American Library Association (ALA) President Wanda Kay Brown called the second ALA Council meeting to order at 3:02 p.m. on June 23 at ALA Virtual. The agenda (CD#8.6) was adopted.
Former ALA President Jim Neal, chair of the Committee on Organization (COO), presented the COO report (CD#27.2). COO worked on several initiatives, including the merger of three divisions—the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), the Library Information Technology Association (LITA), and the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA)—into Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures. A motion to dissolve ALCTS, LITA, and LLAMA effective August 31, 2020, passed. A motion to authorize the organization of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures as a division of ALA, effective September 1, also passed.
A motion to dissolve the Association of Specialized, Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASGCLA) as a division of ALA passed, as did a motion to allocate ASGCLA’s components to the respective ALA units. (ASGCLA’s components will be allocated to ALA’s Chapter Relations Office; Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services; Core; and Reference and User Services Association.)
A second vote on officially dissolving ALA divisions is required by the bylaws; that vote will take place during a special meeting after Council III on June 27.
Ben Hunter, chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, brought several proposed changes to the ALA Constitution (CD#25.1). A motion to add language to the constitution to clarify that both Council and membership meetings may be held electronically and that voting may take place at those meetings passed, as did a motion to change the requirements for a quorum in the bylaws to make them consistent with the requirements in the constitution.
Committee on Legislation Chair Rob Banks presented that committee’s report highlights (CD#20.3), including updates on ALA’s advocacy and legislative efforts in response to COVID-19.
International Relations Committee Chair Emily Drabinski noted in her report (CD#18.2) that 85 international colleagues registered for ALA Virtual. ALA’s International Relations Round Table Webinar Committee hosted a series of webinars on best practices from libraries around the world on reopening. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ 2020 World Library and Information Congress in Dublin has been canceled.
Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair Julia Warga gave an update on the committee’s activities (CD#19.6–19.10), including recent censorship and challenges and recognition of the 50th anniversary of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund. A resolution condemning police violence against Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), protesters, and journalists passed.
Emily Knox, president of the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF), provided an update (CD#22.1) on FTRF’s recent activities, including current litigation and continuing education opportunities. The 2020 FTRF Roll of Honor Award recipient is Kelley L. Allen, director of books at the gaming site HumbleBundle.com.
Julius C. Jefferson Jr. gave an update on Forward Together, the Steering Committee for Organizational Effectiveness (CD#42). A motion to adopt the Moving ALA Forward Together timeline of next steps was moved to Council III.
Brown adjourned the meeting at 5:02 p.m.
