ALA finances Archives | Page 2 of 2 | American Libraries Magazine

ALA Selects Cushman & Wakefield as Strategic Real Estate Advisor

February 28, 2018

As the real estate advisor, Cushman & Wakefield will provide real estate and consulting services to achieve ALA’s stated goals and optimize the value of the current headquarters at 40–50 East Huron Street in Chicago, with the aim to “help the Association achieve greater operational excellence, grow its membership base, and have more resources to … Continue reading ALA Selects Cushman & Wakefield as Strategic Real Estate Advisor →

A Tough Environment

By Susan Hildreth | January 2, 2018

Similar to last year, our actual results differed from our budget: Overall net expense was 1% larger than projected. Although our budget results were not favorable, they were much closer to projections than in previous years. Among revenue sources, publishing revenue of $11 million and membership dues revenue of $5.3 million were lower than projected by 11% … Continue reading A Tough Environment →

A Look at ALA’s Finances

By Susan Hildreth | January 3, 2017

For fiscal year 2016, which just closed, I am glad that ALA came very close to its budget, with operating revenues of $50,815,693 and operating expenses of $51,259,221. It was a rather challenging year. We include a number of activities for our revenue: publishing ($11,705,837), Annual and Midwinter meetings ($5,564,072 and $2,785,904, respectively), membership ($5,515,846), … Continue reading A Look at ALA’s Finances →

Financially Healthy

By Mario González | January 4, 2016

The final audit for the 2015 fiscal year will be presented at the 2016 Midwinter Meeting in Boston. However, I would like to share with you now that preliminary results show a positive outcome for the Association. Overall, revenues generated by ALA and its divisions were 5% higher than expected, while expenses were slightly lower. … Continue reading Financially Healthy →

Financially Healthy

By Mario González | January 20, 2015

As I have said before, we continue to be completely transparent and regularly communicate with the membership about the finances of the Association. As you are aware, we entered the year with a cautious outlook; however, ALA’s management made a number of organizational and operational changes, to ensure that expenses would be in line with … Continue reading Financially Healthy →

Gonzalez Reports on Fiscal Year 2014 Year End Budget

Laurie D. Borman | October 30, 2014

ALA Treasurer Mario M. Gonzalez reported Fiscal Year 2014 year end results in an open message to ALA Council today. These figures were reviewed by the Budget Analysis Review Committee (BARC), Finance and Audit Committee, and the Executive Board at meetings this month. His message: “While the final audit will be presented at the 2015 … Continue reading Gonzalez Reports on Fiscal Year 2014 Year End Budget →

ALA: Dollars and Sense

By Mario González | November 11, 2013

This is my first column as ALA’s new treasurer, and I would like to use this opportunity to share with you my overall observations about ALA’s current financial situation. Despite the recession, ALA is a financially viable and financially solvent organization. One of these strengths is the fact that the Chicago headquarters—both 40 East Huron … Continue reading ALA: Dollars and Sense →

Statement from ALA Treasurer Mario Gonzalez

July 3, 2013

ALA Treasurer Mario Gonzalez issued the following statement on July 3, 2013: “A number of questions arose at conference regarding a notice that appeared in the Illinois Bar Review this Spring. This note related to the disbarment of a former ALA employee for misappropriation of funds from ALA. Last summer, we determined that an employee … Continue reading Statement from ALA Treasurer Mario Gonzalez →

Background on Our Budget

By James Neal | October 15, 2012

The past year has been challenging for ALA, reflecting both the difficult economic conditions affecting libraries across the US and our continuing focus on a strong Association that serves its members and supports the work of libraries and the needs of their users. ALA is ending FY2012 with a deficit. This reflects lower-than-expected revenue from … Continue reading Background on Our Budget →

Latest Library Links

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Megan Bennett writes: “From the iconic to the incendiary, political messages like these have emblazoned buttons and pins since the start of US elections. Since 2012, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been archiving political buttons. The collection now spans thousands of items over a century’s worth of campaigns and causes. The collection has approximately 4,800 buttons and pins and 200 stickers. Most fit into one of three categories: campaigns (local and national), sociopolitical movements, and community organizations like unions.”

American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.
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Cindy Hohl writes: “Recognizing all of humanity in libraries requires a thoughtful approach and a humble spirit. I believe that we, as information professionals, have been called to this work because of our shared values. Every day, library workers provide a vital public function. We are entrusted to serve our communities, and we know that the best way to serve the public good is to welcome everyone into libraries to access accurate information.”

American Libraries column, Nov./Dec.
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Anne Ford writes: “For Susan Brown, December 17, 2004, was a perfectly normal day—until she saw the elevator doors open. Brown, director of Transylvania University’s J. Douglas Gay Jr./Frances Carrick Thomas Library in Lexington, Kentucky, was walking past the staff elevator on the library’s main level when the doors parted and she reflexively glanced inside. Her gaze locked on the great red books held by two young men inside. On the 20th anniversary of what became known as the Transy book heist, American Libraries looks back at one of the most brazen and puzzling thefts ever to take place in an academic library.

American Libraries feature, Nov./Dec.
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Chase Hunter writes: “Chabot College Library and Learning Center in Hayward, California, held a ceremonial opening last week, but students have already gone so often that it’s quickly become a campus cornerstone. More than 35,000 Chabot College students have visited the new library and learning center—the tallest building on campus—this semester, already surpassing last year’s total. The new building’s geometric clean lines and splashes of orange—the school’s color—over a chrome exterior is attracting students in a way that Chabot College hasn’t experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Mercury News (San Jose, California), Oct. 28
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Michelle Ehrhardt writes: “Like the Metaverse and NFTs before it, it feels near impossible to follow tech news right now without hearing about Artificial Intelligence (AI). I understand it can get annoying: The tech is still in development, and everyone’s still figuring out the ethics of generating AI Art, or how to make it not suck. It’s tempting to write AI off entirely. There are a few key use cases I’ve found where AI shines better than pretty much any other alternative. As an AI skeptic, here’s where I think AI is most useful.”

Lifehacker, Oct. 28
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Katherine Klosek writes: “The Librarian of Congress—based on recommendations by the register of copyrights—issued an expansion to the 2021 Digital Millennium Copyright Act regulation that permits researchers to circumvent technological protection measures to conduct text and data mining research. The updated regulation clarifies that academic researchers can securely access research collections of literary works or motion pictures hosted by other institutions of higher education for purposes of collaboration, or to facilitate their own independent research projects.”

Association of Research Libraries News, Oct. 28
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Michele Gile and Matthew Rodriguez write: “A group of Huntington Beach (Calif.) residents known as ‘Protect HB’ said they’ve gathered enough valid signatures to try repealing a new ordinance that could impact which books are put on public library shelves. More than 15,000 people have signed a petition that’s headed to the city clerk. If valid, voters will decide whether the city council majority’s community parent-garden review board [which has relocated books on puberty and potty training to the adult section] will exist.”

KCAL-TV (Los Angeles), Oct. 28

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