doing more with less or doing without all together.

FY 2011 was also a year in which there were constant and changing pressures on the Association to maximize the use of its resources. This was particularly true in the General Fund. Since 2007 the General Fund has seen a steady erosion of its revenue base. Even though there has been a lack of revenue growth in the General Fund budget, significant investment in the programmatic goals and infrastructure of the ALA operations continued. In this environment it required a careful evaluation of planned expenditures across the association in order to properly match up with expected revenues. This was accomplished within the context of the Associations’ number one goal of maintaining a high level of service to the membership.

In terms of expectations FY 2011 did not disappoint. Despite entering the year with a planned 3% reduction in the General Fund from a similar reduction in the previous year’s budget—like last year—management and staff were all on high alert for the need to make some mid-year budget adjustments if the economy continued to falter and our revenue expectations did not materialize. By the time the six month results were in and analyzed it was clear that adjustments would again be necessary. Against a General Fund budget of $26.8 million, management projected a revenue shortfall of $442,000 and an expense overage of $449,000 for a total shortfall of $891,000. This shortfall was addressed with expense reductions that included the following:

  • Personnel
  • Publishing
  • Meetings & Conferences
  • Building & Technology
  • Governance and Communications
  • Use of Reserves

Once again management and staff embraced the steps that were necessary to see the Association through a difficult situation as sacrifices were made across the entire Association. To the credit and hard work of management and staff, the plan for the mid-year adjustments was achieved. The General Fund ended the year with a loss of $437,067.

Treasurer’s Annual Report | Financial Results | Programmatic Highlights | Financial Factoid | Consolidated Statement | Operational Financial Results | Total Preliminary Budget

FY 2011 Financial Results

Financial Value Proposition

“To develop and deploy the financial resources that supports the strategic plan and delivery of programs that are responsive to member needs and the improvement of library service.”

As stated earlier, the FY 2011 budget represented the realization that we were still working with an economy that was to a great extent still struggling with the aftermath of the financial meltdown of 2008 and the resulting “Great Recession.” Additionally, that the economic realities facing libraries—particularly public, academic and school libraries—and the library profession were likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. Corporations and non-profit organizations alike have had to dramatically modify their spending due to significant reductions in tax revenue. Despite this scenario ALA was still well positioned to tell the story of how the Association, libraries and librarians continue to support the needs of our constituents and society at large. Our efforts in advocacy and advocacy support at the national, state and local levels continued to help reduce the severity of budget cuts on thousands of libraries. As the economy has struggled the need for our services continues to increase.

The financial plan was developed as an outcome of the recession and the 3% budget reduction in the General Fund implemented in FY 2010 was carried over into the FY 2011 budget. It included further reductions in staffing, repositioning current products, elimination of print publications for electronic and a general decrease in operating expenses. The revenue assumptions were conservative and depended significantly on new product development including, enhancement and the marketing of current intellectual property. Additionally, the FY 2011 budget included significant downward expense adjustments based on:

  1. Continued changes in current business models
  2. Better utilization of technology
  3. Increased operating efficiencies—departmentally and physical space
  4. Capitalizing on increasing CE opportunities
  5. Expanding ALA’s reach internationally

Treasurer’s Annual Report | Financial Results | Programmatic Highlights | Financial Factoid | Consolidated Statement | Operational Financial Results | Total Preliminary Budget

FY 2011 Programmatic Highlights 

  • ALTAFF launched its Trustee Academy
  • ALA conferences in San Diego and New Orleans supported ALA programs by generating $889,803 in net revenue
  • PLA conducted a successful “Virtual Spring” symposium
  • Washington Office hosted a number of webinars on advanced advocacy training
  • “Every Child Read to Read” launched by PLA and ALSC
  • ALA’s “Virtual” conference concept continues to expand
  • ACRL conducted a successful national conference
  • Support for increased electronic participation by members in Annual conference and Midwinter meeting committee activities
  • ALA Connect moved into phase2 and is fully functional
  • ALTAFF launched its Authors for Libraries program
  • YALSA conducted a successful YA Literature Symposium

Treasurer’s Annual Report | Financial Results | Programmatic Highlights | Financial Factoid | Consolidated Statement | Operational Financial Results | Total Preliminary Budget

FY 2011 Financial Factoid

  • ALA’s net assets improved by $462,337 (1.6%) to $30.1 million.
  • The revenue producing units Publishing and Meetings & Conferences contributed $1.7 million in combined net revenue.
  • General Fund dues declined marginally by $70,073 (-1.2%) to $5.8 million.
  • Operationally—Total ALA revenues declined by $5.9 million (-11.3%) to $46.6 million, while to total ALA expenses declined by $3.5 million (-6.9%) to $46.8 million.
  • Long-term investments improved by $2.1 million (6.6%) to $33.3 million due to improved market performance related to the overweighting of fixed income securities.
  • General Fund net asset balance declined by $437,067 (-23.4%) to $1.4 million.

