ALA Conference in Chicago
Draws Near-Record Crowd
The American Library Association’s Annual Conference drew some 24,427 librarians and library supporters to Chicago July 6–12. Speakers included broadcaster, author, and raconteur Studs Terkel, who keynoted the Opening General Session; 7 Habits of Highly Effective People author Stephen Covey at the Closing General Session; and author and educator Jonathan Kozol, the highlight of ALA President Sarah Ann Long’s President’s Program. Long’s “Blues Bash” featuring Chicago blues star Koko Taylor and benefiting ALA scholarships for library school students drew a sellout crowd.
ALA Council failed to accept the long-awaited, much-debated Core Values Statement, intended to identify and clarify the core values of the profession. The other major item on Council’s agenda, a study commissioned by ALA on the impact of outsourcing and privatization on libraries, was roundly attacked by councilors for finding no evidence that outsourcing per se has had a negative effect on library services and management.
At conference end, the Association inaugurated Nancy Kranich as its 2000–2001 president. A full report on the conference will appear in the September issue of American Libraries and the special reports section of American Libraries Online.
Posted July 17. 2000.
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