For a long time I KJ & I have been planning to work with the ALA-SRRT Resolutions. I have a preliminary file here but have lots more to do to make it usable...but I am saving it here in case my computer loses the file.
1.
BE IT RESOLVED That the ALA ballots for the position of Councilor and President provide a short statement of the candidates professional concerns, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That a complete report of votes cast for the candidates for these positions be listed in the ALA Bulletin, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the actions of the Council be taken by role call vote on policy matters and the results (distributed to the members) published.
2.
A Black Caucus formed during Midwinter week. At their meeting on Wednesday evening, they prepared the following resolution for presentation to an adoption by the third session of Council, January 23, 1970.
WHEREAS the United States Supreme Court of this land has called for the desegregation of public schools by February 1, 1970, and
WHEREAS public, academic, and school libraries in areas where desegregation has been ordered are in some cases lending and in other cases planning to lend materials to racist institutions conceived for the purpose of circumventing the law of the land, and
WHEREAS such school administrators and many civil leaders in such areas have in fact asked for support from libraries because funding for their schools and institutions is inadequate to provide for libraries and textbooks, and
WHEREAS the American Library Association is cognizant of the social responsibilities of libraries serving the people of the United States and is on record as being opposed to racism in any and all of its forms, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the libraries and/or librarians who do in fact through either services or materials support any such racist institutions be censured by the American Library Association.
(There was an impassioned debate on a motion to refer (again) this resolution to the Intellectual Freedom Committee for its consideration of methods of censure. The motion was defeated, and the resolution was passed by a large majority—a role call vote was taken.)
3.
SRRT PRE-DETROIT MEETING IN PHILADELPHIA
About 135 librarians met in Philadelphia May 15-17 to discuss plans for Detroit. A number of decisions and resolutions were made which, having been accepted by those meeting, are to be presented at the SRRT Business Meeting in Detroit June 30, 4:30-6:00pm.
It has been impossible to get the exact text of some of the resolutions. What follows is, in some instances, the general sense of what was passed.
National Issues
Whereas the American Library Association has a long term commitment to intellectual freedom, human welfare, faith and reliance on the open access to information and the democratic process, and the civilizing influence of libraries and
Whereas we witness now such tragic events as the murder of students on our campuses, blacks in our cities, and innocent citizens of other nations, and the growing repression of the traditional right to dissent and the subversion of our institutions for other than peaceful means and
Whereas the American Library Association can exercise its responsibilities by utilizing its prestige and resources in every way possible to bring about immediate change in the domestic and foreign policies of the United States.
Be it resolved that the membership and Council meeting in Detroit June 27 July 3, 1970 adopt and act on the following:
1. That the American Library Association go on record condemning American involvement in Southeast Asia and call for the immediate withdrawal of all troops and all military aid from Indochina. To this end the Association will instruct its Washington Office to use its energies and the resources to lobby for said objectives and inform the Federal Government that it refuses to pay the telephone Federal Excise tax which is committed to financing the war.
2. That the American Library Association commit itself to a vigorous program to assist in ending all forms of political repression in the United States and to publicly support those who work to end repression against such groups as the Black Panther Party. Further, the Association must seek out and expel the librarians and libraries who aid the Federal Government by making available circulation records and allowing their premises to be used for surveillance and wiretapping.
3. That the American Library Association go on record condemning military complicity in universities and other public institutions. Further, the Association must examine its own investments and relations to financial institutions to insure that its funds are being used to promote the betterment of the human condition. .
(Resolution to be introduced by Richard Akeroyd, Member ALA, Veteran of Vietnam, University of Connecticut Library.)
4.
The following resolution was passed with five abstentions. It was agreed that this be released immediately to the local press with the request that it be passed on to the wire services; it was also to be sent to members of Congress and to SRRT's Action Council.
Whereas we are opposed to the Vietnam War and in particular the expansion of the war into Cambodia; and
Whereas we support the Cooper-Church amendment and other amendments designed to cut off funds for the war; and
Whereas we are opposed to the President's arbitrary use of his power as Commander in Chief to expand this war;
Therefore, we, the American Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table, urge the United States Congress to assert its rightful authority to restrict the Presidential power to intervene militarily in other countries without the consent of the United States Congress except in response to direct attack on the United States.
5.
The librarians meeting in Philadelphia voted to endorse the Curley/Alfred ACONDA Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee Report (included in the Newsletter) to press for its adoption by the Association. In support of the report the following resolutions were passed:
Be it resolved that ALA resolve to dedicate 1/5 of its total budget to implement the support of intellectual freedom in the program described in Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee Report to be submitted to ACONDA.
Be it resolved that SRRT advocate that it be ALA policy that no Association funds be allocated at this time or in the future to the Freedom to Read Foundation.
6.
The librarians meeting also provisionally adopted (the text is still being worked upon to include specific mention of the Code of Ethics and t fact that this document is not mean supersede or infringe upon that one) a Librarians Bill of Rights which is to serve as the basis of the librarian intellectual freedom.
LIBRARIANS' BILL OF RIGHTS
Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the U.S. Bill of Rights, the librarian has the right and the responsibility without jeopardy to his employment, personal or professional status 1. to include in library collections any informational or recreational material from any source and to make it available to the public.
2. to protect the librarian-client relationship by withholding information which may infringe on the rights of individual privacy.
3. to privately or publicly actively pursue his personal, social, political, and religious beliefs.
4. to exercise any of his human, civil, and constitutional or legal rights, privately or publicly.
The librarians meeting also voted to support the ACONDA recommendations on the composition of the Council:
Be it resolved that the SRRT support the proposal of the New Directions Committee that there be 96 members of the council elected at large.
Keith Doms, who gave an oral report on the progress of the Dix-Mix, said that he is particularly concerned about the recommendation that Council be limited to 96 positions all elected at-large. While eleven of the twelve Dix-Mix members voted for it, he believes there will be a lot of static in Detroit. Doms urges that we get off statements of support to Katherine Laich, present Chairman of the Dix-Mix, Assistant City Librarian, Los Angeles, Calif.
7.
A resolution on the proposed changes in ALA’s Consitution and Bylaws also passed.
Be it resolved that SRRT is opposed to the proposed changes in Article 2, Sec. 2, 5, 6 and Article 3, Sec. 3B of the Bylaws of the Association and that this opposition be communicated to the ALA Council.
The Constitution and Bylaws Committee (inspired by Nixon?) is attempting to impose the tyranny of the silent majority upon the active minority that began to make its voice heard at Kansas City two years ago.
8.
RESOLUTION Passed by AC, ALA membership, Council of ALA
Whereas, the American Library Association has repeatedly affirmed its belief in the principle of equal employment and
Whereas the Library of Congress, by virtue of its position as the national library, should be a beacon light in the field of equal employment and
Whereas, the Library of Congress has failed to meet these responsibilities through
(a) its failure to eradicate patterns of favoritism in promotions based solely on racial grounds
(b) its failure to provide an adequate opportunity for training which would allow its black employees to advance
(c) its failure to mount a consistent effort to recruit blacks at all levels
Therefore be it resolved that
I. The American Library Association assert that it is expected that all libraries shall engage in a positive policy of action in the field of equal employment opportunity.
2. The American Library Association convey its grave concern to the Librarian of Congress and request that the Librarian of Congress take immediate steps to remedy this deplorable situation.
3. The American Library Association create an ad hoc committee which shall be mandated to monitor and advise the Library of Congress in its enforcement of fair employment practices.
4. The American Library Association encourage its members to write to its members of congress requesting that the Congress investigate the equal employment practices of the Library of Congress and take such steps as is necessary to see that the fair employment practice laws of this land are enforced in the Library of Congress.
Submitted by: Joslyn N. Williams, Personal Member
Washington, D.C.
9.
"Fair and Equal Representation on Public Library Boards of Trustees"
Whereas, a fair and inherent right to fair and equal representation at the policy making level is a basic right of all citizens served by public libraries,
Whereas, equal and fair representation not practiced in the appointment citizens to represent the total community on State and local library boards of trustees, and
Whereas, since the public library is one of the important non-school agencies which contribute to the educational and informational needs of all citizens from pre-kindergarten to post-graduate, and since blacks and other minority Americans are in too many instances ignored, not included, and in too many instances are not appointed sufficient number to represent a fair representation of
the population, be it hereby
RESOLVED that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People vigorously supports fair and equal representation on boards of trustees of public libraries which will make fair and equal representation of the public served in the composition of all public library boards, and that this communication be sent to all branches of the Association as stated policy and further, that the National Education Director communicate this position to all known state and local officials who are responsible for appointments to public library governing boards.
10.
“Public Library Services to White Academies”
Whereas, many local communities are circumventing the intent of Congress of Congress and the meaning of the Constitution by establishing private academies for whites only in order to evade integration in the public schools, and
Whereas, public libraries are, in many instances, providing books and services to these academies, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that we commend the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for their efforts to end practices in public libraries and school libraries which are discriminatory, and call upon the American Library Association to act swiftly and vigorously on the findings of the ALA Black Caucus, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Office call on all Federal and other public agencies to withdraw funds immediately from any public or school library which supplies books or services to all-white private academies.
11.
The following resolution, sponsored by the Task Forces on Chicanos and on Service to Migrants, was passed (amendments italicized)
WHEREAS, librarians are among those workers who have fought over the years for
adequate compensation and status and
WHEREAS, the farmworkers in the United States are among the lowest paid and most
exploited groups and
WHEREAS the UNITED FARMWORKERS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, AFL-CIO,
under the inspired leadership of Caesar Chavez is fighting to gain the farmworkers rightful and adequate compensation and status,
THEREFORE, be it presented by the SRRT TASKFORCES ON CHICANOS and ON LIBRARY SERVICES TO MIGRANTS that the following action be taken by the Action Council:
RESOLVED, that SRRT donate $200 (two hundred dollars) to the NATIONAL
FARMWORKERS SERVICE CENTER, the educational, non-profit, tax exempt corporation established by the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee to further the educational, legal, medical, and consumer rights of the farmworker and $100 to the union strike fund; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this action be communicated to the appropriate government, labor, and
agri-business organizations and to the LIBRARY PRESS.
12.
The following resolution was submitted by the ALA SRRT Task force on Women and passed unanimously June 30, 1972, at the full membership meeting of the ALA 91st Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois. The Library’s Director, ALA member, Laura X, was present throughout the annual conference.
RESOLUTION ON THE WOMEN’S HISTORY RESEARCH CENTER
WHEREAS, the Women’s History Research Center in Berkeley, Calif., maintains the international archive of the present women’s movement as well as a topical research library on women, and
WHEREAS, its comprehensive collection of newsletters, journals, tapes, books, and other media constitute a unique and significant bibliographic resource,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association recognizes the Center’s contribution to the library community.
13.
Since the Supreme Court has lately encouraged the outright, wholesale censorship of sex-related material,
And since the most vulnerable and so most likely victims of such censorship are underground, alternative, and freepress publications,
The Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association emphatically states its belief that sexual, no less than political, philosophical, artistic, and other material, should enjoy full First Amendment protection,
Strongly recommends that American libraries finally recognize their unfulfilled obligation to the many sexual minorities and interests among their publics by amply stocking material relevant to them,
And urges those who may be victimized by the recent Court decision to request legal, financial, and spiritual help from ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, Freedom to Read Foundation, and Leroy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund.
This resolution is to be transmitted to the Liberation News Service, Alternative Feature Service, and other freepress as well as library media.
14.
Since elemental decency forbids the granting of even posthumous honors to known war criminals,
The Social Responsibilities Round Table herewith disassociates itself with the American Library Association’s intention to contribute a plaque or other form of memorial to the Lyndon B. Johnson Library.
15.
WHEREAS, librarians have traditionally supported the rights of the individual to free access and choice of information,
WHEREAS, farmworkers have severely restricted sources of information due to their economic and social living conditions, and
WHEREAS, librarians recognize the common need for due process and fair labor practices in libraries, as well as in agriculture
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Library Association supports the non-violent efforts of the farmworker to determine his own future, including the right to vote for the union of his choice through open and fair elections.
16.
WHEREAS: Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, and is a right of particular interest to the library profession, and
WHEREAS: Librarians should be free to express controversial opinions without fear of punishment by their employers, and
WHEREAS: Many librarians at the University of Chicago have advocated the organization of a labor union for over two years, and
WHEREAS: That institution has used a variety of methods to delay an election which might result in the legal recognition of collective bargaining agents, and
WHEREAS: On June 15, 1973, the positions of six professional librarians were abolished by the University of Chicago Library administration on 15 minutes notice, and
WHEREAS: Four of these positions were held by persons most active in advocating the organization of a union, and
WHEREAS: Length of service, merit or other rational criteria were not used, and
WHEREAS: Faculty and students have indicated their opposition to the action of the library administration by their formation of committees, picketing in protest, and by massive refusal to use the library on June 25, 1973, and
WHEREAS: Approximately 90% of the library staff refrained from appearing at work on Monday, June 25, 1973, in direct protest against the library administration’s actions, and
WHEREAS: The defense of intellectual freedom is a responsibility of this profession, be it, therefore,
RESOLVED: That the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association censure the University of Chicago Library.
(A modified version of this resolution was adopted by ALA membership at its Wednesday, June 27, 1973, meeting. The ALA resolution directed SCAMI to make an investigation of the University of Chicago Library’s personnel policies and procedures, and urged the University to reinstate the six discharged staff members to their positions without prejudice pending SCAMI action.)
17.
WHEREAS the American Library Association is committed to the principles of intellectual freedom of information, and has stated its opposition to government intimidation and to the invasion of privacy of individuals, and
WHEREAS these principles are incorporated into the basic legal structure of the United Stated, and
WHEREAS Richard M. Nixon, as President of the United Stated, has affronted these principles and is seriously charged with having violated both the Constitution and the laws he had sworn to uphold by: 1) establishing within the White House a personal secret police (the “plumbers”), operating outside the restraints of the law, which engaged in criminal acts, including burglaries, wiretap without legal warrant, espionage, and perjury; 2) authorizing a program of wiretap which were illegal and which were directed against political opponents, news reporters, and government employees; and 3) obstructing the administration of justice by such actions as his efforts to limit the FBI investigation of the Watergate break-in and to suborn the Ellsberg trial judge; and
WHEREAS these infringements of the liberties of the people of the United States constitute a grave erosion of the Constitutional Bill of Rights and a more through destruction of the Library Bill of Rights adopted as a basic policy of the American Library Association, and
WHEREAS Richard M. Nixon has, by suspect means, further endangered the safety and welfare of the American people, particularly in these areas of concern to the American Library Association: 1) In impounding funds voted by Congress, thereby halting library programs needed by the American people; 2) In using blatant political patronage to bestow favors upon corporate campaign contributors, thus worsening the already serious economic situation of the disadvantaged and other major portions of the population; and 3) In usurping the war-making powers of Congress, as in the bombing of the neutral sovereign state of Cambodia, deliberately concealing the combing from Congress and the American people, even threatening to do so again under similar circumstances; and
WHEREAS the United States Constitution provides procedures for redress of these offenses by the President in Article II, Section 4, Article I, Section 2, Article I, Section 3, Article II, Section 2, and Article III, Section 2;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association joins with civic and libertarian organizations such as the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the American Bar Association Law Students Division in calling for the speedy impeachment of the President, and directs that this resolution be transmitted to the House Committee on the Judiciary, now considering such impeachment, and to the library press and principal American newspapers.
(Note: The text above, a revision of the original AC resolution, was submitted to the 1973-74 ALA Council by Miriam Crawford as Document #32, but Council refused to consider it, due to a negative report from the Intellectual Freedom Committee which they also refused to discuss. A combination of the ALA Councillors & the Chair thus denied both themselves & everyone else access to vital information plus the chamce to publicly debate a major, professionally-relevant issue.)
18.
WHEREAS the membership of the American Library Association at the 1973 Annual Conference in Las Vegas resolved that SCMAI conduct an investigation of personnel practices and procedures at the University of Chicago Library, and
WHEREAS this resolution was endorsed by the Council of the ALA, and
WHEREAS SCMAI was directed to conduct its investigation and report back at the January 1974 Midwinter Meeting in Chicago, and
WHEREAS the issues involved in the University of Chicago case transcend the problems of labor relations and litigation involving labor organizations or individuals formerly employed by the University of Chicago, and
WHEREAS serious questions of intellectual freedom are involved,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that SCMAIL conduct the full and complete investigation of personnel policies and procedures at the University of Chicago Library in compliance with the resolution passed by the Membership and endorsed by Council at Las Vegas, and be it further
RESOLVED that SCMAI report back to the Council and Membership at the 1974 Annual Conference in New York City.
19.
WHEREAS, on April 27, 1970, the University Librarian, by letter, offered to J. Michael McConnell the position of Head of the Cataloguing Division at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus Library, and
WHEREAS, on May 7, 1970, McConnell, by letter, accepted the University Librarian’s offer and terminated his then current position at Park College (Kansas City) in reliance on the contract, and
WHEREAS, on June 24, 1970, the University Attorney advised McConnell that the Board of Regents had voted to revoke his contract without stated reason, and
WHEREAS, on August 5, 1970, McConnell appeared in Federal District Court, represented by the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, to contest the breach of contract and fundamental violation of constitutional due process, and
WHEREAS, on advice from his attorneys, McConnell waived for court purposes only, remedies to which he would have been entitled with regard to the University’s breach of contract in order to press more strongly his rights for denial of constitutional due process, and
WHEREAS, on January 12, 1971, McConnell filed with ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) a request for action under the program of action in support of the Library Bill of Rights, and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 1971, the ALA Council adopted the program of Action for Mediation, Arbitration and Inquiry (PAMAI), to be supervised by the Staff Committee on Mediation, Arbitration and Inquiry (SCMAI), and
WHEREAS, the PAMAI contained the restriction that “no formal inquiry will be made into cases which are in litigation”—a statement demanded by Judith Krug, the OIF representative to SCMAI, and
WHEREAS, the jurisdiction for the McConnell request for action was thereafter conferred upon SCMAI, and
WHEREAS, SCMAI has made no formal inquiry into McConnell’s request for action during the continuance of litigation which ended with a denial of review by the U.S. Supreme Court in October, 1972, and
WHEREAS, SCMAI has made no formal inquiry into McConnell’s request for action since the conclusion of litigation, particularly with regard to the University of Minnesota’s bad faith conduct, now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that SCMAI’s final published report (American Libraries, January 1974) in so far that it states that SCMAI “has been precluded from taking meaningful action toward mediation and arbitration of this case,” is not supported by said “report of facts,” and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the McConnell request for action be referred back to SCMAI for immediate formal inquiry into all issues that affect fundamental fairness in accordance with the principles of Intellectual Freedom.
(Note: Originated by M-SRRT, which voted its endorsement at a Minneapolis meeting on 1/9/74. Copies transmitted to SCMAI and the library press.)
20.
WHEREAS the first stated priority of ALA is social responsibility and
WHEREAS the ALA Publishing Department has increasingly devoted itself and its resources to issuing costly, esoteric works like the Double Elephant Portfolio, German Exile Press in America, and a history of strictly California libraries that are not relevant to contemporary professional needs and could more appropriately be published by university presses, state library associations, and—in the specific case of Voices From Brooklyn—the pertinent public library,
ALA SRRT THEREFORE calls upon the ALA Executive Board to direct the Publishing Board and its Editorial Committee to undertake the publication of valuable, necessary materials more responsive to the priority indicated by membership, e.g. the HERSTORY Index, UPS Index, a Black genealogical handbook, woman’s periodical index, and labor periodicals index.
21.
WHEREAS the ISBD cataloging format is certain to further impede collection-access for ordinary library users and was devised and adopted in a high-handed, elitist fashion, without fully consulting the profession itself nor even attempting to determine possible adverse effects upon library users,
SRRT Action Council THEREFORE insists that total implementation of the ISBD(M) and announced ISBD(S) be delayed until it is insured that non-ISBD cataloging data will be supplied to those libraries which do not want the new, obstructive format foisted upon them.
22.
On the basis of a Black Caucus news release dated November 18, 1973, which reports that ALA’s Executive Director did not honor his solemn promise to appoint two additional members to the LC Investigatory Team nor to allow Union and BELC representatives to accompany the Team during its second visit to the Library of Congress in September, 1973, SRRT Action Council joins in the Black Caucus Steering Committee’s condemnation of the ALA Executive Director’s actions and demands that those original promises now be kept in order that the too long delayed investigation can be swiftly and fairly completed, with ample opportunity for employees to express their continuing grievances to the Team without fear of harassment or reprisal.
NOTE: Copies transmitted to the ALA Executive Director, SCHAI, Black Caucus, Librarian of Congress, and library press. SCMAI's own "Report" was submitted to Council as Document #26 and approved, with minor modifications, on 1/23/74. W. Carl Jackson, who chaired the Select Group to Visit the Library of Congress, declared in his presentation to Council that ALA should now promote "detente" rather than further "confrontation" among the principal parties. The Group--and Council--rejected censure, instead recommending that a "Coordinating Committee...representative of more divergent points of view be organized to assist in drafting and implementing policies and procedures regarding equal employment opportunities and affirmative action," that "the Librarian of Congress and his top administrative staff become more visible in directing the efforts of the Library's supervisors to implement changes in per80nnel po1iciss, procedures and practices," and that ALA, "through cooperation with the LC union and staff organizations, continuously monitor...progress...in meeting these recommendations," requesting that LC periodically report to the Association on its affirmative action plans and furnish details concerning staff organizations. The Council overwhelmingly scrapped an earlier wording, proposed by E. J. Josey which would have required rather than requested such LC reports. Clearly, despite their explicit authority to censure, the august Councillors did not believe they had the clout to "require" LC to do anything. And it was abundantly obvious that they felt no particular concern for the mass of Black LC employees whose relative employment position, as a BELC leader eloquently explained, has actually worsened over the past two years.
