October 11, 2002
Rory Litwin
1821 O Street
Apt. 9
Sacramento, CA 95814-6159Dear Rory:
As Executive Board liaison to the Round Table Coordinating Committee, I'd like to inform you of the discussion recently held by the Board regarding SRRT's interpretation of Policy 9.1: The Use of ALA's Name and Formal Relationships. This policy is central to defining the rights and responsibilities of ALA round tables in communicating policies outside the association. Policy 9.1 clearly distinguishes between divisions and round tables.
The policy empowers divisions "to act for the ALA as a whole on any matter determined by Council to be the responsibility of the division" but restricts the activities of round tables: Round tables, membership initiative groups, and committees, do not have this constitutional authority.
The Board feels that in the past, misunderstandings have resulted from the lack of specificity regarding the limits of round tables' authority to use ALA's name. In order to reduce the likelihood of such misunderstandings, the Board developed Council Document #54, which was distributed at the 2000 Midwinter Meeting. This document is not ALA policy, but it does clarify how the policy should be implemented in practice. Based on any reasonable interpretation of Council policy, it is clear to the Executive Board that the issuance of any communication or correspondence by a round table to any outside individual or organization conveying a round table motion or resolution which was subsequently amended and adopted by Council is in violation of Policy 9.1.
The Executive Board vigorously supports the right of free expression within our organization as specified in the ALA Constitution and the right of free expression of individuals as Americans. We also understand that lack of specificity may lead to misunderstanding. The Executive Board will discuss issues related to use of the ALA name at the upcoming Fall Executive Board meeting to be held in Chicago November 1-3.
Finally, let me try to clarify the so-called 'Speaking With One Voice" issue.
ALA Policy 1.4: ALA Organizational Support Goals was discussed and passed by ALA Council in 1986. Policy 1.4 supports ALA Policy 1.3: Priority Areas and Goals. Point 2 says "ALA speaks with one voice for the profession."
Nowhere in ALA Policy do we say that ALA speaks for each and every one of our 65,000 members on every, or, indeed, any issue. We do endeavor to speak 'loudly and clearly' on CIPA and a great many other issues, but even in our field, there is a wide diversity of opinion. The 1986 context of Policy 1.4.2 is very different from what some people read into it today. In those days, we were talking about ALA playing a leading role in speaking for the 'profession' of librarianship as a whole on a wide range of our priorities and goals--access to information, legislation and funding, intellectual freedom, etc.
In the end, the issue here is not about having a range of opinions, but rather expressing them beyond our own community in a public way that implies ALA support for a position. So our conversation should stay focused on Policy 9.1: The Use of ALA's Name and Formal Relationships.
We hope that by continuing to clarify the boundaries and parameters intended in Policy 9.1, we will be able to avoid misunderstandings in the future. We welcome and look forward to further dialog so that we continue to improve our mutual understanding of and agreement regarding the rights and limitations guaranteed under the ALA constitution and policies.
Sincerely,
John W. Berry
Immediate Past President
American Library Association