- From: Diedre Conkling
- To: "Kristin Murphy, American Library Association"
- Subject: [alacoun] Re: [srrtac-l] Re: Please Attend a Town Hall Meeting Near You!
- Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 23:05:35 -0700
Al is very correct in stating this and I wish I had thought of it. I also hope that we can bring up the universal health care issue and the fact that it is supported by ALA at the town hall meetings. This is why it was important that we pass the resolution this summer - so that we would have a clear and updated message to share with our Senators and Representatives this summer.
If you can't make it to a town hall meeting then please call, write, and/or email your Senators and Representatives about health care and library funding.
On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 1:25 PM, Al Kagan <akagan@uiuc.edu> wrote:
Dear Ms. Murphy,Since you mention health care, remember that the ALA Council has again just passed a resolution in favor on universal health care, Council Document #54. I ask that you include that information in your messages immediately since the fate of health care will be decided very soon. ALA first endorsed single-payer health care in 2006. The current resolution states that ALA "Reaffirms its support for affordable universal health care program, including the option of single payer health care program."Please don't ignore the Council.Al KaganSRRT Councilor, 1999-2009On Aug 7, 2009, at 1:07 PM, Kristin Murphy, American Library Association wrote:
Official: Rep. Timothy Johnson
Topic: Town Hall
When: 08/10/2009
Starts: 07:00 PM
Where: Pontiac City Hall, 115 W. Howard Street, Pontiac, IL
http://www.capwiz.com/ala/lrm/feedback.ttIf you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click [elided]
--
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
Work phone & fax: 541-265-3066
Work email: diedre@beachbooks.org
Home email: diedre08@gmail.com
Dear Dan,
ReplyDeleteI heard that this is all a prelude to the ALA stormtroopers convincing the government librarians of Hawaii to suppress the evidence that Obama is a muslamofascist Manchurian candidate from Kenya. That's what I heard. You should look into that too. Because clearly you are not insane.
-Chuck
Thanks, Chuck, for commenting. This time you have outdone yourself. You obviously have a bias clearly displayed by your comment. I never made not even the slightest implication you implied I said. My only point is that library interests are secondary to the ALA's political interests that have absolutely nothing to do with libraries.
ReplyDeleteChuck, look again. You have again decided to attack the messenger, and this time you made up the entire thing completely. The only words that were mine are in the title, and the only point I made was that library funding is a secondary interest to political interests that have nothing to do with libraries--that's what the ALA said, right before everyone's eyes.
The ALA should not be considered authoritative in local communities for library interests when library interests are only second in the ALA's mind to political interests.
What the heck is the ALA doing? Why are they dabbling in Obamacare and other policital issues? Are they not a library association?
ReplyDeleteHere is the constitution and mission statement from the ALA:
"The ALA Constitution states the purpose of ALA as, “The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship.”
The stated mission 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.”
Just wondering why the ALA continues to poke its' nose into political issues, endorse liberal agendas, and step into illegitimate territory.
Clearly, they are more than just a library service.
Clearly.
Clearly, as pointed out in the comments of this post, the ALA is concerned with multiple issues that impact libraries (of all kinds) and librarians (of all kinds). This includes health care: like most organizations, health care costs impact the budget of many libraries, and impact the lives of many librarians.
ReplyDeleteAll kinds of groups and organizations are making similar statements (for an against) the current health care reform debate (see WalMart for example).
I suggest you both try to learn more about what a professional organization like the ALA's goals and activities are, and don't jumpt to be so critical if they decide to discuss something other than local public libraries.
WBCFSL, thank for for commenting.
ReplyDeleteLocal MLIS Student, you too. But, like Chuck, you have totally missed my point, only you did so in a polite, non-accusatory fashion, and I really appreciate that.
I never said the ALA should not have any interest it wishes. Rather, I pointed out (just in the title, mind you) how library issues are secondary to political issues.
And let me add that consideration should be given to whether the ALA is violating the terms of IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption since political issues are evidently its primary interests.
You have the ALA's Office of Government Relations telling librarians to go to town hall meetings to discuss library funding. Fine and dandy. Then the ALA Council pipes up and says whoa, health care is our new goal, so go to the meetings and make phone calls about health care, and while you are at it, mention library funding. In other words, the ALA Council changed the ALA directive from one mentioning only library funding into one promoting one political point of view on the health care issue.
Mind you, people were not encouraged to speak their minds. Rather, they were informed about the ALA Council's decision and told to mouth the ALA Council's decision. Talk about free speech! The freedom to say what the ALA Council orders! We have all seen this before--this is just the latest example. "Intellectual Freedom Means the Freedom to Think Like Us!"
And it is all there in black and white for people to see. I am reported it, and for that I am getting attacked in Saul Alinsky style (not by you, Local MLIS Student, thank goodness).
In summary, I said nothing about WHAT the ALA said, rather I pointed out that the ALA Council reveals library issues are secondary to political issues.
Kind of like the ALA refusing to support the jailed and beaten Cuban librarians or their burned books, thus making a joke of ALA efforts to support "intellectual freedom."
Orders again, this time directly from the Whitehouse, then a direction to call political leaders--one needs to wonder when this becomes an IRS 501(c)(3) violation:
ReplyDelete================================
from Diedre Conkling [email elided]
to ALA Council alacoun@ala.org
date Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 7:17 PM
subject [alacoun] Health Care Reform
mailing list alacoun.ala.org
mailed-by ala.org
This may help you in discussing with others the resolution we passed on universal health care, http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/?e=11 .
--
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
[remainder of signature elided]
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from Diedre Conkling [email elided]
to libs-or@listsmart.osl.state.or.us,
publib@webjunction.org,
ALA Council alacoun@ala.org
date Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 8:34 PM
subject [alacoun] Seven Falsehoods about Health Care
mailing list alacoun.ala.org
mailed-by ala.org
And, of course there is this information from Factcheck.org
Contact your Senators and Representatives today. You can use use the ALA Legislative Action center for communicating to your Senators and Representatives on any subject, including the ones listed on the site. You do not need to be an ALA member to use this site.
--
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
[remainder of signature elided]
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Naturally, don't expect any balance, like Ronald Reagan Speaking Out Against Socialized Medicine.
Dissension in the ranks? Will there be an ALA firing squad? Any names come to mind?
ReplyDeleteHere's another library director standing up to the ALA's political correctness that has nothing to do with library matters:
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from Susan Pieper [email elided]
to ALA Council alacoun@ala.org
date Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 10:52 AM
subject [alacoun] Health Care, etc.
mailing list alacoun.ala.org
mailed-by ala.org
Hello All:
I have ALA members who have expressed their concern regarding ALA focusing passing resolutions on the Universal Health Care and Same Sex Marriage issues and not focusing more on library issues such as stable funding, equalization of service for patrons, etc. They have told me they are seriously considering dropping their membership. Maybe I am the only one who has been contacted? Just an FYI.
Best,
Susan
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Your Library: A Great Value!
Susan Hill Pieper, Director/Editor
Paulding County Carnegie Library
Rural Library Services Newsletter
205 S Main St, Paulding, Ohio 45879
[phone numbers elided]
www.pauldingcountylibrary.org
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PLA Executive Board
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