Not too surprisingly, the amendment (Council Document 55.1) was voted down. It was felt that the report “finesses” the complex Cuban situation. Councilors called for us to “stay away” from foreign relations.
I will withdraw the resolution; it doesn’t make sense to have this conversation again later this morning. ALA has spoken. I don’t call it ALA’s “shame,” and I feel that the shrill name-calling from some sectors within and outside our association alienates ALA members. But I do think that those of us who feel differently from ALA need to take it to other arenas and other venues if we seek change on this issue.
I would like to think that I have affected positive change by raising the issue well enough in advance to influence the final wording of the IRC/IFC Report on Cuba. The report goes farther in criticizing human rights abuses in Cuba than it would have without additional light on this topic. It doesn’t shame ALA to produce this document… but it’s not going to help Victor Arroyo.
Posted on this day, other years:
- Armadillos on Fire: Revisiting ALA's Open Meeting Policy - 2011
- Mary Jane Anderson, Tough Cookie - 2006
- New FRL Features - 2006
- Update your RSS Readers for new FRL Feed - 2006
- Karen's ALA Midwinter Schedule - 2006
- Migrated at Last - 2006
- Hello, World! - 2006
There is the imiportant matter of our North American cities’ public libraries censoring their own respective current documents and recent documents. For example, our Boston Public Library departments routinely censor by denying or delaying access regardless of intellectual freedom principles, routinely censoring from staff and libraries labor unions advocates the reorganization plan for the public library. Greater public participation is kept at too long an arms reach by such censoring. Layered bureaucratic red tape could be cut with a more open approach and developing the interest and concerns of our cities’ public libraries users/clientele , cities’ public libraries staff and libraries labor unions advocates. Ask for your favorite cities’ public libraries departmental reports on collections and services. Ask for long range planning documents our your favorite cities’ public libraries.