ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries C&RL News ■ March 2000/ 217 College & Research Libraries news M e e t t h e c a n d i d a t e s f o r A L A P r e s i d e n t Vote in th e e le c tio n th is s p rin g by John W. Berry and Claudia B. Sumler John W. Berry Claudia B. Sumler In my view, during my years in our pro fession, there has never been a time that is as exciting as now. Though it is difficult to see what lies in store for us in the new cen tury (there is, after all, no “there, there”), I have great optimism that we will emerge a stronger profession in the years ahead. Why? Because we know a lot about information and knowledge management; we have a ter rific public service sensibility; we cherish and defend basic human rights like intellectual freedom, freedom and equity of access, and the right to privacy; and we have created many consortia and other cooperative and collaborative organizations for the collective good. In short, we know what we are doing. My answers to the ACRL Board of Direc tors five questions appear below. For addi­ T he ACRL Board of Directors posed the following questions to the candidates for ALA president and C&RL News is pleased to publish their responses. Each candidate was given 1,200 words in which they could choose to offer a brief opening statement and to re spond to the questions; their responses are identified under each of the five questions. Opening sta te m e n t Berry: As a longtime ALA and ACRL mem ber, I was deeply honored to be asked to stand for election as ALA President in the Spring 2000 election. Many of you w ill recall my years as LAMA Executive Director (1985— 89), my subsequent return to academic librarianship at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and my current position as a library consortium director for community colleges, colleges and universities in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa. Serving as both an ALA staff and mem ber leader over the past 20 years has given me a broad knowledge and understanding of ALA’s unique organizational structure among major national associations. This knowledge base prepares me well to guide the association in the many challenges and opportunities we face in the first years of the new century. A b o u t th e a u th o rs John W. Berry is executive director of NILRCA Consortium of Midwest Community Colleges, Colleges and Universities, e- mail: jberry@psinet.com; Claudia B. Sumler is director of the Camden County Library, e-mail: claudia@camden.lib.nj.us mailto:jberry@psinet.com mailto:claudia@camden.lib.nj.us 2 1 8 / C & R L N e w s ■ M a r c h 2 0 0 0 tio n a l in fo rm a tio n a b o u t m y v ie w s o n th e state o f th e p r o fe s s io n a n d th e c h a lle n g e s w e fa c e , s e e m y c o m m e n t s at w w w . a la . o r g / b e r r y a n d lin k t o a d d itio n a l p r o fe s s io n a l a n d p e r s o n a l in fo r m a tio n o n m y o w n W e b s ite f r o m th e A L A site. M y p e r s o n a l s ite in c lu d e s f a v o r it e m u s ic , b o o k s , film s , f o o d a n d w in e , a n d e v e n a fu n n y s to r y a b o u t m y m o m a n d th e Dr. L a u ra c o n t r o v e r s y . W e n e e d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r a n d s u p p o r t a ll lib r a r y a n d in fo r m a tio n p r o fe s s io