ALA Vice Presidential Candidates Offer Their Responses
to ALCTS Questions
Three candidates are running for President of ALA 2004-2005 in the upcoming
election this spring. They are:
Carol A. Brey, Director of the
El Paso Public Library, El Paso TX
Robert Newlen, Head of the Legislative
Relations Office, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress,
Washington D.C.
Herman L. Totten, Regents Professor
of Library and Information Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton
TX
We offered each of the candidates an opportunity to respond to four questions
posed by ALCTS on behalf of the division membership, to acquaint ALCTS
members with the candidates, and to acquaint the candidates with some
of ALCTS' concerns.
What do you see as the greatest challenges facing those engaged in
the areas of work represented by ALCTS (acquisitions, cataloging, serials,
preservation, and collection development) in the near future? How can
ALA assist these members in meeting those challenges?
Bray:
There are three primary challenges that I believe
ALCTS members may face in the near future. The first is related to federated
or simultaneous searching of holdings, such as those of a collaborative
or consortium. Cooperation is critical to today's libraries, as budgets
shrink and materials become increasingly expensive. El Paso libraries
have formed the El Paso Area Libraries (EPAL) consortium, which will eventually
provide simultaneous searching of members' holdings from the EPAL website.
This has been a challenge for the staff of our respective technical services
and automation departments, as we attempt to find solutions that function
across different automated systems, bandwidths, and different classification
systems. ALA can help libraries in these circumstances by researching
the various options available for federated searching, and providing training
in utilizing these options.
The second challenge is that of preservation, as
we attempt to maintain our history and our heritage in a wide variety
of formats. Like many libraries across the country, El Paso Public Library
has a vast collection of resources that reflect our rich heritage, and
these items must be preserved for generations to come. ALA can assist
its members in meeting these challenges by seeking or providing grant
opportunities for preservation projects, and by providing information
and training in preservation.
The third challenge is to establish standards in
a rapidly changing technological environment. The ALA Handbook indicates
that one of ALCTS' goals is to "Develop, evaluate, revise and promote
standards…" This becomes increasingly difficult as systems and
formats change. ALA can help with this challenge by identifying the need
for changes in standards, supporting these changes, and promoting the
use of standards to members.
Newlen:
Like their colleagues in other parts of ALA, ALCTS members are faced with
the challenge of trying to sustain daily operations in the current fiscal
crisis. The unique challenge facing ALCTS members is that of getting through
this year while trying to prevent unreplaceable gaps in serials collections
and letting irreplaceable resources be destroyed because of lack of funds
to preserve them.
Funding is an even more key issue for ALCTS members
because they must collect monographs today which may be out-of-print next
week and preserve both print and electronic resources which may be past
salvation next year.
I believe that ALA can best assist our colleagues
who work in library collections and technical services by strengthening
and supporting the work of our Washington office. If we do not immediately
begin to strengthen support for our legislative arm, federal funds flowing
to libraries will be harmed for at least the next several budget years.
As President, this would be my number one priority. I don't have all the
answers and I need to hear from ALCTS members who cope with these challenges
on a daily basis. I encourage members to contact me via my website at
www.robertnewlen.com
Totten:
Challenges facing acquisitions and collection development include balancing
the need for print and electronic resources, funding both types of resources,
particularly electronic which tend to be more expensive, and balancing
the needs of the information seeker and the holder of copyright.
It is my considered opinion, as a former professor
of Cataloging and Classification, that greatest challenge in cataloging
and serials lies in the need for the appropriate education of catalogers
of both bibliographic and non-bibliographic items. Other concerns include
staying current with the constant appearance and disappearance of electronic
information objects. It appears that catalogers are facing the same challenges
that were faced by catalogers in the post-WWII era when the world experienced
a great influx of scientific materials. Catalogers were struggling to
organize, control, and provide access. Also during this period, many new
tools, techniques, and systems were created to handle the information
explosion.
Another challenge involves the need to eradicate
the stereotypical image of catalogers and serial catalogers as anti-social
and reclusive. Although the image has impeded recruitment in the past,
I believe that some people are beginning to recognize the value of the
work.
Another challenge is the need to upgrade tools and
techniques. Classification systems, such as LCC and DDC, need to be modified
to become more dynamic.