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American Library Association Consolidated Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets

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Screenshot American Library Association Consolidated Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets

Treasurer’s Annual Report | Financial Results | Programmatic Highlights | Financial Factoid | Consolidated Statement | Operational Financial Results | Total Preliminary Budget

FY 2011 Operational Financial Results

As stated earlier, ALA operations continue to be negatively impacted by the sluggish economy, but management and staff have worked well to adjust the budget to mute the effects. For the year, Total Revenues declined by $5.9 million (-11.3%) to $46.6 million, primarily due to lower revenues from Grants & Awards ($3.2 million) and Meetings & Conferences ($2.7 million). A number of major grants and awards were sunset during the year, while Meetings & Conferences were impacted by having one less national division conference compared to FY 2010. Total Expenses for the year declined by $3.6 million (-6.9%) to $48.3 million with reductions across the board in all expense categories. These reductions were a direct response to management and staff’s effort to better match expenses to expected revenues after a mid-year review. On an operating basis the result was a net operating loss of ($160,377), which is down from $2.3 million in 2010.

In spite of the challenges during the year, ALA was able to improve its overall financial position. Total Assets during the year increased by $2.9 million (4.3%) to $69.5 million. The improvement in the results from the Associations’ Long-Term Investment activities ($2.5 million) accounted for most of the gain. Total Liabilities also increased during the year by $1.9 million (5.0%) to $39.4 million. Increased Deferred Revenue ($1.4 million) from planned future conferences accounted for the largest change. The result was an increase in the Associations’ Net Asset Balance of $469,335 (1.6%) to $30.1 million.

The following are a number of illustrations that detail the financial results for total ALA and its primary operating activities:

American Library Association Statement of Operations - Revenues, 2011 and 2010.Dues in 2011: $8,656,789; Dues in 2010: $8,820,157.Sale of books in 2011: $5,748,024; Sale of books in 2010: $5,536,135.Subscriptions in 2011:$4,600,175.Subscriptions in 2010:$4,656,326.Advertising in 2011: $5,266,993.Advertising in 2010: $4,876,520.Meetings and conferences in 2011: $10,021,000.Meetings and conferences in 2010: $12,674,350.Products and promotion in 2011: $1,271,473.Products and promotion in 2010: $1,459,906.Grants and awards in 2011: $5,352,123.Grants and awards in 2010: $8,547,760.Contributions in 2011: $1,449,608.Contributions in 2010: $1,510,754.Interests and dividends in 2011:$1,535,283.Interests and dividends in 2010:$1,773,379.Other in 2011: $2,680,212.Other in 2010:$2,633,778.

American Library Association Statement of Operations Total Expenses in 2011 and 2010. Payroll in 2011:$20,938,781.Payroll in 2010: $21,162,124.Outside services in 2011: $6,687,090.Outside services in 2010: $7,295,343.Travel in 2011: $1,731,608.Travel in 2010: $2,529,826.Meeting and conferences in 2011: $6,258,656.Meeting and conferences in 2010: $6,821,535.Publications in 2011: $4,752,007.Publications in 2010: $4,760,810.Operating in 2011: $6,373,855.Operating in 2010: $7,643,113.Postretirement benefits in 2011: $1,587,263.Postretirement benefits in 2010: $1,725,247.

American Library Association Statement of Financial Position - Total Assets 2011 an 2010.Cash and Investments in 2011:$18,088,304.Cash and Investments in 2010: $17,578,601.Grants and receivable in 2011:$802,385.Grants and receivable in 2010:$859,910.Inventory in 2011: $1,214,071.Inventory in 2010:$1,248,792.Prepaid expenses in 2011:$659,748.Prepaid expenses in 2010:$849,190.Property and equipment in 2011:$14,620,551.Property and equipment in 2010:$14,352,580.Long term investments in 2011:$31,310,618.Long term investments in 2010:$28,810,543.Accounts receivable in 2011:$2,847,129.Accounts receivable in 2010:$3,498,195.

