Council III session

January 29, 2013

At the final Council session of Midwinter 2013, a number of actions were taken.

The following individuals were recognized in Memorials:

Alice Holly Scott
Leo Dillon
Clara Stanton Jones
Phyllis Brodnax Heroy
Aaron Swartz
Joseph Branin
Harris Clark McClaskey
Barbara Ann Schmitt Webb
Genevieve “Kay” Bishop
William (Bill) DeJohn

A tribute resolution was dedicated to the Association for Library Service to Children on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal.

On behalf of the Committee of Tellers for the election, it was noted that 130 ballots were cast and 0 ballots void in the election of the following two members to the Executive Board:

James G. Neal, 81 votes
Sara Kelly Johns, 68 votes

At the recommendation of the Committee on Legislation (COL), Council recognized (CD#20.2) Sen. Olympia Snow (R- Maine) on her 2013 retirement after 18 years “of dedicated commitment to libraries and the American public that depends upon them.” Council also approved COL’s resolution supporting the application of the first sale doctrine of the copyright law to all materials in library collections (CD#20.1).

Council passed two resolutions proposed by the International Relations Committee: one supporting the WIPO treaty for improved access for people who are blind, visually impaired, and with other print disabilities (CD#18.1) and the other a resolution on US funding and participation in UNESCO (CD#18.2).

A revised resolution on a personal dues adjustment (CD#14.1) passed and will go to the Membership on the 2013 ballot for a vote. If approved by Membership, a five-year dues adjustment mechanism would be established in which the Executive Board would review personal member dues annually every September from 2013 to 2017 in order to consider a dues adjustment not to exceed the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Any increase proposed above the CPI would be subject to a mail vote of personal members, and any subsequent dues adjustment after 2017 would require approval by the ALA Executive Board, Council, and a mail vote of ALA personal members.

In new business, a resolution on divestment of holdings in fossil fuel companies (CD#35) was declared out of order and not voted on. A resolution on reaffirming ALA support for whistleblowers including Bradley Manning and John Kiriakou (CD#36) was referred to the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Committee on Legislation.

Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels reported that total attendance at this Midwinter meeting was 10,731, including 4,037 exhibitors, 1,175 on site registrants and 5,519 advance registrants. He also noted the following petition candidates for Council as of January 29*:

Sue Kamm
Cristina Dominguez Ramirez
Maria Taesil Hudson Carpenter
Gladys Smiley Bell
Carolyn V. Neal

Council adjourned after two hours, at 10:30.

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