Preservation faces a daunting challenge. How do
we preserve the millions of volumes in today's libraries that are printed
on non-rag-tear-based paper?
ALA can assist in all of these challenges in the same manner it has historically.
As an example, ALA developed AACR, AACR2, and other bibliographic initiatives
that continue to result in effective tools for bibliographic control.
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Why did you decide to run for ALA President? If you are elected, what
will be your prime focus? What do you hope to accomplish during your term?
How do your ALA goals and philosophy relate to ALCTS, and what role might
ALCTS have in helping you achieve your goals?
Bray:
I decided to run for ALA president because I believe in my ability to
lead our association as we face the challenges ahead. A democratic society
depends on libraries to provide equal access to knowledge and information
in all its forms. Yet our libraries continue to be under-funded, understaffed,
closed too many hours, and even closed permanently in some cases. Now
more than ever, it is critical that we take every opportunity to advocate
for libraries and the people who work in them.
My entire platform may be found on my website, www.Carolbrey.com,
but the following points illustrate my top priorities for my presidency:
¨ Promotion of literacy and the freedom to read for all;
¨ Protection and defense of intellectual freedom, including unfiltered
access to information;
¨ Safeguarding our patrons' privacy, now threatened by the USA Patriot
Act, the Homeland Security Act, and related laws and regulations;
¨ Bridging the digital divide, ensuring that everyone has the technology
needed to access information;
¨ Support for the ALA Better Salaries and Pay Equity initiative;
¨ Funding of recruitment and retention programs such as the Spectrum
Scholarship program, to increase diversity in our profession; and
¨ Advocacy for libraries, with continued support for the "Campaign
for America's Libraries" and the Library Advocacy Network.
I began my career in Technical Services, serving
as a paraprofessional in my local public library in Springfield, Illinois.
Since that time, and in my current position as Director of the El Paso
(TX) Public Library, I have recognized that access to information depends
on the effectiveness of technical services departments across the country.
In addition, advocacy for libraries will assist in securing the budgets
we need for collection development, acquisitions, cataloging, and other
technical services functions.
Newlen:
Libraries are experiencing a devastating fiscal crisis and America's librarians
and library users expect ALA to help. I decided to run for President because
I believe ALA members' best interests will be served by focusing its scarce
resources on two critical areas:
- Supporting our work in the legislative arena
and building a strong financial future for ALA. If elected, I will
bring the Association's full focus on the major issue facing every library
in America today: funding. Libraries are seeing decreases in every type
of revenue they receive. We must grow up politically and realize that
if we do not immediately strengthen and support the work of our Washington
office, our collections will be irreparably harmed.
Working on Capitol Hill for over 25 years,
I know the value of ALA's presence in Washington and the need to leverage
our strength with carefully chosen partners. If elected, I would make
supporting these efforts my number one priority because without success
in the legislative arena, all ALA's other efforts on behalf of our nation's
library users are moot. I would work hard to mobilize the talents of
our members: librarians, library support staff, trustees, vendors, and
other friends of libraries and library users to help persuade policy
makers.
- Ensuring intellectual freedom for library
users. I believe this is best done by
building a strong financial future for ALA. Intellectual freedom underlies
everything libraries stand for. It is the raison d'etre of our mission.
Without intellectual freedom, there is no value in making information
and ideas readily available.
ALA has incurred enormous legal bills defending against such threats.
As President, I will commit myself to leading a much better-coordinated,
ongoing vehicle for building a strong financial base. As an Executive
Board member and Endowment Trustee, I have advocated for strategic and
business planning for the association, expansion of fund raising and
planned giving activities, and development of new revenue sources.
The goals for my presidency are clearly linked with the ALA Strategic
plan, ALAction 2005: to strengthen and support our work in the legislative
arena and to build financial resources so we will never hesitate to
defend intellectual freedom and other core values of our profession.
By the end of my presidency, my goal is to have
built support and made significant progress in pursuing these objectives.
ALCTS members are critical in helping to meet these goals.
Totten:
When I was asked to run for ALA president, I considered the request carefully.