23.
SRRT Action Council fully and vigorously endorses this statement on Equal Employment Opportunity Policy which is to be considered by the ALA Council at the 1974 Chicago Midwinter meeting, but demures at the emendation of the policy presented to the Executive Board where a parenthetic definition of individual life style was attempted. We believe that the definition of individual life style is contradictory at base. We endorse the original wording "regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, individual life style, or national origin," wherever these words appear in the policy statement, as proposed by the Committee in preference to the amended document presented to Council.
Note: Due to the large amount of opposition to the implementation section of the statement On Equal Employment Opportunity Policy on Council floor (1/25/74) SRRT felt that in order to get this essential document accepted, its statement on life style should be withheld pending future revisions.
24.
WHEREAS, the American Library Association Annual Conference meets for the education and professional development of librarians and,
WHEREAS, said Association supports the priority of full access to information for every person, and,
WHEREAS, all units except divisions and offices have been denied the usual and necessary exhibit facilities at the 1974 Annual Conference in favor of commercial exhibitors and,
WHEREAS, this discrimination in favor of commercial exhibitors prevents librarians full and easy access to professional information and inhibits the Association's responsibility to members,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table demands equal booth space in the main exhibit area with the commercial exhibitors at the 1974 Annual Conference.
(Note: Adopted 1/24/74; copies transmitted to ALA Council and the Executive Board.)
25.
Friday, July 11th, ALA Membership Meeting. Suzanne LeBarron, on behalf of the SRRT Action Council, submitted Document #7 which, after slight amendment, carried:
WHEREAS, Fullest possible participation by Membership in ALA is necessary; and
WHEREAS, The scheduling of Membership Meetings in New York, at the 1974 convention, on Monday evening and Friday afternoon severely restricted Membership participation because of the twenty-four hour notice necessary for resolutions at the Monday meeting and because of the lateness of the hour for the Friday meeting;
NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Membership Meetings at all future ALA annual conferences, beginning in 1975, be scheduled after Monday evening and before Friday noon.
26.
This one, Document #8, generated by the Women’s Preconference and presented by Lynne Rhoads, past Coordinator or the TFW, failed miserably:
WHEREAS the top administration in libraries consists predominantly of men; and
WHEREAS equal employment opportunity (endorsed by ALA at its 1974 Midwinter Meeting) demands representation of women at all levels of library work in proportion to their numbers in the library field and
WHEREAS women constitute 82% of the library profession, and
WHEREAS under the present permanent placement of library administrators in their positions, and under present discriminatory practices of filling vacancies at the administrative level with men, women in the foreseeable future cannot hope to be represented at this top level of administration in representative numbers,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ALA encourages libraries to employ top administrators for limited terms,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such administrators be evaluated in periodic reviews by the entire staff, with reappointment to be conditional upon approval by the staff.
27.
Moved by AC Coordinator Peter Doiron, Document #9, a “Resolution to censure ALA Council,” stimulated much energetic and healthy debate—but ultimately lost:
WHEREAS the American Library Association belongs to its members and,
WHEREAS the Association’s primary concern is Intellectual Freedom and,
WHEREAS the majority of Council on two occasions reversed the will of the membership as exemplified by denying three University of Chicago Librarians the right to speak and overturning a membership majority vote to change its own meeting, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Association Membership hereby censures the American Library Association Council.
28.
The Membership accepted Document #10, previously approved by the Round Table on Library Service to the Blind, by acclimation:
WHEREAS numerous physically handicapped individuals hold positions as librarians, trustees, library school students, or persons interested in libraries and librarianship; and
WHEREAS such individuals, like their non-handicapped peers, can gain immeasurable benefit from attendance at and participation in the conference of the American Library Association; and
WHEREAS in recent years handicapped individuals in attendance at American Library Association conferences have encountered much difficulty in moving freely throughout the meeting and exhibit areas; and
WHEREAS the library profession has shown great leadership in the area of removing barriers to the handicapped in the design and construction of library buildings; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the membership of the American Library Association directs that all local arrangements committees, headquarters staff, exhibitors, and others involved in the planning and execution of conferences of this Association be aware of and sensitive to the unique problems of handicapped conference participants and guests in the selection, planning, and layout of all conference facilities, especially meeting rooms and exhibit areas; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the officials of the American Library Association are hereby directed to seek to employ the services of an interpreter competent in sign language for the deaf at all conference meetings of general membership and Council.
29.
Document #11, brought by Lynne Rhoads for SRRT’s Task Force on Women, underwent minor amendment & then carried with only two visible “No” votes:
WHEREAS, the prohibition of discrimination is Federal law; and
WHEREAS, Governmental agencies have been provided to correct conditions of discrimination; and
WHEREAS, The existence of discrimination in libraries has been abundantly documented; and
WHEREAS, In observance of ALA’s support of the principles of Intellectual freedom, people exercise their right to protest discrimination and to attempt to correct it by filing complaints of discrimination with appropriate governmental agencies; and
WHEREAS, Retaliation, harassment (such as blacklisting and defamation) and other punitive practices against people who have filed such complaints violate Federal regulations designed to protect complainants in their efforts to eradicate discrimination;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That ALA endorse the right of library workers to protest discrimination, of whatever nature by utilizing appropriate local grievance procedures, through the appropriate governmental agencies provided for this purpose, and through private attorneys, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That ALA support the right of these persons to protest discrimination without fear of retaliation.
30.
Friday, July 11th, ALA Council, Document #61, submitted by Miriam Crawford on behalf of the Women’s Preconference, was somewhat amended by E.J. Josey before the Council referred it to the Legislation Committee:
WHEREAS discrimination against women and minority librarians in recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, salaries, and other conditions of employment has been amply documented, and
WHEREAS the rapid implementation of affirmative action is a necessity demanded by the present discriminatory profile of employment within the library field, and
WHEREAS, as a means of redress from discrimination in employment, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Equal Employment Act of 1972, and Executive Orders 11246 and 11478 are designed to be implemented by governmental agencies created for the purpose of otherwise assigned that function, and
WHEREAS inadequate funding of these governmental agencies creates severe limitations and delays in their resolution of complaints filed with them,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington Office of the American Library Association be instructed to work actively for the adequate funding of the agencies which monitor federal affirmative action regulations, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the American Library Association adequately fund its Washington Office so that it can undertake this essential effort.
31.
Document #67, another Preconference product, was proposed by Action Councillor Zoia Horn & passed:
WHEREAS the condition of sex discrimination in the United States of America has been abundantly documented, and
WHEREAS the Equal Rights Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to women equal rights with men, and
WHEREAS, by reason of its beneficial implications for all persons in the American society, many professional organizations, such as NEA and AAUP, have endorsed adoption of the ERA, and
WHEREAS ALA at its 1974 Midwinter meeting adopted a policy requiring equal employment opportunity in libraries, and
WHEREAS women constitute 82% of the library profession, and
WHEREAS equal employment for this 82% of the library profession requires support of equal rights for women,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association support the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
32.
Pat Schuman moved Document #68, earlier endorsed by the Women’s Pre-Conference & SRRT membership, which also passed, as amended:
WHEREAS many library organizational structures are hierarchical, and
WHEREAS these hierarchical structures perpetuate traditional sexist divisions between administrative and non-administrative staff, and
WHEREAS the actual skills involved in doing both service and administrative work, although different in nature, are comparable in social importance, complexity, difficulty, degree of responsibility, degree of independent judgment and decision making, and,
WHEREAS a non-discriminatory valuation of service and administrative skills would demonstrate them to be much more nearly equal than is commonly reflected in salaries, advancement, recognition, and other forms of reward;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ALA direct the Office of Library Personnel Resources to develop guidelines whereby persons in both administrative and service positions may receive the comparable rewards resulting from an accurate, nom-discriminatory valuation of these two major categories of employment within the library field.
33.
Anita Schiller offered Document #69, a Pre-Conference spin-off, which passed:
WHEREAS the 1972 Standards for Accreditation do not mention affirmative action policies in relation to faculty hiring and promotion, and
WHEREAS it has been amply demonstrated that strong role models in education are essential in developing successful career persons, and
WHEREAS all library schools will be visited by a team from the American Library Association Committee on Accreditation, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the membership of the American Library Association directs the Committee on Accreditation to evaluate the positive implementation of affirmative action law as one of the criterion for accreditation or re-accreditation at the library schools.
34.
Document #71, germinated by the Preconference and put before Council by E.J. Josey, lost by a depressingly great margin:
WHEREAS, care of children is a responsibility which must be assumed by the entire society into which children are born; and
WHEREAS, when American women who have young children are employed at salaried jobs outside of the home, child care arrangements must be customarily provided for these children; and
WHEREAS, women, in this society, by reason of discriminatory low salaries, non-promotion, underutilization, and manifold other violations of the principles of equal opportunity in affirmative action, are least able to provide adequate child care arrangements; and
WHEREAS, women constitute 82% of employed librarians and even higher proportions of employed non-professionals in the library field; and
WHEREAS, many of these women have young children,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; that the American Library Association, as a step toward correction of the disproportionate burden of child care provisions borne by women, direct its Washington Office to work towards the governmental funding and establishment of child care centers,
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Library Association supports the implementation of affirmative action mandates, by recommending that individual libraries provide child care services to parents in their employ.
Afterwards, the Chair gratuitously opined that it had been rejected because of its “financial implications.”
35.
In what was probably the meeting’s most dramatic—and also disheartening—episode, Pat Schuman moved this final Preconference resolution, Document #72:
WHEREAS many ALA publications and official documents use nouns and pronouns denoting masculine gender to describe the membership at large and specific positions and titles,
WHEREAS the consistent or exclusive use of the masculine gender perpetuates the traditional language of society which discriminates against women,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that future publications and official documents of ALA be revised to avoid sexist terminology.
36.
RESOLUTION ON RACISM AND SEXISM AWARENESS: Adopted by the ALA Membership and Approved by Council in Meetings Friday, July 23, 1976
WHEREAS, during the last 200 years the U.S. has failed to equalize the status of racial minorities and of women, and
WHEREAS, the ALA has professed belief in the principle of equality yet has failed to aggressively address the racism and sexism within its own professional province;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the ALA actively commit its prestige and resources to a coordinated action program that will combat racism and sexism in the library profession and in library service by taking the following steps:
The ALA will survey library schools to determine the extent to which racism and sexism awareness training form part of the curricula and urge that such training be added to the curricula in every library school where it is not included.
The Library Administration-Personnel Administration section will develop a
model in service program providing racism and sexism awareness training for library personnel.
The Public Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, the Children’s Services Division, the Young Adult Services Division, the Reference and Adult Services Division, and the Association of College and Research Libraries will be urged to develop a program to raise the awareness of library users to the pressing problem of racism and sexism.
The Resources and Technical Services Division will develop a coordinated plan
for the reform of cataloging practices that now perpetuate racism and sexism.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the President and Executive Board assess the extent of implementation of these steps and report on progress by the 1977 Annual Conference.
(Note: As amended and adopted: Original resolution endorses by Asian American Caucus, Black Caucus, Board of Directors of REFORMA, SRRT Action Council, SRRT Chicano Task Force.)
37.
WHEREAS, during the last 200 years the U.S. has failed to equalize the status of racial minorities and of women, and
WHEREAS, the ALA has professed belief in the principle of equality yet has failed to aggressively address the racism and sexism within its own professional province;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the ALA actively commit its prestige and resources to a coordinated action program that will combat racism and sexism in the library profession and in library service by taking the following steps:
Step 3
The Public Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, the Children’s Services Division, the Young Adult Services Division, the Reference and Adult Services Division, and the Association of College and Research Libraries will be urged to develop a program to raise the awareness of library users to the pressing problem of racism and sexism.
(As adopted by Council, July 1976)
Note: Steps 1 and 2 were not printed.
38.
WHEREAS the information contained in the censored article is freely available in unclassified documents found in American library collections; and
WHEREAS the Los Alamos Scientific Library is now the object of censorship and repression which may set a precedent for similar repression of other libraries and similar unclassified information; and
WHEREAS the Freedom to Read Foundation has entered the case in support of The Progressive and Freedom of Information; and
WHEREAS the Library Bill of Rights states that “Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas,"
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Membership of the American Library Association go on record as deploring the actions of the United States Attorney General's Office, supporting The Progressive’s case, and demanding that the case be dropped immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Attorney General of the United States, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and the national press.
Submitted by James R. Dwyer
Approved by SRRT Action Council 6/29/79
Approved by ALA Membership 6/28/79
39.
Availability of Selective Service Information in Libraries
Whereas the selective service registration is in effect,
Therefore, be it resolved that the librarians should have available information on the full range of alternatives within and without the military services for those young persons who are facing the prospect of conscription.
(passed membership and Council)
40.
Information on Disarmament and Conflict Solving
Whereas in a democracy, decision-making information is essential,
And, whereas the horror of a nuclear holocaust is universally acknowledged,
And, whereas today, the United States and other nations possess more than 50,000 nuclear weapons and continue to build them,
And, whereas in the present complex world situation managed information in press and television coverage of world events is dangerous,
Therefore, be it resolved, that librarians should make available and readily accessible information on possibilities for disarmament and alternative ways of solving conflict.
(passed membership & Council)
41.
Resolved, that the American Library Association support the world-wide Nestle boycott.
42.
Resolved, that Council charge the Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship with the….
The Council further charges the Committee to report on the development of coalition activities at the 1981 Midwinter meeting in Washington and at future conferences & meetings of ALA.
43.
Resolved, that the Executive Director of the Association find the funds for two members to be trained at the University of Washington’s Career Development and Assessment Center who will in turn train others to staff the ALA Placement Office at annual conferences and midwinter meetings. These people will give individual professional counseling to those seeking jobs. In lieu of payment for their services, these counselors would receive a stipend covering room and board. This program will be administered by OLPH.
44.
Resolved, that the Council of the ALS direct the Committee on Accreditation to revise the 1972 Standards for Accreditation to include Affirmative Action reports with regard to faculty, staff, and students.
45.
Resolved, that the phrase “(including discrimination and sexual harassment)” be inserted in policy #54.13, Program of Action for Mediation.
46.
Resolution on United Stated Military Surveillance Information
Whereas, the American Library Association has a policy supporting access to information,
Whereas, coding for restricted access to information on the part of the United States governmental agencies has continued,
Whereas, the United States military establishment is expanding the database of secret satellite information with a forty million dollar budget expenditure building up the Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado System,
Whereas in a time of stringent economic times, there has been limited access to weather and other information by the civilian offices of our generation;
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table asks the American Library Association Council to pass a resolution requesting the Defense Department to share all factual information from the Buckley system and other military satellites including but not limited to climate, weather, environment, navigation, and agricultural resources in order to help our civilian agencies to better serve our country.
47.
This proposed resolution arose out of the McCalden case and out of the earlier problem of "The Speaker." It is offered as a working document to alert first SRRT and then the profession to the dangers of uneducated and uncritical thinking. It was prepared by Noel Peattie, member of SRRT Action Council.
WHEREAS, libraries are committed to the free dissemination of ideas, and
WHEREAS, libraries are information centers, of which the validity and credibility depend on the accuracy of the information provided, and
WHEREAS, the recent appearance of "Holocaust revisionist history" together with genetic theories of dubious accuracy have lent credibility to doctrines of anti-semitism and racism, and
WHEREAS, the appearance of such theories, and their uncritical adoption or promotion by intellectual workers, is frequently followed by their acceptance by
the larger society, resulting in discrimination and oppression of Jews and other peoples of distinctive genetic heritage, now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that
the Social Responsibilities Roundtable emphatically opposes anti-semitism and racism,
urges the American Library Association to write and publish a position paper, of a historical and theoretical nature, on how anti-semitism and racism corrupt a culture, and
offers its own help in writing such a paper.
48.
WHEREAS the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states as a basic premise that "disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people."
WHEREAS the American Library Association has adopted as policy the principles of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, declaring "threats to the freedom of expression of any person become threats to the freedom of all,"
WHEREAS South Africa's state of emergency and total crackdown on news reporting make imperative our concern for all in that imprisoned country, especially the thousands held in incommunicado detention, while remembering that the record of banning of people and books, of unequal library funding and education, and of aggression and slaughter in South Africa is infamous and of long duration,
WHEREAS the record of human rights violations in South Africa has led ALA to adopt a resolution calling for divestment, which is to the credit of its membership, the time has come for American librarians to put further pressure on Pretoria and to support the efforts of South African librarians to resist these oppressive policies,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the American Library Association call on all American librarians to support the struggle for freedom, justice, and equality within a multiracial democratic society in South Africa, and be it further
RESOLVED, that ALA write the appropriate government agency in South Africa expressing opposition to the present system of unequal library service and education and to the widespread censorship of the press and banning of authors and their works, and be it further
RESOLVED, that ALA go on record as opposing any future reentry into the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) of the South African Library Association in its new guise as the South African Institute for Librarianship and Information Science, until this Institute takes a strong stand in favor of open membership and equality of library service and education, and be it further
RESOLVED, that ALA urge bibliographic utilities, such as OCLC, and other cooperative ventures, not to expand their services or make investments in South Africa under the present regime, and be it further
RESOLVED, that ALA urge the Dewey Decimal area tables and history schedule for South Africa planned for the 20th edition by Forest Press, that were prepared by SAILIS, be revised to reflect the history of all South Africans, and be it further
RESOLVED, that ALA urge American libraries to develop collections on South Africa that reflect the full diversity of viewpoints and experience in that country, particularly to consider securing materials from such alternative and authoritative sources as the African National Congress, the Africa Fund and the American Committee on Africa, the International Defense and Aid Fund, the South African Institute for Race Relations, and Ravan Press, and these publications be made accessible through library catalogs by the assignment of sufficient and appropriate subject headings, and be it therefore further
RESOLVED, that ALA invite library colleagues in South Africa to tell American librarians how we may help them achieve a free flow of information, open and responsive library service, and am more just and humane society.
Passed at ALA membership meeting II on July 2, 1986
49.
Free Membership Resolution proposed by Jackie Eubanks:
WHEREAS, the SRRT of ALA proposed to be an active advocate on behalf of its membership, and
WHEREAS, the SRRT membership is open to new ideas from new membership on issues of concern for the profession,
THEREFORE, be it resolved, that free membership in SRRT be offered for students enrolled in all library school programs, provided that the mailing address for the student is at the school.
50.
WHEREAS the recruitment and retention of minority library workers is an important goal in diversifying the library workplace;
WHEREAS recent press accounts, including American Libraries have reported on the investigation into charges of bias against minority librarians at the University of California, Irvine, campus;
WHEREAS of 45 librarians, only 1 Black, 1 Latina, and 5 Asian/Pacific American librarians remain at UCI;
WHEREAS UCI boasts the largest Asian/Pacific American student body enrollment in the U.S. outside Hawaii, at over 30 percent, for a total minority student enrollment at about 50 percent;
WHEREAS the American Federation of Teachers Local 2226 is currently defending an Asian/Pacific American librarian denied a merit pay raise after a supervisor removed clippings on Asian studies from his office wall;
WHEREAS another Asian/Pacific librarian has sought legal counsel and the advice of the union after leaving his job of over 20 years;
WHEREAS the UCI Faculty Senate has set up a special committee to investigate affirmative action practices at the UCI library;
WHEREAS the UCI administration has agreed to an outside peer review of the UCI library;
BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urge the UCI administration to:
1 . Recommit itself to the free expression of ideas and the free dissemination of information by rescinding any policies restricting the dissemination or posting of information by library workers on their office walls;
2. Improve its recruitment of minority librarians by announcing vacancies in the SRRI Newsletter and advertising in publications from minority librarian organizations;
3. Consult with the Director of the American Library Association's Office of Library Outreach Services, Sybi1 Moses, as to the composition of the outside peer review panel to investigate the library's operations, to ensure a culturally diverse makeup of the panel.
51.
Resolution in Support of Chinese Students and Faculty in the U.S.
WHEREAS, the recent events in China concerning students is a matter for the educational Institutions of the United States to consider in relation to students and faculty from China now in the United States,
AND WHEREAS, there may be many students and. faculty from China upwards of 50,000 in number now residing in the United States for some duration,
AND WHEREAS, these students and faculty will need exceptional services, for the duration of their stay for materials in Chinese,
AND WHEREAS, these students and faculty will need exceptional financial support for the duration of their stay,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. Every effort be made by the American Library Association to determine what Chinese-language materials are needed, and that lists of these materials and the routes for their acquisition be sent at the earliest possible time to the library media for librarians to purchase here in the United States;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT:
2. In the interests of students and faculty from China, action be taken by all libraries to provide employment for these students and. faculty;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT:
3. The American Library Association will inform the media and political and business groups in the United States of librarians intent for provision of materials and employment for students and faculty from China.
