Emily Drabinski, president of the American Library Association (ALA), called the third and final ALA Council meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. July 1 during the 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego.
Council approved the meeting’s agenda (CD#8.6), and Drabinski announced memorial resolutions for:
- Joseph John Harzbecker, Jr. (M#7)
- Nancy E. Gwinn (M#8)
- Karen Crane (M#9)
- William Noel (M#10)
- Carole J. McCollough (M#11)
- Phyllis Jean Fisher (M#12)
- Linda Anne Dougherty (M#13)
- Delaine Andree Eastin(M#14)
- Jodie Gambill (M#15)
- Carolyn V. Neal (M#16)
- Marcia Goodfellow Schatz (M#17)
- James (Jim) Joseph Campbell (M#18)
- Satia Marshall Orange (M#19)
Additionally, tribute resolutions honored the following:
ALA Treasurer Peter Hepburn presented his budget update, financial details from the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2024, and Fiscal Year 2025 Revised Budget Schedule (CD#13.1-4).
Head Teller Dorcas Hand announced the results of the elections for the Committee on Committees (COC) and Planning and Budget Assembly (PBA). Erin Berman, Shauntee Burns-Simpson, Aaron Dobbs, and Jillian Rudes will serve on the 2024–2025 COC. For PBA, Edenia Hernandez and Joseph Thomas will serve as 2024–2026 Chapter Councilors. Vivian Bordeaux, Ana Elisa de Campos Salles, and Jahala Simuel will be the 2024–2026 PBA At-Large Councilors (CD#12.2).
Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair Lesliediana Jones presented her group’s report (CD#19.3-19.5), as did Chair Ed Garcia on behalf of the Committee on Legislation (CD#20.1). Garcia also presented a resolution for urging library workers and supporters to participate in the 2024 elections and future ones, including registering and going out to vote, informing themselves about races on their ballot, and engaging with colleagues and community members. The motion passed 163-1.
Julius C. Jefferson, chair of the International Relations Committee (IRC), presented the IRC report (CD#18.1), and Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) trustee Sophia Sotilleo presented FTRF’s updates from the past year (CD#22.1).
Executive Board member Stephanie Chase introduced a resolution directing the board to form a working group to develop Societal Statement Guidelines for ALA, using a framework provided by the Center for Association Leadership. The resolution also directed the working group to provide an update by ALA’s 2025 Annual Conference in Philadelphia (CD#53). The motion passed 151-6 with five voters abstaining.
Following the vote during Council II on June 30 to delete outdated material from ALA’s Policy Manual (CD#17.1), Tara Brady, councilor for ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table, presented a resolution to convene a working group to consider revising, updating, and reinstating recently the removed language. (CD#54). The motion failed with a vote of 15-143 with five abstaining.
Drabinski also provided an update about the process to fill the vacancy of president-elect, after Raymond Pun announced June 14 he would not be assuming the role due to health issues. According to ALA Bylaws, she explained, the Executive Board is tasked with filling the vacancy within 30 days. In this case, the start of the vacancy is July 2, when President Cindy Hohl assumed office.
The Executive Board has established a working group of incoming and outgoing members to put together a report and recommendations. The board will meet on July 9 to review and determine an appointee, and Council will meet July 23 for a confirmation vote. “We believe we’re able to meet the demand of the bylaws,” Drabinski said.
After the recognition of retiring councilors and Executive Board members (CD#46), interim executive director Leslie Burger provided the final Annual registration numbers of 7,928 paid registrants (13,523 total). Drabinski adjourned the meeting at 11:20 a.m.