I decided that my thirty-five years of experience as a leader had not
only allowed me insight into ALA's challenges, but had also allowed me
time to develop close associations with the incredibly talented members
of ALA. Both the insight and the associations provide me with the necessary
preparation to respond effectively to ALA's opportunities in the 21st
century.
If elected, my prime focus will be diversity and
equity of access - both conventional objectives of American libraries.
I also intend to continue to support lifelong learning, improved services
and the increase of pay for all library workers.
I believe it is very difficult to complete an initiative
in the short period of time of an individual's presidency. I find it more
beneficial to continue the initiatives of previous presidents within ALA's
key action areas.
As a former cataloger and professor of cataloging
and classification, I would involve ALCTS in all of my initiatives because
I sincerely feel that an understanding of the role of cataloging and classification
is fundamental to performing any function in a library or information
agency during this, the Information century.
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How can ALA make certain that members whose primary affiliation is
a "type of activity" division, feel connected to the concerns
of the organization as a whole? How might their involvement be increased?
How might ALA's awareness of their concerns be increased?
Bray:
ALA has nearly doubled in size since I joined it in 1983, and, with nearly
64,000 members, it becomes more difficult to keep everyone connected.
The divisions have done an excellent job of keeping people involved, and
providing professional development activities that meet the specific needs
of librarians and library workers from all types of libraries.
I believe it is essential that leadership of the
divisions and ALA work together to make sure their respective goals are
complementary. Common goals that we can all agree upon will build excitement
within our membership and create increased involvement at all levels.
Newlen:
When I worked on the ALA Conference Committee, I was struck by the depth
and breadth of ALCTS's programs. I worked hard to develop and implement
the "track" focus of conference publicity; I believe this work
has provided great visibility to ALCTS.
But more can be done. As President, I would more aggressively promote
the critical roles of librarians working in the areas of collections and
technical services. Having served as ALA Awards Committee chair, I see
a number of excellent opportunities to give more visibility to awards
related to ALCTS activities. Again, I am interested in listening to ALCTS
member views on these issues. I also feel strongly that we must market
the full range of careers that are possible with library and information
science degrees, particularly the rewarding opportunities in the area
of collections and technical services.
Totten:
I have long felt that the President of ALA had the responsibility of communicating
to all of the units that they are not silos. As such, ALA is an umbrella
organization and not a federation. With this in mind, I propose in my
inaugural address to forge meaningful coalitions among all of the units
for the purpose of developing a loyalty to the Association equal to a
member's loyalty to his or her division or round table. I will also propose
presidential programs to be presented at Midwinter and Annual that cut
across all types of libraries and functions. What ALA sorely needs during
both its meetings are plenary sessions that bring together all members
of the Association in attendance.
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In recent years ALA has engaged in a variety of public relations and
visionary activities such as Goal 2000; Libraries: An American Value;
and task forces on core values, core competencies, etc. In some of these
efforts it has been difficult for ALCTS members to "see themselves"
or to see that the Association embraces issues that are critical to ALCTS.
What steps will you take to increase ALA's inclusiveness within its own
ranks?
Bray:
This relates to my response to the previous question, as I think it is
time for ALA to embark on a strategic planning process that builds on
previous planning efforts-such as ALAction 2005 and ALA Goal 2000. Having
worked with numerous organizations as a strategic planning consultant,
I know that planning can build teamwork and expertise within any organization,
creating improved communication across all levels and programs. The initial
"planning-to-plan" stage should involve gathering information
from all members about their needs through surveys, focus groups, and
regional ALA meetings.
Newlen:
I believe that ALCTS members are very concerned about library funding
which is the primary focus of my Presidential interests. I am committed
to involving ALCTS members in activities related to strengthening and
supporting the work of our Washington office, especially those legislative
activities which fund collections and preservation.
I would take particular care to ensure greater involvement of ALCTS members
in Legislative Day activities because I believe ALCTS members bring critical
expertise and experience to the table.
Totten:
While forging meaningful coalitions within the Association, I envision
a unique role for ALCTS. Bibliographic control is the one common goal
of all librarians and information managers. Consequently, one facet of
the president's programs at Midwinter and Annual would be to raise the
Association's consciousness to the significant role that ACLTS plays in
bibliographic control. I would ask ACLTS to develop a segment of the program
that communicated that concept.
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