n a ls . W e n e e d t o b r id g e t h e g a p s b e t w e e n p u b lic , s c h o o l, a c a d e m ic , a n d s p e c ia l lib ra ria n s . T h e is s u e s w e a ll f a c e in c lu d e fu n d in g , d iv e r s ity , p r o fe s s io n a lis m , a n d filte r in g . H o w th e s e is s u e s a f f e c t us v a r ie s a m o n g lib ra ria n s a n d th e c o m m u n itie s w e s e r v e , b u t w e a ll b e n e fit b y s ta n d in g to g e th e r ; a n d w e c a n m a k e a d iff e r e n c e . A n d , y e s , p le a s e d o ta k e th e tim e t o v o t e th is s p rin g ! S u m ler chose to use h e r 1,200 words to respond to the questions. Q uestions fo r A LA can did ates 1. W h a t is y o u r p o s itio n o n A L A d iv is io n s, s u c h as A C R L, in e s ta b lish in g a n d p u b lic ly p r o m u lg a t in g th e ir o w n p o s itio n s o n is su e s im p o rta n t to th e p r o fe s s io n a n d g e r m a n e to th e ir o w n in terests? S h o u ld d iv i s io n s b e e n c o u ra g e d to e s ta b lish re la tio n s h ip s , in d e p e n d e n t o f A L A , w it h o th e r re le v a n t o rg a n iz a tio n s , s u c h as A A H E , fo r e x a m p le ? B e rr y : A L A p o l i c y e n a b le s d iv is io n s t o “ s p e a k ” f o r th e a s s o c ia tio n w it h in th e ir r e s p e c t iv e area s o f r e s p o n s ib ility . P o lic y 9.1 a ls o s p e a k s t o e s t a b lis h in g fo r m a l r e la tio n s h ip s w it h o t h e r o r g a n iz a t io n s t o h e lp A L A a c h ie v e its m is s io n t o p r o m o t e a n d im p r o v e lib r a r y a n d in fo r m a tio n s e r v ic e s a n d lib ra ria n s h ip . I b e l i e v e n o w is th e tim e t o e n c o u r a g e A L A u n its t o c o n t in u e f o r m in g c o lla b o r a t iv e p a rt n e r s h ip s w it h o r g a n iz a tio n s , s u c h as A A H E , w h o s e in te re s ts c le a r ly in te rs e c t w it h A C R L ’s s p e c ific a lly a n d t o t h e w h o l e a s s o c ia tio n g e n e r a lly . T h e r e is s u ffic ie n t f le x ib ilit y in A L A p o l i c y t o e n c o u r a g e a n d s u p p o r t th e s e r e la tio n s h ip s th a t a r e in c r e a s in g ly im p o r ta n t in a g lo b a l in fo r m a tio n m a r k e tp la c e . S u m le r: In m a n y w a y s A L A is s im ila r t o a fe d e r a tio n o f a s s o c ia tio n s , e a c h w it h th e ir o w n c o n s titu e n c ie s , is su es a n d c o n c e r n s , ra th e r th a n a s in g le p r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n . H o w e v e r, A L A is a s in g le le g a l e n tity . It is r e g a r d e d b y p e o p l e n o t a s s o c ia te d w it h th e lib r a r y p r o fe s s io n as th e o r g a n iz a t io n th a t s p e a k s f o r lib ra rie s . I b e l i e v e th at is im p o r ta n t th at w ith in th e a s s o c ia tio n , th a t th e m e m b e r s o f a ll th e d iv is io n s , r o u n d ta b le s , c o m m it t e e s s h o u ld f in d a fo r u m f o r a n o p e n e x c h a n g e o f v i e w p o in ts . W h e r e e ls e b u t in o n e ’s p r o fe s s io n a l as s o c ia t io n c a n a n y o n e f in d a n o p p o r t u n it y to e x p l o r e a n d d e b a t e th e is s u e s th a t a r e im p o rta n t? P a rt o f th a t e x p lo r a t io n a n d d e b a t e is th e e f f o r t t o p e r s u a d e o th e r s t