[Libs-Or] FW: [ALACOUN:19073] Message from Leslie Burger

[Rawles-Heiser, Carolyn]

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-alacoun at ala.org [mailto:owner-alacoun at ala.org] On Behalf Of
Elizabeth Dreazen
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 9:48 AM
To: ALA Council List
Subject: [ALACOUN:19073] Message from Leslie Burger

Dear Colleagues:
Here is a brief summary of some of the actions and discussions of the
Executive Board at our Midwinter Meetings:

*	The Board discussed formation of a Task Force on Library
Education, which I will be appointing in the near future. This Task
Force will examine concerns and issues related to library education and
curriculum, including concerns raised at the series of forums convened
by Past President Michael Gorman, and make recommendations. These will
include recommendations regarding potential modifications to the ALA
Accreditation Standards, which are currently under review. This Task
Force will present a preliminary report at the 2008 Midwinter Meeting
and a final report at the 2008 Annual Conference. Information on the
Task Force and its charge will be forthcoming.

*	The Executive Board approved the recommendation of the
2006-2007
Election Committee to make changes to the information and field lengths
for the 2008 ballot.  These changes include a limitation of 200 words on
ALA Activities, 200 words on Offices Held, and 100 words on Honors and
Awards. A new field, "Links for Further Information", would be added to
refer voters to web pages, blogs and other information sources.

*	The Board approved sites for the 2016 (Boston) and 2017
(Atlanta) Midwinter Meetings. 

*	Also approved was the expansion of the current Joint
ALA/LSSIRT/State Chapter Membership Program for Support Staff for an
additional three years, based upon the success of the program in
attracting new support staff members. 

In addition to these actions, the Board spent some time discussing how
the association could best attract and retain the next generation of
librarians, as well as methods for increasing member involvement in
association activities such as Conferences, Committees, Membership
Meetings, Council discussions and association office. This discussion
will continue at the Board's Spring Meeting in April. 

A report from the Washington Office on copyright legislation also led to
a broad discussion of the association's copyright-related activities.
A
more detailed report and discussion of ALA's copyright goals has also
been scheduled for our April meeting.

For further information on Board Actions and copies of all Board
Documents, see www.ala.org/ebactions If you'd like more information
about any of these items please let me know. 

All the best,

Leslie Burger
President
American Library Association 
 
Leslie Burger, Director
Princeton Public Library
President, American Library Association
65 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
609.924.8822 x253
609.924.7937 fax