Resolution on the Suppression of the Non-violent Movement in the People's Republic of China
WHEREAS, the ALA Policy Manual sect ion 57, part 3, "Abridgement of the rights of freedom of foreign nationals,” brings ALA into conformity with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations,
AND WHEREAS, according to the same reference, "The Association will address the grievance of foreign nationals where the infringement of their rights of free expression is clearly a matter in which all free people should show concern,"
AND WHEREAS, students and workers in Beijing and. China were indeed asking for the right of free expression, among other demands,
AND WHEREAS, beginning in Beijing early in the morning of 3 June 1989, and later in other cities of China, troops of the People's Republic of China obedient to the government attacked the protesters with automatic weapons and armor, causing an estimated 7000 casualties,
AND WHEREAS, several hundreds of dissidents were arrested, and over a score have been executed,
AND WHEREAS, the government of the People's Republic has endeavored to block foreign media coverage of these events, and attempted to promulgate a completely distorted version of them,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT,
1. ALA SRRT express its solidarity with students and. workers in China by expressing its horror and. outrage at these massacres and lies;
2. ALA SRRT express its solidarity with Chinese everywhere by offering its support to Chinese and. Chinese-American groups within and without ALA;
3: ALA SRRT express its abhorrence of the present Chinese government by urging librarians and scholars to not travel to the People's Republic of China until the
repressions are lifted and. the right of students and workers to free expression is restored and expanded in accordance with their demands;
4. ALA SRRT, finally, forward this resolution to ALA Council for adoption.
52.
WHEREAS: A Presidential Commission is planning a massive celebration to take place in 1992 on the 50Oth anniversary of Columbus's voyage, with festivities including a trip to Mars by three solar-powered "space caravels," the sale of commemorative coins, and a scholarship program designed to "both honor the achievements of Columbus and encourage young people who embody his spirit and accomplishments to carry forward his legacy into the next century,"
AND WHEREAS: Columbus's voyage to America began a legacy of European piracy, brutality, slave trading, murder, disease, conquest, and ethnocide, and, further, engendered the Native American Holocaust which saw a population of over 5,000,000 American Indians in the land area of the United States decline to about 250,000 by the last decade of the 19th century,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The American Library Association urge libraries to provide Columbus Quincentennial programs and materials which examine the event from an authentic Native American perspective, dealing directly with topics like cultural imperialism, colonialism, and the Native American Holocaust.
53.
WHEREAS there is ample documentation from Article 19 and other organizations showing massive and stringent Israeli censorship in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza and within pre-1967 Israel itself, and
WHEREAS this censorship, administered by the Israeli military and justified on grounds of Israel's alleged security needs is in reality aimed at suppressing information about and criticism of Israeli treatment of the Palestinians under occupation, and
WHEREAS this censorship is also aimed at suppressing awareness of Palestinian national and cultural identity and serves to undermine Palestinian academic freedom and education, and
WHEREAS this sweeping and arbitrary censorship is in violation of universally accepted principles of intellectual freedom and human rights, including Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and
WHEREAS the United States has maintained a special relationship with the State of Israel, which receives upwards of $3 billion annually in American military and financial assistance, while claiming to be the most democratic country in the Middle East,
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table Action Council of the American Library Association condemn this massive and stringent Israeli censorship and call upon the State of Israel, to abide by universally recognized norms of intellectual freedom and human rights.
(Passed by SRRT Action Council, January 1990) [Editor's note: This resolution was inadvertently omitted from the March 1990 SRRT Newsletter]
54.
WHEREAS: The American Library Association promotes equal access to information for all persons; and
WHEREAS: Poor people are affected by a combination of limitations, including illiteracy, illness, social isolation, homelessness, hunger, and discrimination, which create barriers that reduce the effectiveness of typical library service; and
The American Library Association promotes equal access to information for all persons, and recognizes the urgent need to respond to the increasing number of poor children, adults, and families in America. These people are affected by a combination of limitations, including illiteracy, illness, social isolation, homelessness, hunger, and discrimination, which hamper the effectiveness of traditional library services. Therefore it is crucial that libraries recognize their role in enabling poor people to participate fully in a democratic society, by utilizing a wide variety of available resources and strategies. Concrete programs of training and development are needed to sensitize and prepare library staff to identify poor people's needs and deliver relevant services. And within the American Library Association the coordinating mechanisms for programs and activities dealing with poor people in various divisions, offices, and units should be strengthened, and support for low income liaison activities should be enhanced
WHEREAS: The number of poor children, adults, and families in America is increasing,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the American Library Association adopt the following policy on Library Service to Poor People, modeled on the ALA Minority Concerns Policy:
The American Library Association shall implement these objectives by:
1. Promoting the removal of all barriers to library and information services, particularly fees and overdue charges.
2. Promoting the publication, production, purchase and ready accessibility of print and nonprint material that honestly address the issues of poverty and homelessness, that deal with poor people in a respectful way, and that are of practical use to low-income patrons.
3. Promoting full, stable, and ongoing funding for existing legislative programs in support of low-income services, and for pro-active library programs that reach beyond traditional service-sites to Poor children, adults, and families.
4. Promoting training opportunities for librarians, in order to teach effective techniques for generating public funding to upgrade library services to poor people.
5. Promoting the incorporation of low-income programs and services into regular library budgets in all types of libraries, rather than the tendency to support these projects solely with "soft money" like private or federal grants.
6. Promoting equity in funding adequate library services for poor people in terms of materials, facilities, and equipment.
7. Promoting supplemental support for library resources for and about low-income populations by urging local, state, and federal governments, and the private sector, to provide adequate funding.
8. Promoting increased public awareness--through programs, displays, bibliographies, and publicity--of the importance of poverty-related library resources and services in all segments of society.
9. Promoting the determination of output measures through the encouragement of community needs assessments, giving special emphasis to assessing the needs of low-income people and involving both anti-poverty advocates and poor people themselves in such assessments.
10. Promoting direct representation of poor people and anti-poverty advocates through appointment to local boards and creation of local advisory committees on service to low-income people, such appointments to include library-paid transportation and stipends.
11. Promoting training to sensitize library staff to issues affecting poor people and to attitudinal and other barriers that hinder poor people's use of libraries.
12. Promoting networking and cooperation between libraries and other agencies, organizations, and advocacy groups in order to develop programs and services that effectively reach poor people.
13. Promoting the implementation of an expanded federal low-income housing program, national health insurance, full-employment policy, living minimum wage and welfare payments, affordable day care, and other programs likely to reduce, if not eliminate, poverty itself. .
14. Promoting among library staff the collection of food and clothing donations, volunteering personal time to anti-poverty activities and contributing money to direct-aid organizations.
15. Promoting related efforts concerning minorities and women, since these groups are disproportionately represented among poor people.
Submitted to SRRT Action Council by: MSRRT (Minnesota Library Association, Social Responsibilities' Round Table)
PASSED by SRRT Action Council
PASSED by ALA Membership
REFERRED by ALA Council to ALA Access Committee (Coordinating Committee on Freedom and Equality of Access to Information)
55.
WHEREAS: A Presidential Commission is planning a massive celebration to take place in 1992 on the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyage, with festivities including a trip to Mars by three solar-powered "space caravels," the sale of commemorative coins, and a scholarship program designed to "both honor the achievements of Columbus and encourage young people who embody his spirit and accomplishments to carry forward his legacy into the next century," and
WHEREAS: Columbus's voyage to America began a legacy of European piracy, brutality, slave trading, murder, disease, conquest, and ethnocide, and, further, engendered the Native American Holocaust which saw a population of over
5,000,000 American Indians in the land area of the United States decline to about 250,000 by the last decade of the 19th century;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The American Library Association urge libraries to provide Columbus Quincentennial programs and materials which examine the event from an authentic Native American perspective, dealing directly with topics like cultural imperialism, colonialism, and the Native American Holocaust.
Submitted to SRRT Action Council by: MSRRT (Minnesota Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table)
PASSED by SRRT Action Council
PASSED by ALA Membership
ACCEPTED by ALA Council as a re-affirmation of ALA policy.
56.
[Introductory text from SRRT Newsletter: Submitted to ALA Membership by SRRT Passed by ALA Membership Referred by ALA Council to a joint committee of the Intellectual Freedom Committee, International Relations Committee, and the Professional Ethics Committee, which will report back to Council at the 1991 Midwinter conference.]
WHEREAS: The government of South Africa has not yet dismantled the apartheid system; and
WHEREAS: The Mass Democratic Movement within South Africa has been greatly encouraged by economic sanctions and the academic, cultural, and sports boycotts; and
WHEREAS: The Mass Democratic Movement and the African National Congress have recently called for increased sanctions to speed the process of negotiations; and
WHEREAS: The Mass Democratic Movement and the African National Congress have modified the academic and cultural boycott, calling for a selective boycott aimed at the government and all other apartheid institutions; and
WHEREAS: American libraries have in the past given equal importance to the First Amendment right of freedom of expression, and to the Fourteenth Amendment legal end to racial discrimination;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the membership of the American Library Association endorse the Guidelines for Librarians Interacting with South Africa as attached [see SRRTN Sept. 1989].
57.
WHEREAS nearly half a million U.S. troops, a disproportionate number of them working class and persons of color, are now deployed in the Persian Gulf; and
WHEREAS veterans hospitals in the United States are preparing to handle at least 40,000 casualties; and WHEREAS the enormous cost of this military adventure threatens to severely worsen the budget deficit and scuttle the long-overdue "Peace Dividend"; and
WHEREAS the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, while a clear violation of international law, does not in any way justify the massive American mobilization and deployment of offensive forces; and
WHEREAS the internationally-approved economic sanctions and regional peacemaking efforts by the Arab League have not been given a chance to work by the Bush Administration; and
WHEREAS the United States displays a "double standard" in condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait while remaining silent or actually supporting Israel's invasions and occupations of the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Golan Heights, and southern Lebanon; Syria's intervention in Lebanon; Turkey's invasion of northern Cyprus; Morocco's occupation of Western restore is an autocracy that confers full citizenship upon only 8.6 percent of its 3 million population (namely the male descendants of men residing in Kuwait in 1920) and permits the widespread abuse and exploitation of some 500,000 foreign workers; and
WHEREAS the Saudi regime which the Bush Administration ostensibly "defends" is an
absolute monarchy without elections or legislature that forbids labor unions and strikes, punishes conversion to another religion by death and the public wearing of a Star of David or crucifix by whipping with sticks, bans the study of Freud and Western philosophy, prohibits women from traveling alone, driving cars, or riding bicycles, regards the testimony of one man as equal to that of two women, denies the rights to habeas corpus and legal counsel, and allows the king to remove newspaper editors; and
WHEREAS the Bush Administration and mainstream media have sought to demonize and vilify not only Saddam Hussein but also Iraqis and Arabs in general, thereby worsening anti-Arab bigotry in this country; and WHEREAS there has not yet been a full and open debate concerning U.S. goals and aims in the Persian Gulf; and
WHEREAS the American people receive information on the Gulf crisis that is largely pre-censored by Saudi and our own military authorities; and
WHEREAS the American library profession is involved in the censorship and mutilation of reading materials destined for Persian Gulf troops, thus violating its own basic canons of intellectual freedom;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association condemn the U.S. military response to the Kuwait invasion and call for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from the region, including Iraqi soldiers from Kuwait and American forces from the Persian Gulf;',
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SRRT demand an embargo on arms shipments to all Middle East governments and urge the settlement of the Persian Gulf, Israeli-Palestinian, Kurdish, and other regional conflicts by peaceful, diplomatic means--such as economic sanctions and international conferences--that primarily involve the United Nations and Arab League;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SRRT call upon the President and Congress to initiate an energy policy emphasizing reduced oil usage, conservation, recycling, and development of non-nuclear, renewable power sources, as well as redirecting the massive sumes now being squandered in the Gulf to end poverty, homelessness, hunger, and illiteracy in the United States;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SRRT condemn the anti-Arab racism fomented by both politicians and media, calling upon them to treat Arab peoples with honesty, dignity, and respect, and urging libraries to stock and publicize material originating in the Arab community itself;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SRRT invite all American librarians to promote--through programs, displays, bibliographies, and materials selection--a genuine national debate on the Gulf crisis, interventionism, and energy policy, necessarily including "alternative" viewpoints and analyses from such sources as the American Friends Service Committee, Women Against Military Madness, National Council of Churches of Christ, Military Families Support Network, War Resisters League, New Jewish Agenda, and Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that SRRT oppose the censorship and mutilation of books and magazines everywhere, including both the United States and Saudi Arabia.
[Passed by SRRT Action Council January 12; shortened version defeated by ALA Council January 13; copies sent to President Bush, Rep. Major Owens, and several other organizations. ALA Council did approve a brief anti-war statement submitted by E.J. Josey.]
58.
WHEREAS the F.B.I. has begun to interrogate Arab students and visitors, and Arab-American citizens in connection with the Persian Gulf crisis, ostensibly to gather information on "terrorist" or pro-Iraqi activities; and
WHEREAS such EB.I. action is both racist and repressive, impugning the character of 2,000,000 Arab-Americans simply on the basis of their ethnic background (which recalls the intolerable treatment accorded Japanese-Americans during World War II), further fueling anti-Arab bigotry, and discouraging Arab-American citizens from exercising their political and civil rights;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table demand an immediate stop to this pernicious and intimidating F.B.I. "investigation," together with a public apology by the Justice Department to the Arab-American community and all Arab guests in the United States.
59.
WHEREAS, Libraries increasingly face the challenge of latchkey children's use and a growing number of homeless people with no place to go, and
WHEREAS, The marginal users of the library are sometimes subject to discrimination in other settings because of ethnic origin and other criteria, and the American Library Association has taken a strong stand against a wide variety of discriminatory practices, and'
WHEREAS, The American Library Association has taken strong stands on free access to information, and literacy programs, opposing government intimidation of free expression, and invasion of citizen privacy; Therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the American Library Association support access to information and deplore any discriminatory efforts to remove persons who have committed no personal endangerments, legal misdemeanors or crimes from the premises, and urge all libraries to develop detailed policy statements and training programs to support the right of access.
(Submitted by Elizabeth Morrissett; passed unanimously by Action Council June 29, 1991; to be submitted to ALA membership)
After discussion and amendment of the_ recently passed Resolution on Israeli Censorship, Action Council passed the following Resolved as a stand-alone resolution which was not connected with the Israeli censorship issue:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SRRT Action Council will be willing to consider a resolution condemning censorship and/or the closure of libraries in any country if that resolution comes to SRRT with the appropriate documentation.
Action Council endorsed an ALA resolution requesting legislative action which would make public librarians serving low-income communities eligible for the same loan reduction programs as teachers and school librarians.
60.
Whereas, the SRRT Action Council finds that there is substantial evidence that Mark Rosenzweig was discharged for political reasons and because of his stand for the cause of intellectual freedom;
Be it therefore resolved, that SRRT supports Mark Rosenzweig's request that the American Library Association and its agencies, the Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Standing Committee on Review, Inquiry, and Mediation, fully investigate the causes of his discharge by the New York Public Library.
Copies of this resolution will be sent by the Action Council Coordinator to the appropriate ALA offices and the New York Public Library with a request for a response to these inquiries.
61.
The Action Council of SRRT endorses the International Human Rights Task Force proposal for a tour by librarians of Israel and the Occupied Territories.
62.
The Action Council of SRRT endorses the following REFORMA resolution:
Whereas, the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO, has maintained a consistent struggle for the rights of thousands of farm worker families they represent; and
Whereas, the United Farm Workers of America has undertaken its "Wrath of Grapes" campaign to alert consumers about pesticides which are used on grapes, about the pesticide residue which remains on the grapes which consumers buy, and about the ways in which these pesticides harm farm workers; and
Whereas, the World Resources Institute reports that over 300,000 farm workers are poisoned every year by pesticides; and
Whereas, California administration bias toward growers' interests and the unwillingness of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to enforce the law has made free and fair elections impossible; and
Whereas, since the 1960's the United Farm Workers of America, under the leadership of Cesar Chavez, have called for a new boycott of California fresh table grapes; and
Whereas, REFORMA, in its concern over the plight of farm workers and their families, stands with the farm workers in their resolve to improve their lives and assure their rights to safe working conditions and decent living wages and benefits;
Now therefore, be it resolved, that REFORMA,
the National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking, supports the boycott of California fresh table grapes by the United Farm Workers of America; and
Be it further resolved, that REFORMA endorses and supports the boycott of grapes until California grape growers guarantee that farm workers will have fair and free elections, that contracts will be negotiated in good faith, and that growers will voluntarily stop using five "restricted use" chemicals on fresh table grape crops-parathion, dinosab, captan, phosdren, and methyl bromide; and
Be it further resolved that REFORMA directs that grapes not be served at any of our functions and calls upon its members to support the boycott.
In addition, Action Council endorsed in spirit, pending submission of final wording at the 1992 Annual Conference, the following draft resolution:
63.
Whereas, there is sufficient documentation provided by Article 19 and other reputable human rights organizations describing a regime of tight censorship and frequent closings of libraries and other research and educational institutions in the Israeli Occupied West Bank and Gaza; and
Whereas, these violations of the freedom of information and expression are part of a
military occupation which for 25 years has also been depriving the Palestinian people of basic human rights along with their land and water resources; and
Whereas, the large amounts of U.S. aid provided to Israel help to offset the costs of this indefinitely-prolonged occupation, thus making the U.S. and its citizens a party to this tragedy; and
Whereas, we also strenuously deplore censorship and human rights violations in the Arab and Islamic countries of the Middle East, but feel that the special circumstances of this occupation and the close involvement of the United States and Israel require us to address this particular situation as an urgent priority;
Be it resolved that the SRRT deplores these Israeli violations of freedom of information and expression in the Occupied Territories, and calls on Israel to abide by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally-recognized norms of human rights and freedom of information and expression;
Be it further resolved that on this 25-year anniversary of the Israeli military occupation, the SRRT calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
through a negotiated agreement respecting both the right of the Palestinians in those Territories to self-determination and the right of Israel to peaceful and secure borders.
64.
The following resolution was endorsed by the elected representatives of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in April 1992. SRRT is a body within the American Library Association but does not and should not be taken to speak for the Association as a whole. In this resolution SRRT speaks only on its own behalf.
Introduced by Sandy Berman and Al Kagan
Whereas a new Middle East peace process is now in progress; and
Whereas the 1991 Article 19 World Report on Information, Freedom and Censorship (published by ALA) documents deplorable censorship and human rights violations in the Middle East including Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; and
Whereas we have a special relationship with Israel in that the United States Government gives more aid per capita to the Government of Israel than to any other country; and
Whereas Israel proclaims itself the only democracy in the Middle East, and should therefore be a strong proponent of human rights; and
Whereas the Article 19 report documents tight censorship, book bannings and frequent closings of media and educational institutions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza; and
Whereas the Article 19 report documents the harassment, physical abuse, arrest, detention, imprisonment and deportation of journalists, writers and academics in the West Bank and Gaza for engaging in their legitimate occupations; and
Whereas Israeli journalists, writers and librarians have also been harassed for exercising their rights of free speech and association;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association deplores all violations of human rights and intellectual freedom in the Middle East including Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, and calls upon every Government to observe Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ALA asks the Government of Israel, because of America's special relationship and that country's avowed commitment to democratic norms, to end all censorship and human rights violations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel itself; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the. ALA establish a task force to develop ways to concretely support the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian librarians who are working for peace and human rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the embassies of every Middle Eastern state, as well as to Article 19, IFLA, and both the national and Middle Eastern library press.
65.
WHEREAS a democracy must preserve freedom of thought and expression if it is to survive; and
WHEREAS librarians have a special responsibility to provide information on all sides of controversial issues, but cannot do so if intellectual conformity becomes a factor affecting their employment or tenure; and
WHEREAS loyalty tests can easily lead to the violation of the constitutional rights of library employees by allowing inquiries into their personal affiliations and beliefs; and
WHEREAS requiring library employees to sign loyalty oaths contributes to an atmosphere of suspicion and fear and places constraints on intellectual freedom by implying that it is hazardous for library employees to hold or express views other than those condoned by the employer; and
WHEREAS loyalty tests and oaths are requirements for librarians in many library systems, thus effectively compelling many potential employees to sign meaningless and ineffective affirmations of allegiance in order to gain employment;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association, strongly protest conditions of employment predicated on inquiries into library employees' thoughts, reading matter, associates, or membership in organizations. We also strongly protest compulsory affirmations of allegiance as a condition of employment in libraries. We call on libraries not to impose loyalty tests or oaths as conditions of employment.
(NB: Adopted by ALA Membership; ALA Council substituted an alternative resolution from the Intellectual Freedom Committee.)
66.
WHEREAS Will Manley was last week summarily dismissed as a Wilson Library Bulletin contributor because his June 1992 column which included a "Librarians and Se questionnaire, displeased the H.W. Wile Company President; and
WHEREAS the H.W. Wilson Company Preside has ordered that all remaining copies of t June 1992 issue be discarded; and
WHEREAS Mary Jo Godwin, WLB Editor, resigned in protest;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association censure the H.W. Wilson Company for this flagrant act of censorship and commend Mary Jo Godwin for her person integrity and outstanding commitment to intellectual freedom; urge the immediate reinstatement of Manley and Godwin, together with public apologies by the Wilson Company to both persons; encourage all libraries and individuals to immediately cancel the WLB subscriptions and ask all other WLB contributors to boycott the magazine unless and until Manley and Godwin are reinstate with apologies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the resolution be sent to the H.W. Wilson Company and the library press.