o a c c e p t a s p e c if ic s o lu tio n t o a p r o b le m o r t o ta k e a s ta n d o n a n is s u e a f f e c t in g th e w o r k w e d o . H o w e v e r , w e m u s t b e w i l l i n g t o w o r k t o w a r d s c o n s e n s u s a n d r e c o g n i z e th a t a t tim e s th e r e w i l l b e c o m p r o m is e s . I f A L A is v i e w e d b y th e la r g e r c o m m u n ity as a n o r g a n iz a t io n w h e r e it is im p o s s ib le t o k n o w w h a t p o s i tio n is ta k e n b e c a u s e th e r e a r e s e v e r a l v o ic e s s p e a k in g o n a n y g i v e n is s u e , th e a s s o c ia tio n w i l l n o t b e ta k e n s e r io u s ly . T h e la c k o f a u n if ie d v o i c e w i l l w e a k e n o u r a b ility t o w i n th e s u p p o r t th at w e n e e d . It is m y u n d e r s ta n d in g th a t th e r e a r e c u r r e n tly p r o v is io n s t o p e r m it d iffe r e n t a s s o c ia tio n s w it h in A L A t o lia is o n w it h o t h e r g r o u p s a n d o r g a n iz a t io n s a n d th a t a ffilia tio n is p e r m it te d i f a p p r o v e d b y A L A C o u n c il. A g a in , it is im p o rta n t th at A L A as th e o v e r a ll le g a l b o d y k n o w s th e a c tiv itie s o f th e v a r io u s a s s o c ia tio n s e s p e c ia lly in r e la t io n t o o t h e r o u ts id e o rg a n iz a tio n s . It is a ls o m y u n d e r s ta n d in g that d iv is io n s w it h in A L A a r e a b le t o lia is o n w it h g r o u p s th a t s h a re c o m m o n issu es. 2. A s P re s id e n t o f A L A y o u w ill b e c a lle d u p o n to s p e a k f o r lib r a r ia n s o n a v a rie ty o f issu e s. H o w d o y o u p r o p o s e to s e e k in p u t fr o m th e v a r io u s A L A d iv is io n s a n d to w e ig h th at in p u t to r e p r e s e n t e ffe c tiv e ly a n d a c c u ra te ly th e v ie w s o f lib r a r ia n s to th e g e n e r a l p u b lic a n d th e p re s s , to lo c a l a n d state g o v e rn m e n ts , a n d to th e n a t io n a l g o v e rn m e n t? B e rr y : A L A p r e s id e n ts s p e a k f o r th e e s ta b lis h e d g o a ls , v a lu e s , a n d p o l i c y p o s itio n s o f th e w h o l e a s s o c ia tio n . I in te n d t o s ta y in c lo s e w o r k i n g c o n t a c t w it h A L A u n it le a d e r s t o b e s u re I u n d e r s ta n d w h a t o u r d iv e r s e as s o c ia t io n is f e e l i n g a n d th in k in g o n th e m a n y is su es w e c u r r e n tly fa c e . W e h a v e ju s t b e g u n http://www.ala.org/berry C & R L N e w s ■ M a r c h 2 0 0 0 / 2 1 9 I believe th at librarians have im portant roles to play in the future. No m atter how so p histi cated com puters become, the people w ho w ill be the decision m akers w ill be the ones w ho are best educated. — Claudia B. Sum ler t o u s e e le c tr o n ic n e tw o rk s to sh a re in fo rm a tio n w ith m e m b e r s a n d s o lic it re s p o n s e s to issues. A s A L A p res id en t, I in te n d t o h o ld th re e o p e n t o w n m e e tin g s to e n c o u r a g e a n d s o lic it in fo rm a tio n fr o m m e m b e rs a n d a llo w issues to b e a ir e d in a p u b lic aren a. I w o u ld a ls o lik e t o s e e us h a v e a fr e e te le c o n fe r e n c e to w n m e e tin g o n c e a y e a r f o r fa c e -to -fa c e c on ta c t w ith m e m b e rs , p a rticu la rly th o