Conflict of Interest Statement
American Library Association
Association for Library Collections & Technical Services
(Adopted January 3, 1990;revised June 29, 1993)
Certain activities sponsored by ALCTS may pose an actual or potential “conflict
of interest” between a member’s business or personal affiliations
and his or her participation in the association. ALCTS members asked to serve
as officers or on committees must be conscious of real or potential conflicts
of interest and the possible effects of such conflicts on the credibility of
the division. Such activities include, but are not limited to:
Service as an elected or appointed officer;
Service on nominating committees;
Service on award committees;
Service as a liaison from ALCTS to other organizations within or beyond ALA;
Discussion and evaluation of standards for services received from suppliers
Awarding of contracts to suppliers of library materials;
Participation in programs or presentations to the membership as a whole
Other activities which may influence or have financial implications for one's
work or personal life.
No member should make, participate in making, or use his/her ALCTS position
to influence the making of any committee, section or division decision in which
the member has a direct or indirect financial or personal interest.
If a member determines that he/she should not participate in a decision because
of an actual or potential conflict of interest, this should be disclosed to
either the chair of the group in question or to the group as a whole. In the
case of a voting body, the determination and disclosure should be made part
of the official record of the body, and the member should abstain from action
on the matter(s) in conflict. In the case of a committee appointment the disclosure
should be made in writing to the appropriate appointing officer. Nominating
committees approaching members to be candidates for elective office should ask
possible candidates to disclose any potential conflict of interest before agreeing
to run for office. Disclosures of potential conflicts of interest, written or
verbal, in the case of committee appointments or as a candidate for elective
office should receive a written response from the appropriate appointing officer
or the nominating committee.
Any member who is unsure of his/her responsibilities in this area may request
assistance from the ALCTS Executive Director and the executive committee of
the section or association, as appropriate. ALCTS bears an equal responsibility
for dealing fairly and professionally with its members in the area of conflicts
of interest. Great care should be taken to ensure that a person’s reputation
is not affected negatively in the resolution of such conflicts.
If a member fails to identify a conflict of interest which may reflect negatively
on the actions of ALCTS, the appropriate executive committee may, by a majority
decision, alter or eliminate the member's ALCTS assignment or responsibility.
(This statement is readopted by the ALCTS Board of Directors each year.)
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