By Linda Friel, MSLA Treasurer and ALA Councilor-at-Large
AASL is the third largest division of ALA, with 8,818 members as of November, 2009, while ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) has 12,285, and PLA (Public Library Association) numbers 10,424. Unfortunately, however, AASL is seriously under-represented on the ALA Council; this was one of the reasons I decided to run for a Councilor-at-Large position. I was elected in 2008 and will serve until 2011. The Council is the governing body of ALA, sets policy for the Association, and allows the Association’s divisions to plan and carry out programs within the policy set by Council. There are two meetings of Council each year, one at the Annual Conference in June or July and the second one is at the Midwinter Conference in January ALA’s officers and the Executive Board are Council members, including the immediate past president and treasurer. Council officers are the president, the president-elect, and the executive director. There are 100 councilors at large, elected by the Association membership for three-year terms, and each division of the Association has one councilor who is elected by members of the division. Each state, provincial, and territorial chapter is entitled to one councilor, who is elected by members of the chapter. Round tables with personal membership equal to or greater than 1% of ALA’s total personal membership elect one councilor each, and the remaining round tables jointly elect one councilor for a three-year term.  There are three sessions of Council during Midwinter and the Annual Conference: one session each on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. There are also several candidates’ forums, where candidates for ALA offices and executive board positions can present themselves and their qualifications, as well as answer questions; at Midwinter one forum hosted candidates for ALA President and Treasurer, and the second one was for candidates running for Executive Board. Twice the Council sponsors Council Forums, informal meetings where Councilors can meet, discuss, and clarify items that will come before Council sessions. These are excellent opportunities to further understand the workings of ALA governance and to meet other Councilors in a relaxed atmosphere outside of the Council floor.
Council receives reports and resolutions from many sources, including from the Executive Director, the Executive Board, ALA Treasurer, ALA President, ALA President-Elect, and all manner of committees, task forces, and the like. There is an implementation report presented that reports on the status of motions and resolutions passed by ALA Council during the preceding year; this report is entered in Council minutes. ALA Council minutes from its previous meetings are provided. Some of Council’s other duties include updating ALA policy on continuous and as-per-need bases, electing a Council Committee on Committees (COC) to appoint members to Council and ALA committees, reviewing Executive Board actions, acting on all submitted resolutions, and establishing dues for chapter, organization, and corporate ALA members. Council has a year-round listserv for information and discussion, and the Councilors receive materials for upcoming Council sessions via the listserv and e-mail. During Council sessions, Eli Mina serves as Council’s parliamentarian. He sits with the presiding officers and is available to provide advice, direction, and clarification, when necessary. Council uses Sturgis’ The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, rather than Robert’s Rules of Order, for running its sessions; apparently Sturgis is a bit more modernized and less cumbersome that Robert’s Rules. After Midwinter and the annual conference, Eli submits a report to Council with his observations about the meeting; it consists of commendations, as well as recommendations that will help enhance the quality of Council’s future meetings. For additional information on Council and actions that it took at Midwinter, 2010, in Boston, see http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/council/index.cfm Much information concerning ALA’s history, governance, and strategic planning is now readily-available online. For access, go to http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/governance/alagoverning.cfm It is important that AASL members vote in the upcoming annual election and be involved in association activities. Please take a few minutes to visit the ALA website and check-out the information that is available for viewing. Well-informed voters are key to ALA’s work and success. If you are not a member of ALA and AASL, please seriously consider joining, as membership and professional support is vital to our chosen profession, especially during these tough economic times. If you have concerns that are of interest to Council, please contact me. Be an active and informed ALA and AASL member, and remember to vote online in the ALA election, coming in March.
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