(NB: This resolution was passed with slight revision by ALA Membership by considerable margin; however its impact was diluted by ALA Council.)
67.
WHEREAS ALA in its Policy #57.3 states the "threats to the freedom of expression of any person become threats to the freedom of all therefore ALA adopts as policy the principles of Article 19 of the Universe Declaration of Human Rights by the Unite Nations General Assembly. The association will address the grievances of foreign nationals where the infringement of their rights of free expression is clearly a matter in which all free people should she concern;" and
WHEREAS ALA has over many years voiced it criticism of various countries for practicing censorship and other endangerments to intellectual freedom, in the hope that these countries would stop these practices in response to international concern; and
WHEREAS ALA reaffirmed its commitment to Article 19 in 1991 by quoting it in Policy #57.4: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers;" and
WHEREAS the Article 19 International Center on Censorship's 1991 World Report on Information, Freedom and Censorship (co-published by ALA) documents the following forms of censorship by the Israeli government in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza: banning publications and books; harassing, imprisoning, and deporting journalists; closing universities, research institutions (and libraries); censoring telecommunications, etc.; and
WHEREAS Israel considers itself to be a democracy established with the express purpose of creating a safe haven for the Jewish people; and
WHEREAS Israel has enjoyed a special relationship with the United States as the recipient of the largest amounts of annual U.S. aid per capita; and
WHEREAS the special relationship and annual aid helps offset the costs of the 25-year Israeli military occupation, making the U. S. a party to these censorship practices and other violations of human rights; and
WHEREAS the tight censorship in the Occupied Territories serves to stifle dialogue and nonviolent expression which are preconditions for a just and peaceful solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict, and has led to serious forms of censorship in Israel itself;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls upon the Government of Israel to end all censorship and human rights violations in the Occupied West Bank, Gaza, and in Israel itself; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association encourages representatives of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples in the quest for a peaceful and just solution of their conflict, including an end to the prolonged military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association encourages its members to develop ways to support Palestinian and Israeli librarians, journalists, educators, and others working for peace, human rights, and freedom of information and expression, and that ALA establish a Task Force toward these ends; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Israeli Government, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations, the Article 19 Organization, the International Federation of Library Associations, and the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
(NB: Passed by ALA Membership, amended at ALA Council.)
68.
WHEREAS the 50,000 -member American Library Association in 1990 adopted a "Library Services for the Poor" policy which enjoins ALA and the library profession to promote "implementation of. . . national health insurance" as a means of reducing poverty; and
WHEREAS Rep. Marty Russo and Sen. Paul Wellstone have introduced legislation to establish a system of single-payer, Canadian-style national health insurance which has already been supported by the American Public Health Association, the Children's Defense Fund, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers' Union, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Council of Senior Citizens, Physicians for a National Health Program, and many unions, including the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and the International Ladies Garment Workers' Union;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association endorse H. R.1300 and S.2320, the Universal Health Care Act; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to Rep. Russo, Sen. Wellstone, and the library press.
(NB: Passed by ALA membership and Council.)
69.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association add its name to the list of endorsing organizations and encourage ALA to do likewise.
70.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association protest the deportation of Omar al-Safi from his homeland. Al-Safi, a librarian at Bir Zeit University in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is being subjected to an "administrative deportation," under which the Israeli military authorities are not required to present any evidence or afford the accused the right to a trial. We note that such deportations are strictly prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 by a foreign occupier. We call on the Israeli Supreme Court and the Israeli Attorney General to stop or reverse all deportation proceedings against our colleague, and either release him from "administrative detention" or afford him the right to a formal trial with the public presentation of any evidence against him.
(NB: Passed by ALA membership and ALA Council.)
71.
WHEREAS the voters in Springfield, Oregon, on May 19, 1992 passed a city charter amendment prohibiting the use of public funds or property for promoting, encouraging, or facilitating homosexuality; and
WHEREAS this law and laws like it may be used to remove gay and lesbian materials from publicly-supported libraries and to prevent the acquisition of neutral or positive library materials about homosexuality; and
WHEREAS the Oregon Citizens Alliance has succeeded in placing on the Oregon statewide ballot in November 1992, an initiative which would amend the state constitution to prohibit the use of public funds or property to promote, encourage, or facilitate homosexuality, and which would institutionalize anti-gay discrimination in local and state government throughout Oregon; and
WHEREAS the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights and its Freedom to Read Statement strongly opposes all efforts at censorship in libraries, and promotes diversity in library collections, and the inclusion of materials representing the viewpoints of all segments of the community;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association condemns any attempt to censor or exclude any viewpoint on homosexuality from libraries; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the Oregon Library Association and all librarians to publicly and energetically oppose the implementation of censorship in Springfield, Oregon, the passage of the anti-gay state initiative in Oregon, and any other similar initiatives in other local or state jurisdictions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Springfield,
Oregon, City Council and Mayor, Public Library, and Chamber of Commerce; the Oregon Library Association; the Oregon State Library; OUTPAC (the statewide anti-initiative political action committee); the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation; the library press; and the major national gay and lesbian press.
(NB: Adopted by ALA membership and Council.)
72.
Whereas, ALA in its Policy #57.3 states that “Threats to freedom of expression of any person become threats to the freedom of all; therefore ALA adopts as policy the principles of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations’ General Assembly. The association will address the grievances of foreign nationals where the infringement of their rights of free expression is clearly a matter in which all free people should show concern,” and;
Whereas, Middle East Watch has documented instances of episodic censorship in Egypt, including the removal from circulation of books considered offensive by scholars at al-Azhar, an ancient Islamic religious research and educational institution;
Whereas, Alaa Hamed has been sentenced by the Egyptian courts to prison for writing a novel said to promote heresy and contempt for religion;
Whereas, Amnesty International has recently issues the report, Egypt: Grave Human Rights Abuses Amid Political Violence (May 1993);
Whereas, the American Library Association has found it appropriate to act on Policy 57.3 in the past by condemning censorship and the interference with library and archival operations in Grenada (CD 28, Midwinter ’84; CD 75, Annual ’89); South Africa (CD 21, Midwinter ’85; CD 58, Annual ’86; CD 97, Annual ’90; CD 24, Midwinter ’91), the United Kingdom (CD 49, Annual ’85), Iraq and Kuwait (CD 18.4, Midwinter ’91), Afghanistan (MD 1, Annual ’91), and Israel (CD xx, Annual ’92);
Whereas, the American Library Association has found it appropriate to act on Policy 57.3 in the past by championing the cases of A.B. Roginsky (CD 86, Annual ’82), H. Mykhaylenko (CD 57, Annual ’87), T.R. Mubudafhasi (CD 28, Midwinter ’89; CD 42, Midwinter ’90), S. Rushdie (CD 76, Annual ’89), and O. al-Safi (CD xx, Annual ’92);
Whereas, Egypt considers itself to be a democracy;
Whereas, Egypt is the recipient of the second largest amount of United States foreign aid (Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1992, Table 1326, p.792);
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Roundtable make known to all that it condemns these acts of restriction of freedom of individual expression and the right of free dissemination of knowledge;
Be It Further Resolved that SRRT urges that the ALA Council endorse this resolution;
Be It Further Resolved that ALA encourages its members to develop ways to support human rights and freedom of information and expression in Egypt, and that the International Relations Committee (IRC) be asked to develop strategies towards these ends;
Be It Further Resolved that copies of this Resolution be sent to the appropriate persons, including but not limited to the U.S. Secretary of State, the Egyptian Ambassador to the United Nations, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
73.
Whereas, the American Libraries Association has actively supported the International Federation of Library Associations for many years;
Whereas, the ALA Council is on record as supporting the 1994 IFLA Conference in Havana (CD 40, 1986 Annual),
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges the American Library Association to reaffirm its earlier stances and cooperate fully with the International Federation of Library Associations in the planning and implementing of the 1994 conference scheduled for Havana.
74.
Whereas, Haiti and the United States have historically had an extremely close relationship;
Whereas, a military coup in 1991 overthrew the democratically elected government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide which had promised a new era of hope and dignity for the long-oppressed and desperately poor Haitian people;
Whereas, the United States has denied refugees the right of asylum;
Whereas, the 2000-member Social Responsibilities Round table of the American Library Association is dedicated to promoting human rights and social justice everywhere;
Therefore Be It Resolved that Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the American government to immediately grant Temporary Protected Status to all Haitian refugees, including Guantanamo; and
Be It Further Resolved that copies of this Resolution be sent to President Clinton, Ambassador Lawrence Pezzullo, the Haiti Communications Project, the Quixote Center/Haiti Reborn, and the library press.
75.
Whereas, Mary Harris “Mother” Jones (1830-1930), an Irish immigrant tirelessly devoted herself to supporting the American workers and working class families, as well as opposing child labor exploitation;
Whereas, “Mother” Jones has been inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame;
Whereas, Karen Ritter has introduced a resolution into the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to designate May 1 as Mother Jones Day and asks that the U.S. Postal Service depict Mother Jones on a postage stamp; and
Whereas the Social Responsibility Round Table of the American Library Association is dedicated to promoting justice, equality, and respect for women and all working people;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the American Library Association Social Responsibilities Round Table strongly supports the issuance of a postage stamp honoring “Mother” Jones, a true American hero and role model;
And Be It Further Resolved that copies of this resolution be sent to the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, Friends of Mother Jones, the Honorable Karen Ritter, the Labor Heritage Foundation, and the library press.
76.
Whereas, the American Library Association has a policy supporting access to information,
Whereas, coding for restricted access to information on the part of the United States governmental agencies has continued,
Whereas, the United States military establishment is expanding the database of secret satellite information with a forty million dollar budget expenditure building up the Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado System,
Whereas in a time of stringent economic times, there has been limited access to weather and other information by the civilian offices of our generation;
Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table asks the American Library Association Council to pass a resolution requesting the Defense Department to share all factual information from the Buckley system and other military satellites including but not limited to climate, weather, environment, navigation, and agricultural resources in order to help our civilian agencies to better serve our country.
77.
Whereas, the effectiveness of the Library of Congress as a center for scholarly research has been diminished by the recent restrictions on stack access, closing of the Manuscript Reading Room on Saturdays, and reduced hours for use of all research facilities;
Whereas, the Library of Congress has served as the storehouse for over a century of this country’s knowledge and contains unique items that cannot be found elsewhere;
Whereas, the Librarian of Congress made a unilateral decision to close the stacks following unfavorable publicity in the press and refused to consider implementing an improved security system that might protect collections from theft and damage but still allow screened researchers access to their sources;
Whereas, there is conclusive evidence that the Library of Congress failed during the last ten years to enforce even rudimentary security measures;
Whereas, there has been no evidence in reported thefts implicating any researcher engaged in a bona fide scholarly historical research project;
Whereas, stack access makes it possible for researchers to pursue their work rigorously and efficiently and at a level of detail that is not easily achieved through standard finding aids;
Whereas, members of the Library of Congress staff have been restricted from the stacks, and act which inhibits staff members’ professional development and serious morale problems throughout the Library of Congress;
Whereas, Saturday closings of the Manuscript Reading Room place a hardship on both out-of-town scholars and Washington residents, for whom Saturdays are often their only opportunity to use the manuscript collection;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges the Librarian of Congress to recognize that closed stacks, Saturday closings of the Manuscript Reading Room, and reduced hours for use of other research rooms severely imperil the research of some scholars and hinders the day-to-day work of the Library of Congress staff, and urge the Librarian of Congress to reopen the Library on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and to seek a middle ground on access to the stacks that would reflect the needs of security concerns, scholars, and Library of Congress staff.
78.
Whereas, many local governments, corporations, colleges, and universities are recognizing the need to cover homosexual couples under benefit packages;
Whereas, the American Library Association has traditionally been in the fore on the promotion of equality for gays and lesbians, most notably with their Policy 54.3 and others;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges that a committee be established to review all ALA Headquarters personnel policies and employee benefits to ensure that no discrimination exists and that domestic partnership is recognized; and
Be It Further Resolved that any necessary arrangements with insurers and others to bring this into effect be implemented by 1 January, 1994.
(Note: By the time this resolution appeared on the agenda for the ALA membership meeting, the ALA Executive Board had already approved this benefits change; the resolution was therefore withdrawn.)
79.
Whereas, the United States of America is a democracy dedicated to the concepts of democracy and the freedom of information;
Whereas, the American Library Association is a champion of that freedom within this country and the world;
Whereas, the members of any society need to be informed in order to make intelligent decisions at the ballot box;
Whereas, the ALA Council went on record in 1982 that the voting records of its sessions should be available to the members of the Association by the easiest and cheapest means possible; and
Whereas, that means was determined to be through publications of these records in American Libraries;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table go on record against the proposal by the Committee on Program Evaluation and Support (COPES) made in Document #4.1 presented at the Midwinter Conference of 1993 to cease the publication and dissemination of these voting records to all ALA members.
Be It Further Resolved that this objection be made known at the ALA Membership Meeting and to the members of ALA Council.
(Note: Passed by ALA membership, 30 June 1993.)
80.
Resolved that the SRRT Action Council requests that the Task Force on Israeli Censorship and Palestinian Libraries select a new coordinator; and until such a time, that all correspondence from the current coordinator of said Task Force be funneled through the SRRT Action Council Coordinator.
(Note: This resolution was not accompanied by whereas clauses.)
81.
WHEREAS, in February, 1993, the University of California-Berkeley announced the suspension of admission to its School of Library and Information Studies;
Whereas, in June, 1993, the University of California-Los Angeles proposed the imminent closure of its Graduate School of Library and Information Science;
Whereas, the American Library Association, in a 1990 resolution, affirmed its support and respect for the professional library education in American research universities;
Whereas libraries and librarians are essential to democracy, to education, and to the quality of life;
Whereas libraries, now and as they evolve, require professional librarians to help fulfill the public’s right to know;
Whereas the action taken against library schools at Berkeley and Los Angeles jeopardize the future of libraries, library service and the public interest in California and in the western United States;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the American Library Association supports the continued existence of degree programs in library and information studies at U.C. Berkeley and U.C.L.A.;
And Be It Further Resolved that within these ongoing programs of library and information studies, SRRT encourages a strong commitment to educating library professionals in the public interest and the public’s right to know, and that copies of this resolution be sent to the governor and state legislators of California, to U.C. officials, to the U.C. Regents, and to the California and library press.
(At the ALA Membership meeting, this resolution was divided in two and each passed in a revised form.)
82.
The following resolution was approved by the elected representatives of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in 1993. SRRT is a body within the American Library Association but does not and should not be taken to speak for the Association as a whole. In this resolution SRRT speaks only on its own behalf.
Whereas, ALA Membership and Council extensively debated and ultimately approved resolutions during the 1992 Annual Conference at San Francisco that
a) called upon the Government of Israel "to end all censorship and human rights violations in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza, and in Israel itself,"
b) encouraged Israeli and Palestinian representatives "In the quest for a peaceful and just solution of their conflict,"
c) encouraged ALA members "to develop ways to support librarians, journalists, educators, and others working for peace, human rights, and freedom of information and expression in the Middle East," and
d) expressly asked the International Relations Committee (IRC) to "develop strategies" towards those ends;
And Whereas, ALA Council at its sessions during the 1993 Midwinter Conference in Denver amended the original resolution by referring it to the International Relations Committee for further study and notifying all recipients of the original resolutions that such action had been taken;
Therefore Be It Resolved that ALA's Social Responsibilities Round Table now fully reaffirms the earlier actions of ALA Membership and ALA Council and urges that those two bodies do likewise, and further requests that ALA Council direct the IRC to proceed immediately with implementation of the earlier actions;
And Be It Further Resolved that copies of this resolution be sent to all parties sent either of the 1992 resolutions (Membership and Council) and the 1993 Council resolution.
83.
Whereas the British socialist journal New Statesman and Society, (NSS) presently celebrating its eightieth year of publication since its founding by G.B. Shaw and Sidney and Beatrice Webb and today one of the most internationally esteemed journals of Left opinion and analysis, has been sued for libel by Prime Minister John Major and Ms. Clare Latimer in an action whose settlement threatens the continued existence of the magazine and is an attack on freedom of information;
Whereas the offending article was a report in the January 29 issue on the widespread media rumor campaign concerning Mr. Major's association with a woman alleged to be his "mistress," a campaign which the NSS, by openly discussing the assorted allegations in some detail and "naming names," showed to be unfounded;
Whereas Major and Latimer pursued their campaign against NSS despite the fact that the article unambiguously states the rumors are unfounded and false, and despite the fact that the editors, through their solicitors, issued a letter of regret for any personal distress caused by the publication of the article and agreed to, if necessary, help vindicate Major's and Latimer's reputations;
Whereas the Prime Minister and Ms. Latimer, taking advantage of Britain's archaic libel laws, had the issue containing the article withdrawn from circulation and sued the printers, distributors and wholesalers of the magazine, who are indemnified against this kind of action by NSS, for over 150,000 pounds;
Whereas British libraries are also under apparent threat of legal action for the display of the January 29, 1993 issue, a threat under which many are acceding to censorship;
Whereas the attack on NSS is aimed at the radical press as a whole and is, while legal, an unconscionable assault on free access to information, opinion and argument;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the ALA condemn British Prime Minister John Major for pursuing a libel suit against the radical magazine New Statesman and Society, an effort which has constituted a serious attack on freedom of the press.
84.
Whereas although the Clinton Administration in its NII policy statement calls for meaningful and equitable access to information for all, its strategy focuses mainly on the private sector and slights America’s already existing public information infrastructure—its tens of thousands of publicly-funded libraries, and
Whereas libraries are an ideal and essential public space to facilitate meaningful and equitable access to the electronic information highway, and libraries have a crucial role to play in helping to mediate access to knowledge and information, and
Whereas funding for libraries is being seriously diminished all across this country, even as we are about to establish a new and costly NII, and
Whereas in the present fiscal and political climate there is no guarantee that access to the information highway will be affordable either to non-affluent Americans or to underfunded libraries, and
Whereas this public policy debate carries enormous stakes for the future of libraries, librarians, and the rights of everyone to information in its various forms, now therefore
Be It Resolved that the American Library Association energetically promote a broad grassroots mobilization of librarians, in local and regional coalitions, with all those concerned with equitable access to information, in order to pressure NII decision-makers to guarantee free access to the NII through the already existing public infrastructure—libraries, and
Be It Further Resolved that the ALA encourage its affiliate organizations and all libraries to use such occasions as National Freedom of Information Day (March 16) and National Library Week (April 17-23) to focus public attention on these issues, and
Be It Further Resolved that the ALA declare 1995 to be National Access to Information Year and encourage its divisions and affiliates to use this theme in planning programs and activities for the Annual ALA Conference in Chicago in 1995.
(N.B. A rough draft of this resolution was passed in spirit by Action Council. An ad hoc committee was established to revise the resolution and submit it to ALA Council. The final form is above.)
85.
Whereas South Africa is moving towards a democratic system and apartheid will officially end with the elections scheduled for April 27, 1994;
And whereas the South African democratic movement has called for the end of economic and other sanctions to promote the quality of life under a majority rule government;
And whereas the South African Council of Churches has developed a 10 point Code of Conduct for domestic and transnational businesses operating in South Africa which addresses equal opportunity, training and education, workers rights, working and living conditions, job creation and security, community relations, consumer protection, environmental protection, empowerment of black businesses, and implementation;
Resolved that the ALA endorse the July 1993 South African Council of Churches Code of Conduct for its future investments in South Africa;
And resolved that the ALA end its policy against investing in corporations doing business in South Africa effective immediately after the results of the South African majority rule elections have been ratified.
86.
Whereas SRRT is currently a decentralized organization with many task forces;
Whereas Action Council currently functions primarily in a coordinating capacity as distinct from a policy initiating body;
And Whereas SRRT could be a more effective organization if Action Council established policy priorities for recommendation to various task forces;
Therefore Be It Resolved that Action Council establish an ad hoc committee to develop appropriate mechanisms to establish organization-wide priorities in an ongoing fashion.
(Note: The committee noted above has been established and consists of Denise Botto, Paul Hawkins, and Stephen Stillwell. Comments on this may be sent to any one of them.)
87.
Whereas the Boy Scouts of America has a stated policy of discrimination against gays and lesbians and through this policy fosters and promotes homophobia in our society;
Whereas the Boy Scouts of America portrays itself as a secular organization open to all boys of certain ages, but in fact requires new members to sign a God oath, in effect discriminating against humanists, atheists, and other non-believers; and
Whereas corporations, charitable foundations, and others are recognizing that these policies of the Boy Scouts of America are inconsistent with the notions of equality and justice for all and have accordingly severed relationships with the Boy Scouts of America; and
Whereas the American Library Association has traditionally been in the for on the promotion of equality for gays and lesbians, most notably with their policy 54.3 and others, and has also opposed discrimination based on religion and belief;
Therefore Be It Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urge that the Association for Library Service to Children sever its relationship with the Boy scouts of America until such time as these policies are ended.
(This resolution was mistakenly omitted from an earlier issue which carried resolutions passed by SRRT Action Council at the Annual Conference in New Orleans.)
88.
