Council III Critiques Government Surveillance

January 28, 2014

ALA Council wrapped up its business for the 2014 Midwinter Meeting at Council III this morning, announcing the election of three new members—Peter D. Hepburn, Gina L. Persichini, and Gail A. Schlachter—to the ALA Executive Board for three-year terms. Mike L. Marlin was also elected to a five-month term, replacing Sylvia K. Norton, who now serves as executive director for the American Association of School Libraries (AASL).

ALA Council also passed two resolutions from the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) (CD#19.1, CD#19.2) and Committee on Legislation (COL) (CD#20.1, CD#20.2) on curbing government surveillance, restoring civil liberties, and expanding federal whistleblower protections (CD#19.2, CD#20.2, respectively)

COL also presented a resolution on maintaining government websites during a government shutdown (CD#20.3), which garnered much discussion about whether or not federal workers would be paid for their time; it passed with a slight amendment. ALA Council also passed a resolution honoring Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D–W.Va.) for his support of America’s libraries (CD#20.4).

ALA Council passed a proposal from the ALA Awards Committee on creation of the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity (CD#36) (PDF file).

The Budget Analysis and Review Committee BARC also noted that it had received Council’s referral of a resolution on creating programs at ALA Midwinter Meetings, and would be reporting to Council at the 2014 Annual Conference.

ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels reported that the final attendance for this Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia stands at 12,207, including 8,407 registered attendees and 3,800 exhibitors.


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