s e w h o a re u n a b le t o a tte n d c o n fe r e n c e s . M y e x p e r ie n c e o n th e A L A s ta ff a n d as a c o u n c ilo r-a t-la rg e h a v e h e lp e d m e b u ild a n e tw o r k o f state, re g io n a l, n a tion a l, a n d in te rn a tio n a l re la tio n s h ip s that w ill s e r v e A L A w e ll. S u m ler: T h e d a y -to -d a y b u s in e s s o f A L A is e ffe c t iv e ly run b y th e h ea d q u a rte rs staff. T h e s ta ff o f e a c h d iv is io n is w e ll a w a r e o f th e is su es that m o s t a ffe c t th e ir c on stitu en ts. In a d d itio n , e a c h d iv is io n o r ro u n d ta b le h as e le c te d le a d e rs w h o a re a ls o k n o w le d g e a b le o f th e issu es a n d c o n c e rn s . A t th e state a n d lo c a l le v els, in p u t m a y b e s o u g h t fr o m state librarians, e x e c u tiv e d irec to rs , o r e le c te d o ffic e r s o f state ass oc iatio n s . W h e n c a lle d u p o n to s p e a k f o r lib rarian s, I w o u ld r e ly o n that e x p e rtis e to g iv e m e n e e d e d b a c k g r o u n d in fo rm a tio n a n d to assist in fra m in g th e m o s t a p p ro p ria te a n s w e r o r te s tim o n y . It is a ls o p o s s ib le that th e re w ill b e tim e s w h e n it w o u ld b e m o r e s u ita b le f o r s o m e o n e e ls e to r e s p o n d . I f th e issu e re la te s d ir e c tly to a c a d e m ic lib raries, it m ig h t b e m o r e re le v a n t to h a v e th e P re s id e n t o f A C R L s p e a k th an f o r th e P re s id e n t o f A L A . It m u st b e r e c o g n iz e d h o w e v e r, that w h e n tim e is a fa c to r in fra m in g a re s p o n s e , it m ig h t n o t a lw a y s b e p o s s ib le to c on ta c t a w i d e ra n g e o f p e o p le b e fo r e s p e a k in g o n a n issue. 3. W h a t d o y o u see as th e o p p o rtu n itie s a n d c h a lle n g e s te c h n o lo g y o ffe rs A L A in a llo w in g m e m b e rs to p articipate at a d is tance e le c tro n ic a lly to o b ta in in fo rm a tio n o n th e ir v ie w s a n d to e n g a g e in th e asso ciation? B erry : M y cu rre n t p o s itio n as a m u lti-ty p e lib rary c o n s o rtiu m d ire c to r d e e p ly in v o lv e d in d is ta n c e (d is trib u te d ) le a rn in g has c o n v in c e d m e that A L A m u st c o n tin u e to s tre n gth e n o u r p r e s e n c e to e n a b le all m e m b e rs to p a rticip a te in A L A a c tiv itie s a n d c o n tin u in g e d u c a tio n o p p o rtu n ities fr o m th e ir d e s k to p s . W e h a v e an u n p a ra lle le d c h a n c e in th e n e x t f e w y e a rs to fu n d a m e n ta lly c h a n g e th e w a y m e m b e rs in tera ct w ith o n e a n o th e r a n d w it h th e a s s o c ia tio n as a w h o le . E le c tro n ic v o tin g , m e m b e r d isc u s sio n s lists, W e b -b a s e d in stru ction , a n d C E a re all e v o lv in g v e r y ra p id ly a n d w e n e e d to ta k e fu ll a d v a n ta g e o f th em . W h y n o t p r o v id e listin gs o f all o n lin e lib ra ry cou rses, costs, re q u ire m e n ts , a n d o u tc o m e s ? L e t’s ta k e A L A to th e g lo b a l m a rk e tp la c e . Su m ler: I th in k w e a re just b e g in n in g to e x p lo r e th e p o s s ib ilitie s o f t e c h n o lo g y as an a id t o im p r o v in g c o m m u n ic a tio n a n d e n a b lin g m e m b e rs t