In what looks very much like the beginning of a beautiful friendship, Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández recently visited American Library Association Headquarters in Chicago, accompanied by First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, to talk with ALA staff about libraries. Fernández spoke passionately, but pragmatically, about his plans for developing a superior public library system … Continue reading Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez on Libraries→
How will politicians and library leaders respond to the challenges of shrinking budgets, increased community expectations, and ever aggressive competition? One approach is to replace current library management teams with private profit-driven companies whose first strategy is to attack labor cost. In a September 26 New York Times article titled “Anger as a Private Company … Continue reading Get Ahead of Outsourcing→
During my 34 years as a member of ALA I have heard others—some members, some former members, some never a member—complain about the Association and its value. Complaints I have heard again and again include: It costs too much. It should be possible to join one of the Association’s 11 divisions without joining ALA. It … Continue reading Is the Association Ripe for Rebellion?→