ALA Consolidated Statement of Financial Position - Total Liabilities 2011 and 2012: Accounts Payable 2010: $3,075,434;Accounts Payable 2011 $3,256,913;Capital Lease 2010 $557,719;Capital Lease 2011 $351,774;Accrued Liabilites 2010 $1,678,058;Accrued Liabilites 2011 $1,564,819;Deferred Revenue 2010 $11,517,775;Deferred Revenue 2011 $12,875,606;Current LTD 2010 $294,925;Current LTD 2011 $215,945;Post Retirement Benefits 2010 $16,029,217;Post Retirement Benefits 2011 $16,980,883; LTD- Washington Office 2010 $4,396,525;LTD- Washington Office 2011 $4,179,673;

ALA Consolidated Statement of Financial Position -General Fund Revenues 2011 and 2010:Dues 2010 $5,899,585;Dues 2011 $5,829,512;Publishing 2010 $10,845,485;Publishing 2011 $11,262,230;Meeting and Conferences 2010 $6,989,771;Meeting and Conferences 2011 $6,357,200;Contributions 2010 $312,429;Contributions 2011 $274,129;Miscellaneous 2010 $2,378,531;Miscellaneous 2011 $2,324,097;

ALA Consolidated Statement of Financial Position -General Fund Expenses 2011 and 2010:Payroll 2010 $14,049,935;Payroll 2011 $14,590,555;Outside Services 2010 $3,551,994;Outside Services 2011 $3,692,949;Travel 2010 $949,077;Travel 2011 $961,876;Meetings and Conferences 2010 $3,080,887;Meetings and Conferences 2011 $2,976,411;Publications 2010 $2,887,965;Publications 2011 $2,907,461;Operating 2010 $941,283;Operating 2011 $1,701,934;Transfers 2010 $432,167;Transfers 2011 $193,669;

ALA Statement of Operations - Division Revenues 2011 and 2010:Dues 2010 $2,743,929;Dues 2011 $2,650,905;Publishing 2010 $5,448,812;Publishing 2011 $5,400,863;Meeting and Conferences 2010 $5,557,159;Meeting and Conferences 2011 $3,592,348;Contributions 2010 $820,277;Contributions 2011 $839,179;Miscellaneous 2010 $1,168,499;Miscellaneous 2011 $1,196,940;

ALA Statement of Operations - Division Expenses 2011 and 2010:Payroll 2010 $5,239,333;Payroll 2011 $5,280,221;Outside Services 2010 $1,470,697; Outside Services 2011 $1,309,206;Travel 2010 $699,677;Travel 2011 $415,387; Meetings & Conferences 2010 $1,958,522;Meetings & Conferences 2011 $2,007,018; Publications 2010 $1,609,486;Publications 2011 $1,619,005;Operating 2010 $1,224,095;Operating 2011 $1,076,712;Inter-Fund Transfers 2010 $271,519;Inter-Fund Transfers 2011 $343,426;Overhead 2010 $1,945,679;Overhead 2011 $1,597,304;

ALA Statement of Operations - Round Tables Revenues 2011 and 2010:Dues 2010 $176,643Dues 2011 $176,327Publishing 2010 $123,719Publishing 2011 $97,654Meeting and Conferences 2010 $72,232Meeting and Conferences 2011 $40,802Contributions 2010 $29,770Contributions 2011 $30,217Miscellaneous 2010 $2,816Miscellaneous 2011 $5,140

ALA Statement of Operations - Round Tables Expenses 2011 and 2010:Payroll 2010 $1,680;Payroll 2011 $2,390;Outside Services 2010 $16,345;Outside Services 2011 $6,131;Travel 2010 $2,873;Travel 2011 $9,944;Meetings & Conferences 2010 $138,028;Meetings & Conferences 2011 $105,535;Publications 2010 $45,356; Publications 2011 $69,114;Operating 2010 $11,013;Operating 2011 $7,054;Inter-Fund Transfers 2010 $9,138;Inter-Fund Transfers 2011 $6,951;Overhead 2010 $17,664;Overhead 2011 $17,632

Treasurer’s Annual Report | Financial Results | Programmatic Highlights | Financial Factoid | Consolidated Statement | Operational Financial Results | Total Preliminary Budget

Total Preliminary Budget

The total ALA FY 2012 budgeted revenues, which includes the General Fund, Divisions, Round Tables, Plant Fund, Grants and Awards and the Long-Term Investments, are $50,266,072 as compared to the FY 2011 budget of $46,163,851. The year-to-year increase of $4,102,221 (8.9%) reflects having two national division conferences during the year compared to one in FY 2011, as well as additional grants during the year. The total ALA FY 2012 expenses are $50,252,558 as compared to the FY 2011 expenses of $47,225,658. The total ALA budget reflects revenues exceeding expenses by $13,514.

The following illustrations represent some of the detail with respect to the above mentioned budgeted revenues and expenses for FY 2012:

ALA Statement of Operations - 2012 Budgeted Total Revenues $50,266,072:Dues $8,668,925Publishing $16,430,455Products and Promotions $1,208,436Grants and Awards $4,264,876Meetings and Conferences $13,139,439Long-Term Investments $1,927,797Miscellaneous $4,626,144

ALA Statement of Operations - 2012 Budgeted Total Expenses $50,252,558:Payroll and Related $21,810,208;Outside Services $6,798,557;Travel and Related $2,374,215;Meetings and Conferences $6,459,093;Publication Related $4,483,337;Operating Expenses $8327,148;