o p a rtic ip a te in w a y s n o t p r e v io u s ly p o s s ib le . T h e r e a re o n g o in g lists f o r A L A C o u n c il a n d f o r m a n y o f th e a s s o c ia t io n s a n d ro u n d ta b le s th at c u rre n tly p e r m it e le c te d o f fic e rs a n d c o m m itte e m e m b e rs t o r e c e iv e in fo r m a tio n a n d g iv e fe e d b a c k . S o m e d iv is io n s h a v e in tro d u c e d e le c tr o n ic m e m b e rs h ip f o r its c o m m itte e s s o th at p e o p le w h o a re in te re s te d in b e in g a c tiv e b u t a re n o t a b le t o a tte n d c o n fe r e n c e s c a n still p articip ate. T h e A L A a n d d iv is io n W e b sites o f f e r an o th e r o p p o r tu n ity f o r re q u e s tin g in fo rm a tio n fr o m m e m b e rs o n v a rio u s issues. T h e p o s s i b ilitie s o f d is ta n c e le a rn in g f o r c o n tin u in g e d u c a tio n f o r lib rarian s is just b e g in n in g to b e e x p lo r e d . A ll o f th e s e o p tio n s a re still in a ru d i m e n ta ry fo r m , a n d w e a re just b e g in n in g to le a rn h o w to u s e th e m e ffe c tiv e ly . T o d a y , f o r m a n y librarians, a c c es s t o th e n e c e s s a ry e q u ip m e n t is still s o m e tim e s d iffic u lt a n d c o s t is o f te n an issue. I e x p e c t th at w h e n w e lo o k b a c k f iv e y e a rs fr o m n o w , w e w ill b e a m a z e d at h o w fa r w e h a v e c o m e in e ffe c t iv e ly u s in g th e te c h n o lo g ie s t o in v o lv e th e m e m b e rs h ip m o r e fu lly in d iv is io n activities. 4. H o w w o u ld yo u, as presiden t, lead d ie A L A in w a y s that w o u ld sim u lta n e o u sly p ro v id e th e stability that s o m e m e m b e rs seek w h ile a lso p ro v id in g th e in n o v a tio n 2 2 0 / C& RL N e w s • M a r c h 2 0 0 0 a n d fo rw a rd d evelop m en t sough t b y o th er m em bers? Is su ch a b a lan ce p o ssible, o r w ill y o u p lac e m o re em p h asis o n o n e o r th e o th e r o f these aspects (stab ility o r in n o v a tio n ) o f A L A ’s culture? B erry : T h e s tab ility that s o m e m e m b e rs s e e k is fo u n d a n d fo s te re d in th e c o r e v a lu e s w e share— th e c o n n e c tio n o f p e o p le to ideas; u n fe tte re d access to id eas; le a rn in g in all its con tex ts; fr e e d o m f o r all p e o p le to fo rm , h o ld , an d e x p re s s th e ir o w n b e lie fs , a n d re s p e c t fo r th e in d iv id u a l p ers o n . A s an association , w e are a p u rp o s e fu l a n d th o u g h tfu l com m u n ity . W e share c o m m o n g o a ls an d w o r k to g e th e r to s tren gth en th e association , th e p r o fe s s io n o f librarian sh ip, a n d libraries. A t th e s a m e tim e, w e h a v e to th in k in n o v a tiv e ly a n d c re a tiv e ly to b e as e n tre p re n eu ria l as o u r p riv a te s ec to r c o lle a g u e s . W e n e e d to e n c o u ra g e a n d re w a rd risk-taking. In short, w e h a v e to im a g in e the futu re w e p r e fe r — th e n b u ild it. W e h a v e th e p rofession al o p p o rtu n ity this d e c a d e to b e c o m e m u ch m o r e th an w e are n o w , o r e n d u p b e c o m in g less. Sum ler: W e are liv in g in a tim e o f ra p id c h a n g e . T o e x p e c t a s h e lte rin g stab ility in a p ro fe ss io n a l a s sociation w h ile at