Whereas, The American Library Association occasionally focuses its attention on local political and social issues not only directly related to librarianship or the provisions of library service, and allows such issues to affect the selection of conference sites, and
Whereas, This attention to local political and social issues not directly related to librarianship or the provision of library services further diminishes the limited resources of time, energy and funds available to the Association for more relevant activities; and
Whereas, The ALA appears to have lost touch with member concerns regarding its primary role of addressing those issues which directly impact librarianship and the provision of library services in our nation, and
Whereas, The number of potential ALA conference sites considered appropriate based on local political and social concerns has now declined considerably,
Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Illinois Chapter of the American Library Association strongly encourages the governing bodies of the Association to redirect their energies and attention to the primary obligations and roles of the Association, and to address only those issues which have a direct and lasting impact on librarianship and the provisions of library services.
89.
Whereas the Social Responsibilities Round Table has among its basic tenets, the following beliefs
1) that SRRT is an outlet for the expression of ideas that might otherwise be stifled by the organization of the American Library Association;
2) that all people deserve fair and equal treatment and respect; and
3) that coalition-building and collaboration are among the appropriate means to advance the goals of social responsibility within SRRT, our Association, the library profession, and the world at large;
Therefore Be It Resolved that any member of SRRT who:
1) continually makes inappropriate personal attacks against anyone else inside or outside of the Round Table or the Association or
2) attempts to undermine the Round Table’s efforts at the coalition-building process and thereby derails the Round Table in the pursuit of its goals
may be considered by a two-thirds, roll call vote of Action Council as “out-of-step” with the ideals and goals of the Round Table and will immediately upon such vote forfeit any elected or appointed office within the Round Table or any of its several Task Forces and that a period of three years lapses before such person that or any office within SRRT.
90.
Whereas the behavior of David L. Williams has shown and continues to show a continual disregard for the spirits and ideals which the Social Responsibilities Round Table hopes to exemplify;
Whereas this behavior has been manifested in both oral presentations at various fora at American Library Association meetings and in written works distributed at and between these sessions;
Therefore Be It Resolved that David L. Williams be:
1) removed from his appointed position as Coordinator of the Task Force on Israeli Censorship and Palestinian Libraries;
2) prohibited from assuming the position of At-Large Member of Action Council to which he was elected; and
3) banned from any elected or appointed office with the Social Responsibilities Round Table or any of its several Task Forces, now existent or which may be created, until the close of the 1997 Annual Conference, scheduled for San Francisco.
(N.B. Two-thirds majority required; roll call required.)
91.
Be It Resolved that the cash stipend portion of any award given by the Social Responsibilities Round Table or any of its several Task Forces, now existent or ones added in the future, must be financially self-sustaining whether through 1) the backing of a sponsor, 2) an endowment, or 3) directly related to fund-raising activities;
Be It Further Resolved that the funding for the cash stipend of such an award may not depend on the general operating accounts of SRRT; and that these awards that are currently funded in that manner have a five-year grace period from the passage of this resolution for compliance and further that any new award established after the passage of this resolution be given the same grace period to establish itself financially.
(N.B. SRRT Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Awards—breakfast fund raiser and corporate sponsorship; Gay & Lesbian Book Awards—general operating funds; Peace Award—corporate sponsorship; AIP/Jackie Eubanks Awards—general operating funds)
92.
WHEREAS a class of about 100 library employees in the City of Omaha (over 75% of whom are female) were disadvantaged by a reclassification scheme implemented by the City of Omaha six years ago; and
WHEREAS in July 1990 the Omaha City Council implemented a change in the wage structure of its management, professional. and technical employees by dividing them into four groups, each of which received varying raises for the first year of the new contract. All the library employees--regardless of prior classification, were placed in the group receiving the lowest wage increases- That group contained 87 of the 103 women represented by the union, the Civilian Management Professional Technical Employees Council (CMPTEC); and
WHEREAS the other three groups all received higher wage increases. Those groups contained 171 of the 250 men in CMPTEC. There were no women in the group that received the highest raise. Plaintiffs' statistical analysis of this selection concluded that there was less than a 1 in 1,000 chance that the impact on women in the groupings would occur by chance alone; and
WHEREAS this group sued the City for sex discrimination in January of this year and lost on claims of disparate treatment (intentional discrimination) and disparate impact;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association write an amicus curiae brief in support of the appeal to the 8th Circuit Court.
Moved by: Diedre Conkling
93.
WHEREAS the Zimbabwe International Book Fair is the preeminent African book fair; and
WHEREAS the Government of Zimbabwe took actions to exclude the Gays and Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe from the 1995 Book Fair: and
WHEREAS the Human Rights Indaba at the 1995 Zimbabwe International Book Fair issued a strong statement against this Government action; and
WHEREAS the Zimbabwe International Book Fair Trust has stated its intention to accept the future participation of the Gays and Lesbians Association of Zimbabwe; and if necessary to take legal action to do so;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association commends the Zimbabwe International Book Fait for its stance in support of freedom of expression and human rights as reflected in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe International Book Fair Trust.
Distribution:
His Excellency Robert G. Mogabe
President of Zimbabwe
Barnwell Chakaodza
Director of Information
Government of Zimbabwe
Mrs. Trish Mbanga, Executive Director
Zimbabwe International Book Fair Trust
78 Kaguvi Street
P.O. Box CY 1179 Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
This resolution was passed by the International Relations Committee and then by the ALA Council, July 1996.
94.
WHEREAS the Constitution of the United States guarantees every citizen a fair and impartial trial; and
WHEREAS there exist serious questions concerning the fairness of the trial that put Mumia Abu-Jamal on death row; and
WHEREAS Mumia Abu-Jamal, a prominent radio broadcaster, journalist, author, and former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Black Journalists, has been subjected to gross violations of his First Amendment rights both during his trial, and following conviction, throughout his imprisonment; and
WHEREAS the ultimate injustice is for the state to kill a person for a crime that person might not have committed; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association call upon Governor Thomas J. Ridge of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to reverse the death sentence signed of June 2, 1995, and to allow Abu-Jamal’s lawyers to appeal his conviction.
Passed unanimously in Chicago, Illinois, on June 27, 1995, by the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.
(Note: Gov. Ridge issued a stay of execution the first week of August. Abu-Jamal was to have been executed on August 17. At press time, the matter of an appeal was not decided.)
95.
WHEREAS independent booksellers contribute directly to cultural and political diversity by keeping backlist titles in stock as well as handling experimental literature, materials by new authors, and works that deal with unconventional subjects and viewpoints; and
WHEREAS the vitality and even the existence of independent bookstores are now endangered by unfair and frequently illegal discounts and other subsidies (including discriminatory “remaindering” practices and co-op advertising payments) afforded by major publishers solely to chain bookstores; and
WHEREAS the Robinson-Patman Act, which requires publishers to offer books to competing bookstores at the same prices and on the same terms, has not been energetically enforced by the Federal Trade Commission; and
WHEREAS the American Booksellers Association has undertaken an antitrust lawsuit against several mega-publishers charging them with price discrimination, promotional allowance discrimination, and unlawfully favoring a limited number of large bookstore chains and discount outlets, including warehouse clubs; and
WHEREAS the decline or demise of independent booksellers concentrates undue power--for instance, decisions about what gets published and what doesn't--in the hands of four or five “superstore” chains, resulting in reduced choices for writers, publishers, and readers alike and constituting a form of "economic" or “market censorship” that can only shrink and narrow cultural and political diversity; and
WHEREAS the library profession is firmly and historically committed to promoting a broad and genuine variety of ideas and expression;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 1,800-member Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls upon the Federal Trade Commission to vigorously and speedily enforce antitrust statutes relevant to bookselling; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Social .Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association expresses its support of the ABA's efforts to gain fair treatment for independent bookstores.
Copies to: Federal Trade Commission
American Booksellers Association
Library Press
Publisher’s Weekly
Small Press
Feminist Bookstore News
Alternative Press Review
National Coalition Against Censorship
National Coalition for Free Expression
This resolution, with minor revision, was endorsed by the Social Responsibilities Round Table, July 6, 1996.
Moved by: Maurice J. Freedman, Councilor-At-Large
Seconded by: Peter Graham, Councilor-At-Large
Submitted ALA Resolutions Committee, July 8, 1996
Approved by ALA Council, July 10, 1996
96.
WHEREAS the American Library Association in 1990 adopted a "Poor People's Services Policy" that promotes, in part, “the ready accessibility of print and nonprint materja1s that honestly address the issues of poverty and homelessness, that deal with poor people in a respectful way, and that are .of practical use to low-income patrons"; and
WHEREAS that same policy encourages activities and programs "likely to reduce, if not eliminate, poverty itself”, and
WHEREAS Library of Congress subject headings can importantly affect access to vital library resources on hunger, homelessness, and poverty, as well as shaping library users' attitudes toward those topics; and
WHEREAS LC headings currently impede or distort access in much relevant material because of antiquated or insensitive language, coupled with a failure to recognize a host of significant subjects actually represented in library collections;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 1,800-member Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the Library of Congress to (a) replace PUBLIC WELFARE and PUBLIC WELFARE ADMINISTRATION with the more familiar forms WELFARE and WELFARE ADMINISTRATION; (b) humanize the current heading POOR by transforming it into POOR PEOPLE; and (c) swiftly establish and assign these warranted and essential headings related to poverty, hunger, homelessness, and social policy:
CHILD LABOR EXPLOITATION
CHILDREN OF UNEMPLOYED PARENTS
CLASSISM
CLASSISM IN CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
CLASSISM IN CHILDREN
CLASSISM IN ECONOMIC POLICY
CLASSISM IN EDUCATION
CLASSISM IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
CLASSISM IN INTELLIGENCE TESTS
CLASSISM IN LAW
CLASSISM IN LIBRARIANSHIP
CLASSISM IN LITERATURE
CLASSISM IN MASS MEDIA
CLASSISM IN MEDICAL CARE
CLASSISM IN SOCIAL POLICY
CLASSISM IN TAXATION
CLASSISM IN TEXTBOOKS
CLASSISM IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
CORPORATE POWER
CORPORATE WELFARE
DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM
ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY
FOOD SHELVES
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT
HOMELESS AFRO-AMERICAN WOMEN
HOMELESS BOYS
HOMELESS FAMILIES
HOMELESS FAMILY SERVICES
HOMELESS GIRLS
HOMELESS MENTALLY ILL PERSONS
HOMELESS MENT ALLY ILL PERSONS' SERVICES
HOMELESS PEOPLE IN ART
HOMELESS PEOPLE'S ADVOCATES
HOMELESS PEOPLE'S ART
HOMELESS TEENAGERS
HOMELESSNESS--ACTION PROJECTS
HUNGER--ACTION PROJECTS
HUNGER ACTIVISTS
INTERCLASS FRIENDSHIP
LOW-INCOME HOUSING
MARXISM
NONCLASSIST CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
POOR AFRO-AMERICAN FAMILIES
POOR FAMILIES
POOR PARENTS
POOR PEOPLE-EMPOWERMENT
POOR PEOPLE--RIGHTS
POOR SINGLE MOTHERS
RIGHT TO SHELTER
VIOLENCE AGAINST HOMELESS PEOPLE
VIOLENCE AGAINST POOR PEOPLE
WELFARE CONSUMERS-RIGHTS
WORKING POOR PEOPLE
Copies to: Chief, Cataloging Policy & Support Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540
Library Press
Submitted by: Sanford Berman, Coordinator, SRRT Task Force on Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty
July 6, 1996.
97.
WHEREAS the American Library Association supports free access to information (ALA Policy 50.3); and
WHEREAS the American Library Association has supported special services to specific groups, such as prisoners (ALA Policy 52.1), youth (ALA Policy 52.5), and poor people (ALA Policy 61); and
WHEREAS in the current economic and social climate of the United States, there are many and increasing numbers of persons (including children and youth) who have no fixed residence; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association
encourages libraries to extend services to this population, seeking ways to serve their needs within the community, and developing ways to recognize them as community members; and be it further
RESOLVED that information referral programs for the special needs of homeless people be developed and maintained by libraries so that community resources beyond the library’s special services can be made known to this group of users, and that efforts be made to publicize this service through social agencies, bulletin boards, and the community grapevine.
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 2/15/97
Washington DC
98.
WHEREAS the Buy America Act mandates that federal agencies use American goods and services whenever possible to promote maximum employment and living wages in the United States; and
WHEREAS the American Library Association explicitly supports a “full employment policy” and “living minimum wage” (ALA Policy 61); and
WHEREAS the Library of Congress (LC) has contracted for the digitizing of American Memory Projects work in Jamaica and the Philippines, in effect transferring American jobs to low-wage workers overseas; and
WHEREAS the Made in the USA Foundation, American Freedom of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 29, and the two AFSCME locals representing Library of Congress employees have filed suit against LC for violating the Buy America Act, charging that this outsourcing makes LC complicit in both depressing American wages and exploiting substandard wage rates abroad; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association firmly supports the Made in the USA Foundation/AFSCME lawsuit; and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT urges the Library of Congress to speedily cancel all overseas digitizing work and in future only permit such work to be performed by American workers at living wages.
(Passed by SRRT Action Council, 2/15/97, Washington DC)
99.
WHEREAS the Library of Congress refuses to provide Cataloging-In-Publication (CIP) data for “books paid for or subsidized by individual authors; books published by a house which published only the works of one author;” and
WHEREAS such titles have become an important segment of the small press movement, covering a broad range of topics and disciplines; and
WHEREAS the absence of CIP entries unquestionably limits the distribution, sale, and processing of self-published works and is so unfair and discriminatory, blocking these materials from a greater readership and wider attention; and
WHEREAS this policy, if in effect in 1885, would have denied a CIP entry to Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls upon the Library of Congress to provide CIP data to all requesting publishers regardless of size or number of authors.
(Passed by SRRT Action Council, 2/15/97, Washington DC)
100.
WHEREAS the American Library Association uses large amounts of paper in both its internal and publishing operations; and
WHEREAS the ALA has shown a commitment to environmental concerns by using recycled and acid-free paper; and
WHEREAS the use of chlorine for bleaching paper produces up to 1,000 chlorinated organic compounds (organochlorines), among which are dioxins, PCBs, and furans; and
WHEREAS many recent studies have found evidence of health hazard resulting from exposure to organochlorines; and
WHEREAS the International Joint Commission (a US-Canadian commission which monitors the health of the Great Lakes region) has concluded that the use of chlorine and its compounds should be avoided in manufacturing processes; and
WHEREAS studies have shown that elemental chlorine-free (ECF) papers can achieve high brightness (80-90% ISO) and high strength (burst, tear, tensile, and viscosity); therefore be it
RESOLVED that efforts be made by the American Library Association to acquire and use chlorine-free papers in its internal and publishing operations, and that, subsequent to switching to the use of chlorine-free papers, the ALA communicate this action to the library and publishing communities.
PASSED BY SRRT ACTION COUNCIL, 2/15/97, Washington DC
101.
WHEREAS materials selection and cataloging are core elements of librarianship, ensuring that library resources are both appropriate and findable; and
WHEREAS commercial vendors, primarily motivated by profit making, cannot effectively select and catalog materials for library systems whose local staffs are much more knowledgeable about their own collections, user interests, material sources (including regional and alternative presses and groups), and access needs; and
WHEREAS the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS) last year totally outsourced the selection and cataloging of library materials to a private vendor; and
WHEREAS such HSPLS outsourcing clearly weakens service to Hawaii library users, seriously demoralizes HSPLS staff, severely damages library collections, and impedes access to library resources; and
WHEREAS similar outsourcing of basic library functions is either underway or being seriously considered elsewhere; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the Hawaii State Public Library System to immediately cancel its outsourcing contract and permit Hawaiian librarians to do the selection and cataloging that only they can do best; and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT recommends that other libraries do not follow the “Hawaiian Model” which demonstrably leads to wrecked, irrelevant, and inaccessible collections, as well as wastes both money and staff expertise.
PASSED BY SRRT ACTION COUNCIL, 2/15/97, Washington DC
102.
Council Document #53, July 2nd, 1997
WHEREAS the practice of outsourcing collection development for a period of time in the state of Hawaii included complete reliance on a single vendor; allowed that single vendor to allocate 100% of the materials budget ; included a single unit cost per item delivered; and included no right of return;
AND WHEREAS the Hawaii State Legislature in overruling this practice noted that “The legislature finds that this type of outsourcing contract in general is poor public policy. It elevates the book’s price over the book’s content”;
AND WHEREAS it is a fundamental principle of the library profession to select materials appropriate to individual library communities so that the local library user receives the best service;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the American Library Association endorses the principle that the core values of the library profession include local control of the selection of materials;
AND THAT copies of this resolution be sent to the governor of the state of Hawaii and the president of the Hawaii Library Association.
Moved by Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor at Large
Seconded by Robert Franklin, Councilor at Large
103.
WHEREAS individual librarians in various communities banded together;
AND WHEREAS by doing so they rallied the general public in support of libraries and professional values;
AND WHEREAS they were effective in lobbying the state legislature to pass and the governor to sign A.B. 252 on June 19, 1997;
AND WHEREAS that legislation specifically reads:
312—Selection and acquisition of library books.
(a) The board of education shall take all steps possible in any outsourcing contract in effect on the effective date of this Act, including the development and implementation of necessary procedures, to ensure formal involvement by the state public service librarians in the selection of books and other library materials;
AND WHEREAS in doing so they affirmed their own professional ethics implied in their own public action and mobilization;
AND WHEREAS their actions raised the visibility of libraries and importance of professional library ethics and services in the eyes of the general public and inspired their library patrons to recognize and value the intellectual opportunities available to them through the public library and to demonstrate that via letters to the editor, telephone calls to legislators, personal testimony at hearings, and petitions in support of their libraries;
AND WHEREAS these actions ensure that the citizens of Hawai’i have access to the full dimension of ideas they need to be an informed citizenry;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the American Library Association applauds the efforts of the librarians in Hawai’i to safeguard the right of local control of selection of library materials;
AND THAT copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor of the State of Hawai’i and the president of the Hawai’i Library Association.
Moved by Michael A. Golrick, Connecticut Chapter Councilor;
Deb Gilchrist, Councilor at Large; and James Casey, Councilor at Large
1997 Annual Conference of the American Library Association, San Francisco, California. Reviewed for confirmation with guidelines by Council Resolution Committee.
104.
WHEREAS Council commends the Gates Library Foundation for its support for computer development in libraries in poor communities;
AND WHEREAS Council believes that there must be a comprehensive look at all the implications of such unprecedented philanthropic largesse;
AND WHEREAS Gates’ interest in libraries can reasonably be seen as linked, at least in part, to plans to promote his own products and services and to maximize his corporations’ market share and is not motivated entirely by the same dynamic as the concerns of public libraries and librarians;
AND WHEREAS the huge amount of money and Microsoft software involved may influence the direction of public library development in a way that ties libraries to the priority of specific electronic services over resources, services, and materials public libraries feel they must provide;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the GLF be asked to include on their board of directors a significant number of prominent librarians, including the ALA Executive Director, representing the range of views on library priorities and the place of electronic services, in recognition that librarians involved in their project at the local level must be the ultimate arbiters of professional issues;
AND THAT THE ALA Council recognizes that ALA’s gratefulness to the GLF and similar enterprises should not imply that public libraries can be revitalized and sustained by principal reliance on private largesse, and that we will redouble our efforts for public support for libraries through changes in government policy at all levels.
Submitted by Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor at Large
105.
Submitted by Al Kagan
WHEREAS the Social Responsibilities Round Table has recently been informed of a budget deficit of approximately $6000; and
WHEREAS SRRT has long been committed to fiscal responsibility and is, therefore, shocked by this deficit notification; and
WHEREAS SRRT has vigorously, but unsuccessfully, tried over many years to get accurate and timely budget information from the previous OLOS staff; and
WHEREAS the current OLOS staff has been very responsive to SRRT’s concerns; therefore be it
RESOLVED that SRRT request full budget information from 1990 to the present from the OLOS office; and
RESOLVED that SRRT should not be asked to assume responsibility for an undocumented deficit; and further
RESOLVED that SRRT work to resolve this problem in a timely manner in consultation with the OLOS office and the ALA Comptroller.
Passed unanimously, Jan. 12, 1998 by SRRT Action Council meeting in New Orleans
106.
Submitted by Ann Sparanese
WHEREAS the Pastors for Peace (IFCO) are planning their 8th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, scheduled for July 1998; and
WHEREAS this Caravan will be composed of bookmobiles, stocked with computers as well as humanitarian aid; and
WHEREAS the long-standing unjust US economic blockade against Cuba has deprived the Cuban people of the benefits of technology, as well as food and medicine, and has deprived both US and Cuban people of normal cultural, social and educational interaction; and
WHEREAS we as librarians have a special interest and responsibility to support the expansion of library services in Cuba; and further
WHEREAS this presidential year in ALA is dedicated to the vision of Local Touch, Global Reach; be it therefore
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association:
1. Endorses and supports the goals of the Pastors for Peace Bookmobile Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba, and
2. Encourages the participation of librarians in the Friendshipment Caravan, and
3. Will work to aid, promote, and publicize this project among librarians within SRRT and within ALA to help achieve its success.
Passed unanimously, Jan. 12, 1998 by SRRT Action Council meeting in New Orleans.
107.
