Officially Speaking | February 2025

Dearest ALSC Members,

These are strange times, and it can often feel like we’ve gone two steps forward, and now ten steps back. And in some cases, it’s true. I don’t want to start on a negative note, but I have always leaned more towards a realist perspective, and in this moment, we are going to need to stick together more than ever. But let’s begin with something that was positive, though bittersweet: LibLearnX (LLX) 2025.

It was wonderful to see many of you in Phoenix at the final LLX. I will remember and cherish the time there for many years to come. I heard from many members that they were glad to be able to celebrate this last LibLearnX with friends and revisit memories of Midwinters gone by. And while the future is not yet finalized, ALA and ALSC are finding ways to ensure that in-person deliberations for committees, and the awards announcements, are still able to continue.

Which brings me to the Youth Media Awards. Whether you had your own guesses, or you were part of one of the many Mock Elections that occurred around the country, it’s inevitable that there were surprises in store for everyone on Monday morning. Part of what makes the YMA announcements so magical is that there is really no way to know who will win or be honored throughout the morning (unless you served on a committee, of course), but whatever the results, lives will be changed because of the work of the incredible awards committee members.

It is an incredible experience to be in the room when announcements are made, hearing all the applause, gasps of surprise, and the cheering of so many children’s and teen literature lovers. It is a different experience entirely to witness the waves of applause from on stage.

The ALSC staff worked tirelessly throughout the entire weekend, vetting publication details for honored and winning books in preparation for the YMAs, dealing with last-minute details and ensuring that everything went off without a hitch. Their dedication and hard work made the LLX experience exciting and enjoyable for all attendees. I can’t thank them enough!

The weekend was not without its more serious moments, though, particularly in light of new sociopolitical realities. Many a conversation focused on intellectual freedom, political unrest, and increasing attacks on children, librarians, and literature. But ALSC members, and children’s librarians at large, are some of the most passionate, dedicated, and resilient people I know. I am grateful for everyone who is finding ways of pushing back against attacks on the people we serve and the literature we celebrate. You inspire me continually.

On another more positive note, late last year, we were approached by the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) jury, asking if we would be interested in serving as a nominating body. After discussion with the ALSC Board and the ALMA jury, we have been officially elected to serve as a nominating body moving forward. It’s an exciting opportunity for ALSC to build up our presence internationally and find ways of elevating children’s literature creators beyond our own suite of awards.

The last few months have brought with them some inspiring and celebratory moments, but there has also been an onslaught of attacks against our profession, and in many cases our existence. We will continue to work hard and fight the good fight together. We have much to do, but we also have each other. I look forward to seeing many of you in Philadelphia in June, coming together, building each other up, comforting one another, and even celebrating, however we can.

Onwards!—Rob Bittner, PhD (He/Him), ALSC President, 2024-25

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It was an honor to represent ALSC at LibLearnX 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, this year as your Division Councilor. Please find below the recap of Council actions and key updates that took place.

ALA Allied Professional Association Certification Program, ALA-APA CD#7

On the recommendation of the ALA-APA Executive Board, the ALA Council voted to approve establishing the new Library Management Staff Certification Program.

On the recommendation of the ALA-APA Executive Board, the ALA Council voted to approve establishing the new Library Support Staff Certification Program.

Corporate Sponsorship Guidelines, ALA CD#34. On the recommendation of the ALA Executive Board, voted to approve the ALA Corporate Sponsorship Guidelines to Council and insert them into ALA’s Policy Manual, Section A.

Resolution on the ALA Executive Board Composition, ALA CD#48. After some discussion, ALA Council voted that Article V, Section 1 of the ALA Bylaws, Executive Board Composition, be revised to return to its previous language: The Executive Board of the American Library Association shall consist of thirteen (13) members including: the four (4) officers of the Association, the immediate past president, and eight (8) councilors elected by Council to three-year (3-year) terms.

“Prisoners’ Right to Read: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights” ALA CD#19.1. ALA Council voted to approve the Intellectual Freedom Committee’s “Prisoners’ Right to Read: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights.”

Policy Monitoring Committee, ALA CD#17. ALA Council voted to merge section B.1.2.1 into B.1.2.

Bylaws Committee, ALA CD#25. As per Article XVII, Section 3 of the ALA Bylaws, ALA Council voted to approve the following editorial update of Article VI, Section 8 (Council Succession). It was agreed that the update does not change the substance of this Section and need not go to the ALA membership for a vote.

Bylaws Committee rationale for update: The retention of the modifier “at large” preceding “Councilor” was an oversight from the General Revision process, inasmuch as the stipulation “will be filled by the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the annual election” applies not only to At-Large Councilors. The suggested updates that follow in this Section simply clarify which “executive director” is referenced and which meeting.

Committee on Organization, ALA CD#27. Motion from Committee on Organization to create a MakerSpace Round Table was defeated.

ALA Council voted to discontinue the Council Tellers Committee. The recommendation to sunset the committee came from the Council Tellers Committee themselves.

ALA Policy Manual Revision Working Group (APMRWG ) Update, ALA CD#40. Following the approval of the Operating Agreement Proposal by the ALA Executive Board at its October 2024 meeting, the APMRWG was asked to make necessary adjustments in the APM to reflect the approved Proposal. Updates will be found in the wholly revised Chapter 9 (Divisions) of the forthcoming General Revision.

Following Ray Pun’s need to withdraw from the position of President-Elect, the APMRWG was asked to craft language for the APM that explicates the following statement in Article V, Section 3 of the Bylaws: The Executive Board shall fill a vacancy in the office of the president-elect or the treasurer within thirty (30) days of any such vacancy, subject to a confirmation vote by Council.

That work is expected to take place either in the context of Chapter 4 (Officers and Governance) or Chapter 14 (Elections, Appointments, and Positions).

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), ALA CD#22. FRTF reports that on December 23, 2024, Judge Brooks of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas ruled that both Sections 1 and 5 of Arkansas’ Act 372 are unconstitutional. The final order issued in Fayetteville Public Library, et al. v. Crawford County, Arkansas, permanently bars the State of Arkansas from enforcing Sections 1 and 5 of the law.

Resolution on the Elections to the ALA Executive Board, ALA CD#49. ALA Council approved this resolution with the following edited language (bold): Be it resolved that the Executive Board forms an Ad-Hoc Committee to explore possibilities of ensuring diverse representation in ALA’s Executive Board, including but not limited to the possibility of those standing for election to the Executive Board not be limited to Council members. The Ad-Hoc Committee will report to the Executive Board with recommendations by October 2025.

Memorial Resolutions:
Memorial Resolution #1 Honoring Sheila Intner
Memorial Resolution #2 Honoring Kathleen Weibel
Memorial Resolution #3 Honoring Ellen Spring
Memorial Resolution #4 Honoring Garrett Crowell
Memorial Resolution #5 Honoring George Lindall Abbott
Memorial Resolution #6 Honoring Alden Rollins
Memorial Resolution #7 Honoring Helen Amabile
Memorial Resolution #8 Honoring Chrystal Carr Jeter

Tribute Resolutions:
Tribute Resolution #1 Honoring Alan Inouye upon his retirement from the American Library Association
Tribute Resolution #2 in Honor of FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel
Tribute Resolution #3 Honoring Clara Nalli Bohrer for Her Exceptional Service to the American Library Association and its divisions, especially the Public Library Association

A complete list of Council Documents for ALA LibLearnX 2025 can be found on the ALA website. Please feel free to contact me if I can answer any questions.—Julie Roach, ALSC Division Councilor

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