th e s am e tim e e x p e c tin g as s oc iatio n le a d ers to b e p ro a c tiv e in en s u rin g c o n tin u in g e x is te n c e a n d g r o w th w ill le a d to a “n o w in ” situation. I f librarians e x p e c t lib raries to e xis t b y m id -ce n tu ry a n d if w e h o p e t o c o n tin u e t o d e liv e r s e rv ic e s that re fle c t o u r c o r e valu es, A L A has to b e at th e fo r e fro n t in e n c o u ra g in g in n o v a tio n a n d p r o fe s s io n a l g ro w th . A t th e s a m e tim e w e n e e d to r e c o g n iz e o u r h e rita g e a n d k n o w that w h e r e w e are g o in g is c o n n e c te d to o u r past. I th in k it is im p orta n t that th e le a d ers at all le v e ls o f th e associatio n b e g r o u n d e d in th e v a rio u s p h a ses o f c h a n ge. A b asic g ro u n d ru le o f le a d in g d u rin g tim es o f c h a n g e is th e n e e d f o r con stant c o m m u n ic a tio n s o that c o n c ern s a re h ea rd a n d ad d ressed . A s P re s id e n t o f A L A , I w o u ld w o r k w ith all c o m m itte e s , d iv is io n s , a n d ro u n d ta b le s to m a k e su re that th e m e m b e rs h ip k n o w s h o w a n d w h y w e are c h a n g in g fo r th e future. 5. In o u r e n v iro n m e n t o f ra p id ch an ge, w h a t a re y o u r v ie w s o n th e fu tu re o f libra ria n sh ip a n d future ro les libra rie s w ill p la y in the in fo rm a tio n society? H o w w ill A LA co n tin u e to su p p o rt lib ra ria n s a n d li b ra rie s a n d to attract h ig h ly c a p a b le in d ividuals We need to instill the value of libraries as an essential public good unlike any other reso u rce.. . . At the same time, w e must raise salaries to stop the "brain drain" of some of our best and brightest recruits. —John W. Berry to o u r p rofession ? W h y w o u ld a li b ra ria n w a n t to jo in A LA in 2010? B erry : A d e c a d e fr o m n o w , as an associa tio n o f lib ra ry / in fo rm a tio n / k n o w le d g e w o r k ers, A L A w ill b e a le a d e r a m o n g as sociation s in e le c tro n ic p a rticip a tio n o f its la rge a n d in c re a s in g ly d iv e rs e m e m b ers h ip . A ll lib rary an d k n o w le d g e w o rk e rs w ill b e e n g a g e d in o n lin e a n d o th e r d istrib u ted le a rn in g a n d te a c h in g fr o m a w id e ra n g e o f sou rces, in c lu d in g A L A a n d its con stitu en t units. A L A ’s fe d e r a te d struc tu re a n d its c o n fe r e n c e v e n u e s , th o u g h m o r e stre am lin e d a n d te c h n o lo g y -b a s e d , w ill still b e re c o g n iz a b le to to d a y ’s m e m b ers. In term s o f recruitm en t, w e n e e d to d o at least th e se th re e things. First, u se th e $3 m il lio n “w in d fa ll” fr o m A L A ’s h ea d q u a rters p r o p e rty to p e rm a n e n tly e n d o w th e “S p ectru m In i tia tiv e ” that w ill fu n d sch o larsh ip s f o r p e o p le o f c o lo r a n d th o s e w ith disabilities. S e c o n d ly , s te p u p o u r recru itm en t e ffo rts w ith a fo c u s o n c o m m u n ity c o lle g e a n d u n iversity students, a n d re ac h d o w n in to th e K - 1 2 le v e l in a sus ta in ed c a m p a ig n to d em o n s tra te th e attractive n ess o f o u r share o f th e in fo rm a tio n m a rk e t p la c e . A n d fin a lly, estab lish a k in d o f s e rv ic