Whereas, ALA has a long relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), currently in the form of a designated ALSC liaison, and
Whereas, the BSA continues to exclude persons from membership and leadership on the basis of religious ideas and/or sexual orientation, and
Whereas ALA Policy 9.5 specifically prohibits ALA or its component units from having formal relationships with organizations which violate ALA’s principles and policies, and
Whereas ALA policies 54.17 and 60.2 declare the Association’s support for gay rights and against creed-based discrimination, Therefore, be it resolved that:
The American Library Association suspends relations with the Boy Scouts of America until such time as the BSA ends its exclusionary policy on the basis of a person’s religious beliefs or sexual orientation, and
Be it further resolved that:
ALA Council strongly urges the Boy Scouts of America to change its membership practices so that they demonstrate a commitment to human rights, inclusivity and mutual respect, and to so inform the Boy Scouts of America.
[this resolution originated as an ALA Council resolution being brought forth by Mark Rozenzweig and has been altered slightly to this version which will be presented as a SRRT resolution]
108.
WHEREAS the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) is a pending global trade agreement which will require signatory governments to relinquish a degree of sovereignty to multinational corporations; and
WHEREAS the MAI is being negotiated in secret under the auspices of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a grouping of the world’s 29 wealthiest countries; and
WHEREAS the MAI will require governments to provide equal treatment for domestic and foreign businesses, meaning that laws offering preferential treatment to businesses or organizations in a given locale or situation would be subject to lawsuits to be heard in courts and as-of-yet unnamed international tribunals, opening them up to unlimited liability for the continuation of democratically created laws; and
WHEREAS the MAI is intended to apply to all levels of government (national, regional, local, community) regardless of whether or not the governmental body in question ratified the treaty, meaning that local ordinances may be challenged by multinational corporations; and
WHEREAS many public and academic libraries receive the majority of their funding from governmental bodies, who will be constrained in the policy-making arena by the threat of foreign corporations taking legal action against them if they feel local interests are being placed ahead of their rights; and
WHEREAS the MAI will apply retroactively to contracts and laws implemented before the MAI is ratified; and
WHEREAS the MAI is anti-democratic and gives multinational corporations rights that citizens to not have while absolving them of most responsibilities; and
WHEREAS libraries and librarians are vital components in maintaining democratic systems by providing the information needed to maintain an informed and involved populace, and so have a significant stake in rebuffing attacks on democracy and the power of citizens to control their lives; and
WHEREAS the British Columbia Library Association Executive has already voiced its opposition to MAI; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association declares its opposition to the continued negotiation of the MAI until such time as the negotiations are opened up to representation by developing countries and by non-governmental organizations dedicated to protecting intellectual freedom, environmental, labor and consumer interests; and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT urges the ALA Council, current President, and Presidents-Elect to publicly oppose MAI as a threat to democratic values, local autonomy, and human rights.
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 6/27/98 Washington DC
109.
WHEREAS it is essential for a healthy democracy that the public is well informed about the activities and policies of Congress; and
WHEREAS objective and comprehensive coverage of Congress can only happen when there is a free press; and
WHEREAS Congress has delegated the credentialling of reporters to the Senate and House Periodical Press Galleries, whose members are "correspondents, newsgathers, or reporters"; and
WHEREAS in 1996, the Executive Committee of the Press Galleries denied press credentials to Vigdor Schreibman, a reporter whose work is published through the Federal Information News Syndicate (FINS); and
WHEREAS the Press Galleries issued credentials to Mr. Schreibman in 1993, 1994 and 1995 as a correspondent for the Electronic Public Information Newsletter (EPIN); and
WHEREAS there has been no substantial change in Mr. Schreibman’s functions, inasmuch as he has always issued his news columns and special reports in the names of FINS, distributed over the Internet and in print as a correspondent for EPIN; and
WHEREAS Mr. Schreibman’s actions as a bona fide correspondent and newsgatherer, previously accredited by the Periodical Press Galleries and validated by his continuing work, are entitled to the protections of the First Amendment, which is a personal right independent of who he serves as a correspondent at any particular time; and
WHEREAS Mr. Schreibman has filed a lawsuit (Schreibman vs. Holmes) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the denial of his press credentials based upon the first Amendment to the Constitution command that "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom...of the Press"; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association recognizes the validity of Mr. Schreibman’s claim to be a correspondent and news gatherer and supports his lawsuit as a means of resolving the constitutional issues that refusal of his credentials has raised; and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT urges ALA to file an amicus brief supporting Mr. Schreibman’s law suit.
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 2/27/98 Wash. DC
110.
WHEREAS the American Library Association (ALA) has had a long official relationship with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), currently in the form of a designated ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) liaison; and
WHEREAS ALA and units may provide bibliographies and other material and services to any organization with or without formal or official affiliation; and
WHEREAS the BSA continues to exclude persons from membership and leadership on the basis of religious ideas and/or sexual orientation; and
WHEREAS ALA Policy 9.5 specifically prohibits ALA or its component units from having formal relationships with organizations which violate ALA’s principles and policies regarding human rights and social justice; and
WHEREAS ALA policies 54/17 and 60.2 declare the Association’s support for gay rights and against creed-based discrimination; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls upon ALA to suspend formal or official relations with the Boy Scouts of America until such time as the Boy Scouts of America ends its exclusionary policy on the basis of a person’s religious beliefs or sexual orientation; and be it further
RESOLVED that the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table strongly urges the Boy Scouts of America to change its membership practices so that they demonstrate a commitment to human rights, inclusivity and mutual respect.
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 6/27/98 Washington DC
111.
WHEREAS the object of the American Library Association is to promote library service and librarianship (ALA Constitution and Bylaws, Art. II, Sec. I); and
WHEREAS library service and librarianship can best be promoted in an environment in which individuals and organizations act in a socially responsible way (ALA Policy Manual, Section 1.1, 2nd paragraph); therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges ALA to place its Endowment Fund and other investments in socially responsible financial instruments, as defined by the following Investment Code of Conduct (based, in part on the Code of Conduct for Businesses Operating in South Africa prepared by the South African Council of Churches, July 1993):
1. Equal Opportunity. Companies should ensure that their operations are free from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, political opinion or physical handicap, and implement affirmative action programs designed to protect the equal rights and treatment of the historically disadvantaged.
2. Training and Education. Companies should develop and implement training and education programs to increase the productive capacities of their employees in consultation with the labor union movement.
3. Workers Rights. Companies should recognize representative unions and uphold their employees’ rights to organize openly, bargain collectively, picket peacefully and strike without intimidation and harassment.
4. Working and Living Conditions. Companies should maintain safe and healthy work environment and strive to ensure that the working and living conditions they provide accord with relevant international conventions.
5. Job Creation and Security. Companies should strive to maintain productive employment opportunities and create new jobs in local communities.
6. Community Relations. Companies should share information about their practices and proposed plans with communities affected by their operations, and develop social responsibility programs in ongoing consultation with representative bodies in these communities.
7. Consumer Protection. Companies should inform consumers of any possible dangers associated with their products and cooperate with consumer protection and broader community organizations to develop and uphold appropriate product safety and quality standards.
8. Environmental Protection. Companies should utilize environmentally sound practices and technologies, disclose how and in what amounts they dispose of their waste products, and seek to minimize hazardous waste.
9. Empowerment of Disadvantaged Groups Businesses. Companies should strive to improve the development of disadvantaged population group businesses by purchasing from and subcontracting to such firms.
10. Specific Commodities. Companies should not engages in the production or marketing of weapons, nuclear power, tobacco products, or any other commodities harmful to life.
11. Implementation. Companies should cooperate with monitors established to implement standards by disclosing relevant information in a timely fashion.
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 6/27/98 Wash. DC
112.
WHEREAS temperate rainforests represent a very small percentage of coastal regions of temperate latitudes; and
WHEREAS temperate rainforests represent some of the most rare, rich, and remarkably diverse ecosystems along North America’s Pacific Coast, providing a unique biodiversity reserve of plant and animal species; and
WHEREAS federal, state, and provincial governments have established laws governing logging practices in these temperate rainforests; and
WHEREAS logging continues to take place in these old-growth temperate rainforests often in violation of federal, state, and provincial laws; and that clear-cutting remains in many instances the preferred method of harvest; and
WHEREAS Simon & Schuster has taken a progressive and environmentally responsible lead among the publishing industry by formulating a corporate policy not to use, distribute, or purchase papers made wholly or in part from clear-cut, old-growth trees; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association stimulate and support other publishers, including ALA Editions, to adopt similar policies stipulating that paper used in their publishing and communication activities not come from paper mills a. using wood chips from clear-cut, old-growth trees, or b. using paper pulp or pulp stock from other mills that is using wholly or in part materials taken from pristine, old-growth forests.
Passed by SRRT Action
113.
WHEREAS the Spectrum Initiative is crucial for the broader and more effective development of our profession; and
WHEREAS the photograph on the new Spectrum Initiative brochure cover omits representations of large ethnic groups that have been victims of discrimination; and
WHEREAS the brochure refers peculiarly to people of “every hue” focusing on genetic attributes rather than culture; and
WHEREAS the brochure avoids the question of the need to fight racism and institutionalized discrimination; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the SRRT Action Council of the American Library Association urges removal of this brochure and substituting a positive and appropriate alternative.
Passed by SRRT Action Council June 28, 1999
114.
WHEREAS ALA is a membership organization; and
WHEREAS the quorum for convening membership meetings has been set so high that no membership meeting has been able to convene since the upward change in attendees needed for a quorum was instituted; and
WHEREAS a membership organization should have membership meetings at annual conferences, which can consider proposals etc. and refer items to be voted on by an elected council; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges ALA to modify the quorum requirements by setting it at 100; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges ALA to schedule membership meetings at a time and place which facilitates the convening of such a meeting; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges ALA to affirm the importance of membership meetings at Annual conferences by recognizing that quorum rules are meant to facilitate rather than render impossible the convening of such meetings; and finally be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table urges that the by-laws change on the quorum be resubmitted for a membership vote at the earliest opportunity with a recommendation from Council to adjust the quorum for the purpose of facilitating the holding, once again, of membership meetings.
Passed by SRRT Action Council June 28, 1999
115.
WHEREAS Sanford Berman is one of the most respected voices in the field of librarianship; and
WHEREAS his dedicated work at Hennepin County Library has enhanced the reputation of HCL tremendously through his innovated approaches to cataloging and brought it significant benefits; and
WHEREAS Sanford Berman was formally reprimanded by management and then reassigned (i.e. removed from his position in cataloging) on account of his discussion of professional matters with colleagues and the voicing of his principled opinions on library matters; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association decries the denial of Sanford Berman’s rights to discuss differing opinions on professional matters in his area of expertise, and express our outrage at the behavior of Hennepin County Library, Berman’s employer, who, in retribution, exiled him to work away from the cataloging to which he has dedicated several highly productive decades; and finally be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls for censure of Hennepin County Libraries administration for its infringements of Berman’s free speech rights, for its retribution against him and its overall violations of his professional rights.
Passed by SRRT Action Council June 28, 1999
116.
WHEREAS the ALA Policy Manual makes clear that the American Library Association is committed to defense of librarian’s rights including, but not confined to intellectual freedom rights; and
WHEREAS a mechanism for dealing with these crucial professional matters no longer exists since the dissolution of SCRIM; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls on ALA to create a standing committee to deal with egregious violations of professional rights and responsibilities of librarians within libraries themselves; and also be it
RESOLVED that such a committee should be empowered to investigate and come to judgment about appropriate instances brought to its attention; and finally be it
RESOLVED that the committee can propose censure, remedies or the mediation of such disputes as involve infringement of librarians’ rights as spelled out in our policy manual.
Passed by SRRT Action Council June 28, 1999
117.
Whereas, General Colin Powell has been selected as the 1999 ALA Keynote Speaker; and
Whereas, Powell, as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations at a base in Vietnam, had a key role in trying to cover up the My Lai Massacre; and
Whereas, Powell, as President Reagan’s National Security Advisor, was of key importance in supporting the Contra War against the people of Nicaragua; and
Whereas, Powell, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, illegally invaded Panama and bombed thousands of civilians; and
Whereas, Powell presided over the Persian Gulf War killing thousands of civilians as well as thousands of retreating soldiers on what was called “The Highway of
Death”; and
Whereas, the continuing bombing of the civilian infrastructure of Iraq and continuing sanctions have reduced a moderately affluent quality of like to poverty for most people in that country; and
Whereas, the recent bombing of the civilian infrastructure of Yugoslavia parallels the Iraq experience; and
Whereas, the United States has bombed four countries within the last year, including a crucial pharmaceutical factory in Sudan;
Therefore be it resolved, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association deplores the decision to hire General Powell to give the 1999 Keynote Speech; and be it further
Resolved, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association demands that future Keynote Speakers be associated with life-enhancing work; and be it further
Resolved, that this resolution be distributed to the ALA President, ALA Executive Board, and the library press.
Submitted by Al Kagan, Chair of SRRT International
Responsibilities Task Force
Seconded by Mark Rosenzweig
Passed by SRRT Action Council, 6/28/99
118.
Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the importance of its mission to “move the Agency to the forefront of information management and providing the public with integrated and high quality information” (Memo; to Assistant Administrators, Carolyn M. Browner, EPA Administrator, October 14, 1998); and
Whereas, the EPA Administrator has laid out an ambitious and welcomed plan to “create a structural frame work for EPA’s new information office... consisting of three offices:
Information Policy and Collection
Information Technology and Services
Information Analysis and Access”
(Carol Browner, Inside EPA, December 11, 1998; Carol
M Browner, letter to Peter Robertson, Acting Deputy
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
November 23, 1998); and
Whereas, the U.S. House of Representatives is drafting a bill to “promote a “Second Generation” of Environmental Protection entitled, the Second-Generation of Environmental Improvement Act (May 17, 1999, Representatives Calvin Dooley and James Greenwood, Members of Congress)’ and
Whereas, Title I of this proposed bill, “Information Management” further recognizes EPA’s role as steward of environmental data and information in the broadest sense of its responsibilities; and
Whereas, Title I of this bill would require the EPA Administrator to, among other actions, designate a Chief Information Officer, publish an annual report of environmental indicators, review existing agency monitor and reporting activities and requirements, and establish a program to provide money for states and localities to assist them in improving environmental reporting, highlight environmental monitoring activities of all Federal agencies through budget reviews, establish a public recognition program; and
(The EPA Resolution is not continued on any subsequent pages)
119.
WHEREAS Council Document 55 (1998) on Socially Responsible Investment was referred to BARC for financial implications on June 29, 1998; and
WHEREAS a model code based on the South African Council of Churches investment code was attached to the original resolution; and
WHEREAS a report was presented to the ALA Council on January 21, 1999 (1998-99 CD #3) asking for more time to develop additional information; and
WHEREAS the latest report from the ALA Executive Board’s Finance and Audit Subcommittee did not seriously examine the various types of investment options available, and made no reference to the model investment code (1999-00 EBD #4.4,
November 7, 1999); and
WHEREAS the report only advocates the possibility of individual challenges to specific investments after the fact; and
WHEREAS there is no acknowledgement in the report that socially responsible investments can yield high returns; and
WHEREAS the value of socially responsible investment is an inherent value; and
WHEREAS the report incorrectly dismisses the value of investments in mutual funds of any type; therefore be it
RESOLVED that SRRT requests that an ad hoc committee of Council be empowered to revisit the socially responsible investment issue and report back at the July 2000 Annual Meeting.
Moved by Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor-at-Large
Seconded by Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
Approved by SRRT Action Council, January 17, 2000
120.
WHEREAS the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and the Canadian Library Association (CLA) have taken similar positions regarding new World Trade Organization (WTO) proposals affecting libraries; and
WHEREAS the national delegates to the November 1999 WHO Ministerial Conference in Seattle were unable to proceed due to large-scale protests by a wide coalition of environmental, labor, religious and civil society organizations; and
WHEREAS the American Library Association (ALA) sent an official representative to observe the WTO meeting; and
WHEREAS the WTO agenda could negatively affect publicly supported libraries as explained in the IFLA and CLA position statements; therefore be it
RESOLVED that SRRT endorses and requests that ALA endorse the IFLA WTO position statement; and be it further
RESOLVED that SRRT requests ALA to work in coalition with other organizations to protect libraries from potential negative effects of the evolving WTO agenda.
Moved by Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor Seconded by
Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor-at-Large
Approved by SRRT Action Council, January 17, 2000
121.
WHEREAS the United States has engaged in a documented forty-year war of invasion, assassination attempts, propaganda and economic blockade against Cuba, which has contributed to the limitation of the democratic rights of the Cuban people; and
WHEREAS this policy has also restricted the democratic rights of the U.S. people, whose access to information has been limited and whose right to travel freely to Cuba has been denied; and
WHEREAS we, as librarians, do not condone the restriction of free expression anywhere in the world - including Cuba and the United States - but we believe that, as U.S. citizens, the best way to support the extension of democratic in both countries is to end the economic blockade against Cuba and to normalize relations between the two countries; and
WHEREAS in October 1999, the FAIFE committee of IFLA published a report concerning the alleged intimidation of individuals in Cuba calling themselves “independent librarians,” based on information provided by a group calling itself the “Friends of Cuban Libraries,” and a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported Florida website called CubaNet; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of USAID is to advance the foreign policy interests of the United States; and
WHEREAS the co-chairman of the “Friends of Cuban Libraries” is a Cuban expatriate economist, who also works for the U.S. government’s Radio Marti; and
WHEREAS, this group of “independent librarians” are not librarians, but political dissidents of various professions apparently establishing centers of information in their homes or storefronts, and supported by funds and materials from such organizations as Freedom House, which is subsidized by the U.S. government; and
WHEREAS, any U.S.-based organization calling itself “Friends of Cuban Libraries” which does not forthrightly call for an end to the U.S. blockade against Cuba, is no friend of libraries, freedom of expression or democratic rights; therefore be it
RESOLVED that
1) The Social Responsibilities Round Table of ALA rejects the program and position advocated by the “Friends of Cuban Libraries” as an instrument of the continuing propaganda campaign being waged against Cuba by rightwing Cuban extremists in the U.S. and financed by U.S. government agencies;
2) SRRT supports an increase of exchanges between U.S. librarians and Cuban librarians;
3) SRRT joins the British organization, Cuban Libraries Support Group which advocates a positive program of interaction with, and support for, libraries and librarians in
Cuba;
4) SRRT calls for an immediate end to the travel ban, which restricts the right of all but “licensed” U.S. citizens to see Cuba for themselves;
5) SRRT calls for an immediate end to the blockade against Cuba as the best way to support the rights of all people in Cuba to free expression and self-determination, rights which are best exercised in a state of peace, not war;
6) SRRT further calls for the complete normalization of diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries as the best way to promote the exercise of democracy and free expression in both countries.
Moved by Ann Sparanese Seconded by Mark
Rosenzweig
Approved by SRRT Action Council, January 17, 2000
122.
Resolution & Response to the Draft of the ALA International Relations Agenda 2000-2005
Whereas the ALA International Relations Committee has formulated an International Relations Agenda and has asked for comments:
Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table transmits the attached [following] proposed amendments to the ALA International Relations Committee for their consideration:
The Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association commends the ALA International Relations Committee for its efforts to establish an International Relations Agenda. Although SRRT agrees with the thrust of the operational sections, we are proposing several changes and additions to strengthen the language and address points omitted. We do however have deeper concerns with the Guiding Principles which will be used to evaluate issues not specifically addressed in the body of the document. Here we are proposing significant changes that we think better describe the current state of affairs and reflect long-standing ALA policy statements.
SRRT puts forward the following proposed amendments. Paragraphs not affected are omitted. Deletions are
[bracketed]. New text is in CAPITALS.
Guiding Principles
* Technology has nearly eliminated problems of distance and has significantly reduced the impact of differences in time FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION IN RICH COUNTRIES AND ELITES IN POOR COUNTRIES. HOWEVER, THERE IS A GROWING GAP BETWEEN THE INFORMATION RICH AND THE INFORMATION POOR BOTH WITHIN AND BETWEEN COUNTRIES.
* [Information has become an international commodity.] LIBRARIANS HAVE TRADITIONALLY VIEWED MOST INFORMATION AS APUBLIC GOOD FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL. THE INCREASING COMMODIFICATION AND PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION RESOURCES IS AN INTERNATIONAL TREND WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS.
* [The role of the library in connecting individuals to information is a value held throughout the world.] LIBRARIES SHOULD PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO INFORMAITON AND PROMOTE FREEDOM OFTHOUGHT AND EXPRESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ALA SUPPORTS ARTICLE 19 OF THE U.N. DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PROTECTIONS IT SEEKS TO PROVIDE AGAINST REPRESSION OF THESE RIGHTS.
* The library's role in promoting the education of society, preserving AND DEVELOPING its cultures, supporting EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE economic growth and advancement, and safeguarding AND DISSEMINATING the world's information heritage is essential for the global, transborder, multicultural society of the 21st century.
1) An Internationally Aware Organization
* Through the ALA development and international relations offices, funding for international activities will be sought from corporate, governmental, FOUNDATION, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL AGENCY, and private sources, and through member contributions.
* The association will attempt to increase membership from abroad and to realize a greater international presence at ALA conferences and meetings. AS WE SUBSIDIZE ATTENDANCE FOR ALA MEMBERS AT INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIRS, WE WILL ALSO SUBSIDIZE APPROPRIATE INTERATIONAL ATTENDANCE AT ALA MEETINGS.
2) An Internationally Aware and Involved Membership
[New point] THE ALA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE WILL SUPPORT THE WORD OF THE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEES OF ALA DIVISIONS, ROUND TABLES AD OTHER BODIES AND THE WORK OF THE ALA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSEMBL Y.
