The last session of ALA’s governing Council ended two-and-half hours early as the body sailed through its agenda.
Council passed several items from the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and its Chair Tom Wilding, including: a change in the constitution regarding endowment trustees increasing the composition to no fewer than three nor more than six members; defining the Executive Director as a non-voting officer and member of the Executive Board and specifying that the quorum required for voting members; clarifying responsibilities and charge for the Committee on Election; and the filing of councilor-at-large vacancies (Council Document #25).
Also approved was a resolution from the Intellectual Freedom Committee, chaired by Julius Jefferson, but presented by committee member Charles Kratz, on Access to and Classification of Government Information that, in part, commends President Barack Obama for establishing the National Declassification Agency and urges Congress to pass legislation that expands protections for whistleblowers in the federal government.(CD#19.1).
Four Committee on Legislation resolutions moved forward, offered by Chair Kratz: commending the U.S. Congress and the President on the Reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act (CD#20.1); commending President Obama and the U.S. Senate in nominating and confirming Susan Hildreth as the Institute of Museum and Library Services Director (CD#20.2); thanking “Bob” Tapella for his service as the 25th Public Printer of the United States (CD#20.3); and commending Senator Jack Reed for his efforts to recognize libraries as essential community organizations during disasters (CD#20.4).
Council also passed resolutions in support of requesting Congress to reintroduce and vote on the DREAM Act (CD#39 revised) and regarding the removal and censorship of artwork from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery (CD#36 revised).
Three Council members were elected to the ALA Executive Board for the 2011–2014 term: Dora Ho, Sylvia K. Norton, and Michael Porter.
Memorial resolutions were passed for George P. D’Elia, Locke Morrisey, Edward Gailon Holley, and Carolyn Wicker Field.
Council also passed tribute resolutions in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Arkansas Library Association, thanking the organizers of the new ALA Retired Members Round Table, and honoring John Ison on his retirement from Demco after 25 years.
In other actions, a measure that would have required the executive director to notify conference and meeting attendees of hotels named on “Do Not Patronize” Lists (CD#32 revised) was defeated and two resolutions dealing with WikiLeaks were indefinitely tabled: on WikiLeaks and federal agencies (CD#37 revised) and in support of Wikileaks (CD#38 revised).