[New point] THE ALA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE WILL PROVIDE LIAISON SERVICES WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES OF OTHER LIBRARY ASSOCIATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT LIBRARY ORGANIZATIONS WHICH MAY NOT BE AFFILIATED WITH OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED ASSOCIA TIONS.
3) An Effective and Far Reaching International Program
* Through its work in IFLA, with other library and educational organizations, and through various independent entities, ALA will be an influential force in areas of international importance such as copyright law, [and] the development of standards, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND OTHER GLOVALIZATIONS ISSUES INCLUDING THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION PROPOSALS ON THE PRIVATIZATION OF SERVICES WHICH MAY DETERMINE THE GLOBAL CONTEXT OF LIBRARY DEVELOPMENTS. *
*See 1991-92 CD#17.1, U.S. Objectives for IF LA and 1996-97
CD#18.4, IFLA,
Human Rights and Freedom of Expression
Passed by SRRT Action Council, July 8, 2000
123.
WHEREAS, ALA was responsible for knowingly contracting a conference hotel engaged in an unresolved and intense labor conflict and bears responsibility for units being scheduled in that facility;
Be it resolved that ALA headquarters cover the cost of reimbursement of the Coretta Scott King Breakfast which was scheduled at the Marriott.
Moved by Mark Rosenzweig
Seconded by Nel Ward
Passed Unanimously at Action Council I June 16, 2001
124.
WHEREAS, official ALA Membership Meetings have rarely, if ever, been held since the quorum was raised;
And whereas various solutions have been tried and failed to obtain a quorum; Therefore be it resolved that the following proposal be put forward to the membership to amend the bylaw on the next election ballot:
"Resolved that the quorum for ALA Membership Meetings will be 1 % of the personal members registered for the specific ALA Annual Meeting."
Moved by Al Kagan
Seconded by Ann Sparanese
Passed Unanimously by Action Council June 16, 2001
125.
WHEREAS, the American Library Association selected the San Francisco Marriott Hotel as its convention headquarters hotel for its annual conference held in San Francisco in June 2001; and
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Marriott Hotel had agreed it would not interfere with workers' right to unionize when it was given permission by the City to build on its land in 1980: and
WHEREAS, since 1996, when Local 2 was selected by a majority of Marriott employees to represent them, over 120 negotiating session have been held and still there is no labor agreement in place; and
WHEREAS, in September 2000, Local 2 called for a boycott of the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, which is supported by the Mayor, most of the Board of supervisors and other elected officials as well as many community and religious leaders; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that SRRT supports the cause of the restaurant workers of Local 2 and the organized boycotters of the San Francisco Marriott Hotel and that it decries ALA's indifference to the boycott in its choice of conference hotel and subsequent conference arrangements.
RESOLVED, that SRRT calls on the American Library Association to formally express its regret for having made the San Francisco Marriott the central conference hotel without taking heed of the well-publicized and widely-supported boycott of the Marriott Hotel organized by the San Francisco labor movement and other supporters.
RESOLVED, that SRRT calls on ALA to alter its policy to provide for re-evaluation of contracts in light of labor conflicts, strikes and boycotts which arise, and which may form the basis for cancellation of arrangements.
RESOLVED that SRRT urges ALA to later its policy to exclude holding conferences in non-union hotels (i.e.
ones where the majority of workers are unorganized) and to preclude locating any future conferences in so-called "right-to-work" states where workers rights to collective bargaining are not recognized.
RESOLVED that SRRT calls for an immediate resolution by Marriott of all outstanding issues and full recognition of the rights of all its workers and calls upon ALA to make it clear that bad labor practices in any unit of a chain will influence conference location decision choices with respect to hotels in the whole chain.
Moved by Mark Rosenzweig
Seconded by Al Kagan
Passed Unanimously by Action Council II
June 18, 2001
126.
Whereas acceding to the insistence on the obligatory placement of American flags and/or other patriotic regalia, including allowance of placement of stickers with slogans, in libraries, in response to the terrorist actions of 9/11/0 1 and in support of the subsequent bombing and invasion of Afghanistan is a violation of freedom of opinion, creates an atmosphere inconducive to debate about the possible responses to the events, makes the library appear to be a government propaganda operation rather than a free forum for debate, and is a form, when enforced this way, of government intimidation which is specifically opposed by ALA policy
Be it therefore resolved that SRRT/ALA opposes the obligatory placement of US flags, flag decals, patriotic symbols, etc., in libraries in the interest of maintaining the library as a zone of free thought, where the appearance of the flag in a place where or manner in which it traditionally had not been exhibited would appear to patrons, librarians and staff as an act attempting to impose support for specific government actions, or any and all government actions.
Submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig
SRRT Action Council member ALA Councilor at large 11/28/01
127.
Whereas the acts of terror of 9/11 against US targets were not the acts of a sovereign nation, nor carried out in official pursuit of the policy of such a nation
and
Whereas the nation of Afghanistan, nor any other nation, has been shown to have committed an act of war against the US, but rather such act has been attributed to the actions of a criminal conspiracy headed by one Osama Ben Laden
and
Whereas in pursuit of the guilty parties in a criminal act it is impermissible to initiate war against an entire nation and a people, when doing so constitutes 'collective punishment' specifically prohibited by international covenant
and
Whereas the American Library Association is committed in its policy to the encouragement of the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the study of and attention to the underlying causes of international conflicts in the interests of the most rational, least violent solution
Be it resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the American Library Association (ALA)
(1) opposes the war against Afghanistan and its possible extension to other nations as a just and appropriate response to the heinous terrorism of 9/11/01;
(2) deplores the declaration, as a response to the terrorist acts of a criminal conspiracy, of an indeterminate 'national state of emergency' under which laws are suspended, practices instituted, and precedents set which are destructive of the liberties and rights of the people of the USA (ALA policy 53.4);
(3) deplores the censorship of the mass media which the military is enforcing in coverage of the war, depriving citizens of the right to know (ALA policy 50.3); and
(4) denounces the threat of the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the US led forces in pursuit of its goals (ALA policy 50.11)
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig, 11/28/01
128.
Whereas ALA is among the preeminent defenders of intellectual freedom and government openness in the US;
Whereas intellectual freedom, our primary value as librarians, cannot be more seriously violated than by forcing speech through systematic violence by government against detained individuals;
Whereas the US government has announced its readiness to use torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists or their suspected accomplices;
Whereas the use or possible use of torture is the ultimate deterrent to the cultivation of a democratic atmosphere of free speech, free thought, free assembly, free belief to which we, as an Association and as a profession, are committed;
Whereas the secrecy which will undoubtedly attend the use of torture will also violate our commitment, entailed by our intellectual freedom principles to open government and the necessity of true and accurate information of our government's actions;
and
Whereas the threat of torture of the use of torture and similar practices of coercing testimony, confessions, information is, universally condemned under international law [e.g. the Geneva Convention, Articles 3 and 31 and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 5] and (a) the Fourth Amendment's right to be free of unreasonable search or seizure (which encompasses the right not be abused by the police) (b) the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination (which encompasses the right to remain silent during interrogations), (c )the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments' guarantees of due process (ensuring fundamental fairness in criminal justice system), and (d) the Eighth Amendment's right to be free of cruel or unusual punishment];
Be it resolved that the SRRT/ALA condemns the use or threat of torture by the US government as a barbarous violation of human rights, intellectual freedom, and the rule of law. The ALA, decries --along with condemnation of the practice of torture anywhere-- the suggestion by the US government that under a 'state of emergency' in this country torture is an acceptable tool in pursuit of its goals.
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig
129.
Whereas the current policies of the US Government, invoking a 'national state of emergency' in its 'war against terrorism' has invoked an over-broad definition of terrorism and terrorist which involves issues of violation of intellectual freedom, and since its conduct encourages the use of unconstitutionally obtained evidence, practices the unconstitutional refusal to inform 'suspects' of what crimes they are being accused of, employs the use of racial 'profiling' in the determination of suspects, justifies the denial of due process to suspects, illegal detention, the mistreatment and unequal treatment of prisoners who are suspects and claims the right to the use of torture to obtain information
and
Whereas, more specifically, libraries have been enlisted to assist in and enable the use of racial/ethnic profiling in identification of 'suspects'; the surveillance of individuals based on arbitrary criteria, the turning over of confidential library records on the presentation of a mere search warrant (in violation of our Library Bill of Rights, our Code of Ethics and policy manual's specific and detailed elaboration of this issue (52.4)); the practice of allowing individual librarians/library workers, on the basis of own personal judgment and without even informing library management, of informing on individuals to police agencies for any practices deemed on an ad hoc basis to be 'suspicious' (in effect turning librarians and library workers into an information para-police), and public libraries are being suggested as local interrogation centers for mass round-ups of foreign nationals for questioning, all thereby implicating libraries in the commission of these government violations rights and norms of legality
and
Whereas security measures are being widely proposed for institutions which would, as applied in libraries, encourage the abuse of authority, arbitrary and unequal treatment of patrons, loss of users' privacy rights, regimens of invasive surveillance, and the use as evidence of material read or accessed by individuals, a development which would destroy libraries as centers of tree inquiry
and
Whereas the practice of the Abridgment of the Rights of Foreign Nationals is specifically invoked in our policy manual (58.3) as unacceptable to the Association, even allowing that ALA will "address grievances of foreign nationals when the
infringement of their rights of free expression is clearly a matter in which all tree people should show concern." Calling for resolutions or other documents attesting to such grievances [to be] brought to the attention of the Executive Board and Council and the ALA International Relations Committee"
and
Whereas the conduct of the government in this declared domestic state of emergency is also in violation of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights in general and so-called Article 19 in particular in violation of our policy (58.4) which states along with the Declaration the "everyone has the right to freedom of expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers, and violates the intent of our resolution on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression (58.4.1)
and
Whereas ALA specifically opposes Governmental Intimidation (53,4), going so far as to state that "ALA encourages resistance to such abuse of government power, and supports those against whom such government power has been employed"
and
Whereas we urge ALA to condemn the establishment of 'secret military tribunals, here and abroad with the power to try or sentence or execute civilians or military personnel as an odiously undemocratic practice which undermines the rule of law on which democracy is based
Be it then resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the American Library Association (ALA) on the basis of its own commitments and those of the Association as a whole, oppose and encourages ALA to formally by resolution of Council oppose the conduct under any circumstances of enforcement of "homeland security" through abridgements of fundamental rights (including the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty); government intimidation; illegal obtaining of evidence, illegal search and seizure, racial profiling; denial of due process; mistreatment of suspects and prisoners, the curtailment of free speech, the exercise of free expression and punishment for legal advocacy or expression of beliefs.
Be it further resolved that libraries will remain centers of free inquiry and debate, in which dissent to government policy is not a suspicious activity and where free access to information is assured (53.1 - 53.8 -Library Bill of Rights; 50.3) under conditions of legally protected confidentiality. (52.4) , and places where information of a critical nature relative to government policy will be pro-actively provided, where information about rights relevant to violations of one's civil liberties under the state of emergency will be readily available in as many languages as possible and where policy debate is encouraged without prejudice.
And be it further resolved that SRRT opposes and urges ALA to oppose the practice of government and military censorship with regard to information about the state of emergency, the war in Afghanistan, and the actions taken in pursuit of its changing goals in the region; encourages the major media to exercise its mandate and forgo self-censorship; and defend the use of Shield Laws (53.5) to ensure a free press always threatened in time of war and emergency, as well as restrictions being arbitrarily placed on government materials ordinarily made public in the interest of 'national security'
And be it further resolved that SRR T opposes and urges ALA to formally oppose as policy the establishment of any and all secret military tribunals, domestically and abroad, where free speech, due process and equal treatment before the law, (including the 'law of war' an d other internationally recognized protocols) will be denied, and opposes as well all other measures which, even in so-called states of emergency, suspend the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other legal protections of the rights of peoples, such as guaranteed in our Bill of Rights.
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig, member of SRR T Action Council and ALA Councilor at large
11/28/01
130.
Whereas the use of secret tribunals, military or otherwise, against civilians, both domestically and abroad, is being declared a valid and necessary tool of the government of the USA by the administration of President George W. Bush,
and whereas secret tribunals violate the Bill of Rights, the Geneva Conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other national and international covenants to which the US (as well as its individual states) is party
and whereas secret tribunals violate the spirit and letter of the Constitution which specifically prohibits practices which abridge the right to a fair trial based on important elaborations of Common Law practice going back to the beginning of English jurisprudence, and involve the statutory basis from which we also derive the rights to freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom from illegal search and seizure which are fundamental to the practice of democratic library and information work
and whereas they violate the US public's "right to know" and are associated, moreover, with dictatorial, anti-democratic regimes in a way which undermines the cultivation of democracy to which our profession, in this as in other countries, is committed
be it resolved that SRR T / ALA opposes the use or threat of use of secret tribunals by the government as destructive of democratic societies, an abuse of the rights of both the accused and the people (the latter on whose behalf the government is juridicially acting), a violation of the Bill of Rights of the US Constitution and countless other protocols to which the USA is party, and, for the librarians in whose name SRRT/ALA speaks, a violation of intellectual freedom and the public's right to know, both of which are derived from elements of the Constitution which are compromised by this practice.
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig
SRRT Action Council member and ALA Councilor at large
11/30/01
131.
Whereas AL4 is among the preeminent defenders of intellectual freedom and government openness in the US.
Whereas intellectual freedom, our primary value as librarians, cannot be more seriously violated than by forcing speech through systematic violence by government against detained individuals.
Whereas the US government has announced its readiness to use torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists or their suspected accomplices
Whereas the use or possible use of torture is the ultimate deterrent to the cultivation of a democratic atmosphere of tree speech, tree thought, tree assembly, free belief to which we, as an Association and as a profession, are committed.
Whereas the secrecy which will undoubtedly attend the use of torture will also violate our commitment, entailed by our intellectual freedom principles to open government and the necessity of true and accurate information of our government's actions
and
Whereas the threat of torture of the use of torture and similar practices of coercing testimony, confessions, information is, universally condemned under international law [e.g. the Geneva Convention, Articles 3 and 31 and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 5 ] and (a)the Fourth Amendment's right to be free of unreasonable search or seizure (which encompasses the right not be abused by the police) (b)the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination (which encompasses the right to remain silent during interrogations), (c)the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments' guarantees of due process (ensuring fundamental fairness in criminal justice system), and (d)the Eighth Amendment's right to be tree of cruel or unusual punishment],
Be it resolved that the SRRT/ALA condemns the use or threat of torture by the US government as a barbarous violation of human rights, intellectual freedom, and the rule of law. The ALA , decries --along with condemnation of the practice of torture anywhere-- the suggestion by the US government that under a 'state of emergency' in this country torture is an acceptable tool in pursuit of its goals.
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig
SRRT Action Council member & ALA Councilor at large
11/30/01
132.
Whereas the systematic covert enlistment of library employees by US police and intelligence services is once again being entertained as a useful tool by the government
and
Whereas, library administrations are being encouraged to actively participate in the allowance of covert surveillance of patrons including the installation of security devices which violate patron privacy
and
Whereas librarians have voluntarily or on demand -- though without proper procedure or authorization-- turned over patron records without reprimand
and
Whereas patrons' legitimate expectation of confidentiality has been or may be compromised in enabling the police monitoring of personally identifiable Internet use in the library by the employment of various techniques, devices or practices which make patrons on-line the unknowing subjects of investigation
Be it therefore resolved that SRRT [and/or ALA] calls for American libraries to post clear and unavoidably noticed warnings at relevant service points that patrons are or may be under FBI surveillance, that they are being filmed, that their Internet use is or may be monitored and that the confidentiality of their personal library records cannot be assured.
and be it further resolved that such warnings indicate that this is being done in violation of the Library Bill of Rights (53.1); the ALA Professional Code of Ethics( policy 54.16,1-3,5-7) and the policy statement "Libraries, an American Value" (53.8. item 6), the policy against "Governmental Intimidation" (53.4) and the policy on "Confidentiality of Patron Records" (52.4). These ALA policies should be made readily available.
Submitted by Mark Rosenzweig, SRRTAC & ALA Councilor at large
12/02/01
133.
Whereas the acts of terror of 9/11 against US targets were not the acts of a sovereign nation, nor carried out in official pursuit of the policy of such a nation,
And whereas these terrorist acts have been attributed to Al Qaeda, a criminal network headed by Osama Bin Laden,
And whereas war against an entire nation in pursuit of the guilty parties constitutes "collective punishment," which is specifically prohibited by international covenant,
Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association opposes:
(1) the war in Afghanistan and its possible extension to other nations as an appropriate response to the heinous terrorism of 9/11/01;
(2) the declaration of an indeterminate "national state of emergency" under which laws are suspended, practices instituted, and precedents set which are destructive of the liberties and rights of the people of the USA (ALA Policy 53.4);
(3) US Government censorship of the mass media's coverage of the war, depriving citizens of the right to know,
Submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig, ALA Councilor at Large
Seconded By Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
Endorsed by SRRT Action Council, 1/19/02
134.
Whereas ALA strongly defends the public's "right to know,"
And whereas the use of secret tribunals is being declared a valid and necessary tool of the US Government in order to fight terrorism,
And whereas secret tribunals raise the gravest concerns regarding the Bill of Rights, the Geneva Conventions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other national and international covenants,
Therefore be it resolved that ALA opposes the institution of secret tribunals,
And resolved that ALA supports the right of a free press in reporting all trials and legal proceedings,
And resolved that this resolution be distributed to all members of Congress, the President and the Attorney General, and the library press.
Submitted by Mark Rosenzweig, ALA Councilor at Large
Seconded by Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
Endorsed by SRRT Action Council, 1/19/02
135.
Whereas libraries have been encouraged to assist in identification of "suspects'" in the "War on Terrorism,"
And whereas libraries have been expected to turn over confidential library records on demand without court orders, contrary to ALA Policy 52.4),
And whereas the abridgment of free expression rights of foreign nationals is a threat to the freedom of all, according to ALA Policy 58.3),
And whereas ALA specifically opposes governmental intimidation and supports the individuals and groups targeted by such actions, according to ALA Policy 53.4,
Therefore be it resolved that ALA opposes government intimidation, the abridgements of patrons' or employees' privacy rights, illegal obtaining of evidence, illegal search and seizure, and racial and ethnic profiling.
And be it resolved that ALA reaffirms all library users' reasonable expectations of confidentiality.
And be it resolved that this resolution be sent to all members of Congress, the President and Attorney General of the United States and the library press.
Submitted by Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor at Large
Seconded By Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
Endorsed by SRRT Action Council, 1/19/02
136.
Whereas the policies and implications of the "War on Terrorism" require the broadest range of analysis and debate,
Therefore be it resolved that ALA encourages libraries to engage in expanded collection activity representing the full range of views on the roots of the 9/11/01 terrorist actions, the parties involved, the responses by the US and other governments, and the "War on Terrorism" and its domestic and global implications,
And be it further resolved that "alternative" information resources be collected and actively promoted, with due diligence in assessment of sources but without regard to support or opposition to US Government policy,
And be it resolved that libraries are encouraged to provide expanded programming to foster understanding between all ethnic and religious groups, and to counter current practices of ethnic profiling.
Submitted by Mark Rosenzweig, Councilor at Large
Seconded by Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
See ALA Policies 50.10, 50.11
Endorsed by SRRT Action Council, 1/19/02
137.
SRRT recognizes that the US flag ordinarily is appropriately, proudly and respectfully displayed according to custom and law in libraries and public institutions. The display of the colors is a formal matter which is meant to represent the sovereignty and unity of the nation. However the aggressive display of flags in unusual places, in unusual numbers, and in an unusual manner might be taken to imply, among other things, institutional endorsement of current US governmental policies.
Privileging symbolic speech in possible support of current US governmental policies tends to undermine the library as a place of free thought and compromises the neutrality of the library space. Such unusual displays may create an intimidating atmosphere for some library users who may be deterred in their requests for materials and assistance. SRRT urges libraries to be sensitive to these concerns.
Endorsed by SRRT Action Council 1/19/02
138.
Whereas ALA is among the preeminent defenders of intellectual freedom and government openness in the US.
Whereas intellectual freedom, our primary value as librarians, cannot be more seriously violated than by forcing speech through systematic violence by government against detained individuals.
Whereas the US government has announced its readiness to use torture (as well as hooding, shackling, drugging, sleep deprivation, etc.) in the interrogation of suspected terrorists or their suspected accomplices
Whereas the use or possible use of torture and coercive Interrogative practices is inhumane, illegal and destructive of the democratic sensibilities of a free society, the cultivation of which we as an Association and as a profession are committed.
Whereas the secrecy which will undoubtedly attend the use of torture will also violate our commitment to open government and the necessity of true and accurate information of our government's actions and
Whereas the threat of torture of the use of torture and similar practices of coercing testimony, confessions, information is, universally condemned under international law and US law (see addendum)
Be it resolved that the ALA condemns the use or threat of torture by the US government, its police or military as a violation of human rights, intellectual freedom, and the rule of law. The ALA decries the suggestion by the US government that under a 'state of emergency' in this country torture, here or abroad, is an acceptable tool in pursuit of its goals.
submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig ALA Councilor at large
second TBA
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
The legal basis for this follows, including some explication of issues raised by these references: ,
*Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Article 5 states: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."
*Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (ICCPR), ratified by 153 countries, including the U.S. in 1992
*Convention against Torture or Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention against Torture), ratified by 136 countries, including the U.S. in 1994.
*European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
*American Convention on Human Rights [Signed at the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Human Rights, San Jose, Costa Rica, 22 November 1969].
*The 'Laws of War': the prohibition against torture is also fundamental to international humanitarian law which governs the conduct of parties during armed conflict.
Article 3 to the Geneva Conventions, for example, bans "violence of life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture" as well as "outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment."
*Article 31 of the Fourth Geneva Convention: "No physical or moral coercion shall be exercised against protected persons, in particular to obtain information from them or from third parties."
*1999 Initial Report of the United States to the U.N. Committee against Torture: in the United States, the use of torture "is Categorically denounced as a matter of policy and as a tool of state authority”
*No official of the government, federal, state or local, civilian or military, is authorized to commit or to instruct anyone else to commit torture. Nor may any official condone or tolerate torture in any form
*Every act of torture [...]" is illegal under the [Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, G.A. res. 39/46, [annex, 39 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 51) at 197, U.N. Doc. A/39/51 (1984)], entered into force June 26, 1987] is illegal under existing federal and state law, and any individual who commits such an act is subject to penal sanctions as specified in criminal statutes."
*The US Constitution: Torture violates rights established by the Bill of Rights. The U.S. courts have located constitutional protections against interrogations under torture in
a) the Fourth Amendment's right to be free of unreasonable search or seizure (which encompasses the right not be abused by the police)
b) the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination (which encompasses the right to remain silent during interrogations),
c) the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments' guarantees of due process (ensuring fundamental fairness in criminal justice system), and
d) the Eighth Amendment's right to be free of cruel or unusual punishment.
*In numerous cases, the U.S. Supreme Court has condemned the use of force amounting to torture or other forms of ill treatment during interrogations, including such practices as whipping, slapping, depriving a victim of food, water, or sleep, keeping him naked or in a small cell for prolonged periods, holding a gun to his head, or threatening him with mob violence.
*"Miranda v Arizona: The U.S. Supreme Court in 1966 also established a rule requiring the police who seek to question detainees to inform them of their "Miranda" rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present during the questioning
[Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966)].
In explaining the need for this rule, the Court noted the continuing police practice of using physical force to extract confessions, citing, as an example, a case in which police beat, kicked and burned with lighted cigarette butts a potential witness under interrogation.
*Torture would also violate state constitutions, whose provisions generally parallel the protections set forth in the federal Bill of Rights. Article 4 of the Convention against
Torture obligates state parties to ensure that all acts of torture are criminal offenses under domestic legislation.
*The principal federal law that would apply to torture against detainees is 18 U.S.C. 242, which makes it a criminal offense for any public official to willfully to deprive a person of any right protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
*Neither international nor domestic law conditions the right not to be subjected to torture on citizenship or nationality. No detainee held by U.S. authorities - regardless of nationality, regardless of whether held in the U.S. or in another country, and regardless of whether the person is deemed a combatant or civilian - may be tortured. All applicable international law applies to U.S. officials operating abroad, including the Convention against Torture and the Geneva Conventions.
Some explication relevant to the particular questions raised by the government's consideration of the use of torture in its "War Against Terrorism"
1) The prohibition against torture is universal and covers all countries both regarding U.S. citizens and persons of other nationalities.
2) The Convention against Torture provides that any statement that has been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made.
3) Under customary international law as well as under international human rights treaties, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is prohibited at all times and in all circumstances. It is a non-derogable right, one of those core rights that may never be suspended, even during times of war, when national security is threatened, or during other public emergencies.
4) According to the U.S. government, " U.S. law contains no provision permitting otherwise prohibited acts of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment to be employed on grounds of exigent circumstances (for example, during a "state of public emergency") or on orders from a superior officer or public authority."
5) The European Court of Human Rights has applied the prohibition against torture contained in European Convention on Human Rights in several cases involving alleged terrorists. As it noted in one case, "The Court is well aware of the immense difficulties faced by States in modern times in protecting their communities from terrorist violence.
However, even in these circumstances, the Convention prohibits in absolute terms torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, irrespective of the victim's conduct." (Chahal v. United Kingdom, Nov. 15, 1996)
6) The Committee against Torture, reviewing Israel's use of torture as a method of interrogation against suspected Palestinian terrorists, stated, "The Committee acknowledges the terrible dilemma that Israel confronts in dealing with terrorist threats to its security, but as a State party to the Convention Israel is precluded from raising before this Committee exceptional circumstances as justification for [prohibited] acts" [United Nations Committee against Torture. "Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture" (1997), A/52/44,paras.253-260. (15 Nov. 2001).] Some people argue that the goal of saving innocent lives must override a person's right not to be tortured. Although such an exception might appear to be highly limited, experience shows that the exception readily becomes the standard practice. For example, how imminent must the attack be to trigger the exception and justify torture - an hour, a week, a year? How certain must the government be that the detainee actually has the necessary information? The international community, however, rejected the use of torture even in this type of case. International human rights law - as well as U.S. law—do not contain any exceptions to the prohibition against torture.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Rosenzweig
ALA Councilor at large
139.
WHEREAS there are significant numbers of U.S. librarians and other library workers who lack health insurance coverage, either because they are working multiple part-time positions or because their full-time employers do not provide them with health insurance benefits, and
WHEREAS other professional organizations, such as the National Writers Union and the American Nurses Association, offer group health insurance plans for their members who are not covered by their employers, and
WHEREAS the ALA Code of Ethics states that we "advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions",
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Library Association should provide an affordable group health insurance plan for members of the Association who lack health insurance coverage in their current settings.
submitted by Mark Rosenzweig
140.
WHEREAS the President of the United States is considering whether or not to go to war to disarm the nation of Iraq of its weapons of mass destructions; and
WHEREAS the citizens of a democracy need libraries as a key source of the information they require to formulate and express their views on this, and other important issues of our times; and
WHEREAS the Congressional Budget Office estimates a military action against Iraq will cost our nation between nine and eleven billion dollars a month, resulting in cutbacks in, among others, federally funded programs that benefit libraries; and
WHEREAS any major military action in Iraq is likely to destroy many libraries and other cultural facilities as well as kill many innocent people; therefore be it
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the President of the United States to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict with Iraq and avoid a costly war; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges all libraries to conscientiously build collections of information presenting all points of view on this critical issue, including points of view opposing war and promoting peaceful alternatives; and be it further
RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Secretary of State of the United States, members of the United States Congress, IFLA and the library press.
Passed unanimously, January 27, 2003 by SRRT Action Council meeting in Philadelphia, PA.
Relevant ALA policies:
50.10 Disarmament and Conflict Solving Information in Libraries
50.11 Nuclear Freeze, the Arms Race and National Security
53.1(2) Library Bill of Rights
53.7 Destruction of Libraries
53.8 Libraries: An American Value
NOTE: The following resolution was adopted by the elected representatives of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) on January 27, 2003.
SRRT is a body within the American Library Association but does not and should not be taken to speak for the Association as a whole. In this resolution
SRRT speaks only on its own behalf.
141.
Sponsored by Mark Rosenweig and co-sponsored by Susan Dillinger
And whereas SRRT recognizes as one of its core values that cultural democracy is the necessary complement to economic and political democracy and as a project which has taken on more urgency in the age of corporate globalization, increasingly monopolistic control of the media, means of communication, and cultural heritage, and privatization of the institutions of public life
And whereas there is significant movement of people in the cultural sector to realize the project of developing cultural democracy
And whereas librarians have an important role in this as front-line defenders of intellectual freedom and facilitators of equalizing access to cultural capital and promoters of the 'information commons'
Be it resolved that SRRT identifies cultural democracy as a core value of librarianship which must be cultivated and promoted
And be it further resolved that SRRT recommends that the American Library Association make the profession's commitment to cultural democracy explicit in any explication of librarianship's 'core values'.
142.
Mark Rosenzweig’s resolution, originally defeated by ALA Council in 2002, was adopted by Council in Orlando on June 26, 2004, with some changes. That version is now posted on the Web site. http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=ifresolutions&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=70739
Adopted by SRRT, June 2004
WHEREAS, The American Library Association (ALA) is among the preeminent defenders of intellectual freedom and government openness in the US; and
WHEREAS, Intellectual freedom, our primary value as librarians, cannot be more seriously violated than by forcing speech or enforcing silence through systematic violence by government against detained individuals; and
WHEREAS, The US government has proven its readiness to use torture (including practices such as hooding, shackling, drugging, sleep deprivation, etc.) in the interrogation of suspected terrorists or their suspected accomplices in its "war on terror"; and
WHEREAS, The use of torture and coercive interrogative practices is inhumane, illegal, and destructive of the democratic sensibilities of a free society, to which we as an Association and as a profession are committed; and
WHEREAS, The secrecy which attends the use of torture violates our commitment to open government and the dissemination of true and accurate information of our government's actions; and
WHEREAS, The violence of torture violates our commitment to the rule of law as a protector of the integrity and dignity of the human person; and
WHEREAS, The barbarity of torture fundamentally violates our commitment to the preservation of the human spirit; and
WHEREAS, The threat of torture or the use of torture and similar practices of coercing testimony, confessions, information is universally condemned under international law [e.g. the Geneva Convention, Article 3 and 31 and by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, Article 5] and (a) the Fourth Amendment's right to be free of unreasonable search or seizure (which encompasses the right not to be abused by the police), (b) the Fifth Amendment's right against self-incrimination (which encompasses the right to remain silent during interrogations), (c) the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments' guarantees of due process (ensuring fundamental fairness in criminal justice system) and (d) the Eighth Amendment's right to be free of cruel or unusual punishment];
BE IT RESOLVED, That ALA condemns the use or threat of torture by the US government as a barbarous violation of human rights, intellectual freedom and the rule of law. The ALA decries--along with the practice of torture anywhere--the suggestion by the US government that under a `state of emergency' in this country, or in territories it occupies, torture is in any case an acceptable tool in pursuit of its goals; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That this resolution be widely publicized, including the press, the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and members of the United States Congress.
Respectfully submitted by Mark C. Rosenzweig, ALA Councilor at large
second Al Kagan, SRRT Councilor
(Resolution also contains pages of Supporting Documentation, for which there is not enough space to print.)
143.
submitted by Mark Hudson, adopted by SRRT on June 26, 2004
Whereas respected news organizations, including The New Yorker magazine and the Guardian newspaper, have documented the extensive use of Raphael Patai's The Arab Mind by Defense Department policymakers and as part of various curricula used for training U.S. military personnel;
And whereas this book is full of racially charged stereotypes and generalizations and presents an overwhelmingly negative picture of Arab people;
And whereas revelations of torture and abuse in U.S.-run detention centers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Cuba have demonstrated the pervasiveness of a racist, dehumanizing mentality among U.S. military personnel interacting with Arab people;
And whereas Manning Marable, Director of African American Studies at Columbia University, and the organization Racism Watch have called upon the U.S. President to issue an order that The Arab Mind no longer be used within any branch of the U.S. government, and have furthermore called for a Congressional investigation into the curricula being used in the military and other government departments interacting with Arab countries;
Therefore be it resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association expresses its strong support for the effort by Professor Marable and Racism Watch to end the use of overtly racist training materials by the U.S. military;
And be it further resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table condemns the use of racist training materials and all racist indoctrination by the U.S. military;
And be it further resolved that this resolution be distributed to Racism Watch, all members of Congress, and the library press.
Sources:
Racism Watch Press Release, http://www.racismwatch.org/pressreleases.html.
Brian Whitaker, “Its best use is as a doorstop”, Guardian, May 24, 2004,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/ journalist/story/0,7792,1223525,00.html.
Seymour Hersh, “The Gray Zone”, New Yorker, May 24, 2004, http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?
040524fa_fact.
144.
Adopted by SRRT in Orlando. Submitted by Ann Sparanese.
Whereas the right to travel is a Constitutional right about which Justice William O. Douglas wrote “Once the right to travel is curtailed, all other rights suffer,” and that travel is a key to “knowing, studying, arguing, exploring, conversing, observing and even thinking;”
Whereas the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced even further regulations on travel to Cuba;
Whereas these new restrictions eliminate all education travel of less than ten weeks except where such travel would “directly support U.S. policy goals;” and,
Whereas “people-to-people exchanges” to Cuba – the largest category of licensed travel previously available to the American people to see Cuba for themselves – were eliminated in 2003; and
Whereas the category of “fully hosted travel” – which allows hundred of US students to study gratis at medical schools in Cuba – has now been eliminated; and
Whereas the new restrictions include violations of basic human rights such as the limitation of family visits for Cuban Americans to only once every three years, regardless of family emergency; and
Whereas the Washington Office on Latin America writes that “the new policy toward Cuba is cruel, inhumane and counterproductive because it hurts ordinary Cuban citizens, further restricts the rights of American families and divides Cuban families;”
Be it resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of ALA urges librarians to file comments with OFAC through http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/comment.html opposing the restrictions
(deadline was August 16, 2004).
Be it resolved that SRRT urges librarians to write to Secretary of State Powell, local representatives and senators, and Senator Kerry opposing all restrictions on travel to Cuba.
And be it resolved that SRRT supports the travel challenges being organized in July 2004 by Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan, the Venceremos Brigade, and the African Awareness Association and urges librarians to join the Librarians Travel Challenge in the summer of 2005.
145.
Adopted by SRRT in Orlando. A revised version was defeated by ALA Council. Submitted by Tom Twiss.
Whereas, the justification for the coalition invasion of Iraq have proven to be completely unfounded; and
Whereas, the war already has taken the lives of thousands of Iraqi soldiers, more than 10,000 Iraqi civilians, and hundreds of coalition forces; and
Whereas, these numbers will continue to mount as long as coalition forces remain in Iraq; and
Whereas, during the current occupation many of Iraq's cultural treasures, including libraries, archives, manuscripts, and artifacts, have been destroyed, lost, or stolen; and
Whereas, as long as coalition forces remain in Iraq the inevitable escalation of fighting threatens further destruction of Iraq's cultural heritage; and
Whereas, currently, the U.S. is spending 4.7 billion dollars per month for the occupation; and
Whereas, even a small fraction of these resources would be more than sufficient for rebuilding and greatly enhancing the libraries and educational institutions of both Iraq and the United States;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Iraq of all U.S. military forces, intelligence personnel, and contractors.
Relevant ALA policies:
CD#18.4, Resolution on Iraq
CD#50.11 Nuclear Freeze, the Arms Race and National Security
CD#53.7 Destruction of Libraries
CD#53.8 Libraries: An American Value
Additional precedent: 1971 ALA Resolution on Southeast Asia Conflict
146.
Drafted by Sanford Berman
WHEREAS the American Library Association is firmly committed to fostering human rights and freedom of expression (Policies 53 and 58.4.1); and
WHEREAS candid, robust debate is essential to the making of sound policy; and
WHEREAS Library staff do not universally enjoy the right to openly discuss library and professional issues without fear of reprisal;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that ALA Council amend Policy 54 (Library Personnel Practices) by adding:
54.21 Workplace Speech
Libraries should permit and encourage the full and free expression of views by staff on professional and policy matters.
References:
Berman, Sanford, “Not in my Library!,” Unabashed Librarian no. 125 (2002), pages 17-23.
Berman, Sanford, “Workplace Repression,” in his “Inside” Censorship (2001), http://www.sanfordberman.org
Buschman, John and Mark Rosenzweig, “Intellectual Freedom within the Library Workplace: An Exploratory Study in the U.S.,” Journal of Information Ethics, volume 8(1999), pages 36-45.
Carney, Stephen Michael, “Democratic Communication and the Library as Workplace.” Journal of Information Ethics, volume 12, no. 2 (Fall 2003), pages 43-59.
147.
A Memorial Resolution moved by Elaine Harger, seconded by Norman Horrocks, Al Kagan, Jenna Freedman, and Robert Franklin, ALA, January 2005
WHEREAS we remember the librarian, the advocate of social responsibilities, the author:
A Cup of Sky, co-authored with his father,, Donald Culross Peattie (1898-1964). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1950.
Sipapu, 1969-1993, 14 linear ft., UC Davis Library,
A Passage for Dissent: the best of “Sipapu” 1970-1988, Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co, 1989.
The Freedom to Lie: a debate about democracy, with John Swan, Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co, 1989.
Western Skyline: new poems, Oakland: Regent Press, 1995.
Amy Rose: a novel in four parts, Oakland: Regent Press, 1995.
Hydra & Kraken: Or, the Lore and Lure of Lake-Monsters and Sea-
Serpents, Oakland CA: Regent Press, 1996.
In the Dome of Saint Laurence Meteor, Oakland: Regent Press, 1999.
King Humble’s Grave, Oakland: Regent Press, 2001.
Sweetwater Ranch: new poems, Oakland: Regent Press, 2003.
And WHEREAS we remember the host who kept our wine glasses and our conversations full:
And WHEREAS we remember the man who answered the question, “What kind of society do you want, anyhow?”
“The answer I propose is: that the society I desire, and which, on a universalizing principle, I want for all, is a society which protects, promotes, and honors the inner life.
I would further suggest, is that the demands,, heard from pole to pole, for freedom, justice, security, equality, education, a safe environment, and a better life for the world’s children, —are all grounded in, and reach downward to, this elemental human need: silence, solitude, and the right to rule one’s own thoughts: the sanity of the inner life.
And Finally: this inner life, I contend, is an endangered species: assaulted without, and subject to disease within.”
http://www.noelpeattie.com/InnerLife.htm
And WHEREAS we remember the lover of cats:
“Before we leave the library world, we recollect our long-held belief that a library, and the library profession, find their analogy in our cat. The brain of the cat directs him to go out and find a mouse: this is Administration. He perceives, by sight, sound, and smell, the mouse: this is Collection Development. He catches the mouse: this is Acquisitions.
He digests the mouse: this is Cataloging and Serials. He comes in and tells us about the mouse: this is Reference. He curls up in a ball and enjoys the mouse: this is Circulation. Finally, later on, he produces, for the out-of-doors, an Annual Report, which no one wants to see. So he buries it. However, he loves, and expects, regular supplies of goodies, and adores being brushed and cuddled and told how beautiful he is. And he has no morals, no politics, and no religion.” Sipapu v.23, no. 2, 1993, p. 12
And WHEREAS we remember the poet:
The Way to Get Through Life
is to try! yes, how?
to forget
most of it.
Like, all the years at school,
(but not the lifelong friends,
then, the weekends that were joy;
city adventures);
and rather hope for, much later:
vast witty banquets;
at which you’ll be honored
—poems of a lifetime!—
under glittering chandeliers.
And welcome: all goings to bed:
even those
alone:
except the last,
except the last. —–The Testimony of Doves, forthcoming
148.
Adopted by SRRT, January 15, 2005
Whereas the mission of our professional association, the American Library Association, is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all (Policy Manual 1.2); and
Whereas the ethos of professional librarianship is characterized by commitments to intellectual freedom, open access to information and accuracy of information in pursing the goal of assisting in the development of an informed citizenry capable of functioning in a political democracy; and
Whereas ALA recognizes the contribution librarianship can made in giving support for efforts to help inform and educate the people of the United States on critical problems facing society (Policy Manual, 1.1); and
Whereas inaccurate information, falsehoods, distortions of truth and covert disinformation campaigns are anathema to the ethos of librarianship and to the functioning of a healthy democracy; and
Whereas substantial documentary evidence exists revealing the history of the U.S. to be riddled with the use of falsehoods in pursuit of political and economic power - practices which clearly constitute a "critical problem facing society" and make the development of an informed citizenry extremely difficult; and
Whereas in recent years the international library community has been subjected to one of these disinformation campaigns, one disguised as a "defense" of "independent librarians" in Cuba, but in actuality part of a larger effort to sway public opinion toward acceptance and support of a U.S. invasion of Cuba - a country which poses no threat to the U.S.; therefore be it
Resolved that SRRT encourages its members to help raise public consciousness of the many ways in which disinformation campaigns are used to manipulate public opinion in all spheres of life;
Resolved that the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) denounces the use of librarianship as a cover for disinformation campaigns; and be it further
Resolved that the SRRT calls on the American Library Association, all its members and affiliates to join in efforts to inform the public about the widespread use of disinformation campaigns within our society.
Moved by Elaine Harger
Seconded by Tom Twiss
149.
Introduced by Sandy Berman, Adopted by SRRT, January 15, 2005
WHEREAS poverty, and its attendant hunger, homelessness, illness, and despair, affect millions of Americans and
WHEREAS the National Coalition for the Homeless has crafted with members of Congress a comprehensive and feasible plan—the Bringing America Home Act—to significantly alleviate the extent and impact of poverty in America, specifically addressing issues of affordable housing, living wages, health care, emergency and transitional services, education, and civil rights; and
WHEREAS the American Library Association is explicitly committed to promoting “programs likely to reduce, if not eliminate, poverty itself” (Policy 61.1);
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association endorses the Bringing America Home ACT (H.R. 2897) and urges all library boards and state library associations to do likewise; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this endorsement be transmitted to the National Coalition for the Homeless and every member of Congress.
For additional details:
November 2004 NCH News
Donald Whitehead, NCH Executive Director (202-737-6444 Ext. 14)
dwhitehead@nationalhomeless.org