e c o ip s o f retirin g librarian s w h o w ill m e n to r y o u n g e r m em b ers o f th e p ro fe ss io n s o w e d o n ’t e n tire ly lo s e th e e x p e rtis e w e h a v e b u ilt o v e r th e last fo u r d ec a d es . Librarians a n d o th e r in fo rm a tio n w o rk e rs are in d e e d b e in g d ra w n to th e p riv a te s e c to r d u e to h ig h e r salaries a n d s e e m in g ly attractive e n tre p re n eu ria l e n v iro n m e n ts. T h is w ill c o n tin u e, b u t w ill lik e ly s lo w as c o m p e titio n in e - c o m m e r c e settles o u t— that is, m a n y c o m p a n ies w ill n o t s u rv iv e in a v e r y c o m p e titiv e m ar k etp la ce . W e n e e d to instill th e v a lu e o f librar ies as a n essen tial p u b lic g o o d u n lik e a n y o th e r reso u rce. T h is is n o t an e a s y sell in th e e m e r g ing C & R L N e w s m M a r c h 2 0 0 0 / 2 2 1 g lo b a l in fo r m a tio n e c o n o m y . A t th e s a m e tim e, w e m u st ra ise s a la ries t o s to p th e “b ra in d ra in ” o f s o m e o f o u r b e s t a n d b rig h te s t r e cruits. S u m le r: I b e l i e v e th at lib ra ria n s h a v e im p o r ta n t r o le s t o p la y in th e fu tu re . N o m a tte r h o w s o p h is t ic a te d c o m p u t e r s b e c o m e , th e p e o p l e w h o w i l l b e th e d e c is io n m a k e r s w ill b e th e o n e s w h o a r e b e s t e d u c a te d . L ib ra r ie s ’ r o le in e d u c a t io n w i l l c o n t in u e b e g in n in g w it h p r e - r e a d in g p r o g r a m s f o r b a b ie s at th e lo c a l p u b lic lib ra ry . S tu d ie s a r e s h o w in g th at th e b e s t- p r e p a r e d s tu d e n ts a r e th o s e w h o h a v e a c c e s s t o a f u lly d e v e l o p e d s c h o o l m e d ia p r o g r a m . C o l l e g e lib r a r ie s w i l l s till lin k s tu d e n ts a n d fa c u lty w it h th e fu ll r a n g e o f r e s o u r c e s t h e y n e e d . L if e lo n g le a r n in g is a c u rre n t re a lity . T e c h n o lo g y w i l l m e a n th at e d u c a tio n w ill b e a v a ila b le in a v a r ie ty o f fo r m a ts at a v a r ie ty o f lo c a tio n s , in c lu d in g lib rarie s . In s te a d o f d is p e n s in g in fo rm a tio n , lib ra ria n s a r e b e c o m in g train ers, d e m o n s tr a tin g h o w t o b e s t a c c e s s th e w i d e r a n g e o f r e s o u rc e s a v a ila b le as w e l l as h o w t o e v a lu a te w h a t is fo u n d . In a w o r ld o f t o o m a n y c h o ic e s , lib ra ria n s w i l l b e th e in fo r m a tio n m e d ia to rs , w o r k in g in p e r s o n o r v ia c o m p u te r t o assist c u s to m e rs in lo c a tin g th e in fo r m a tio n t h e y n e e d . T h e d a y o f 24/7 liv e r e fe r e n c e s e r v ic e is o n th e h o r iz o n . A s w o n d e r f u l as h o m e c o m p u te r a c c e s s is, p e o p l e a r e still g re g a rio u s . T h e lib ra ry as c o m m u n ity c e n te r w i l l e x p a n d in b o t h re a l tim e a n d b y v irtu a l re a lity . L ib ra rie s w i l l c o n tin u e t o e x is t a lth o u g h th e d e liv e r y o f s e r v ic e s w ill c h a n g e . T h e p e o p l e w h o w i l l le a d o u r p r o fe s s io n as lib ra rie s e v o l v e a r e th e o n e s w e h a v e y e t t o h ire . It is im p e r a tiv e th at w e b e c o m e a g g r e s s iv e in o u r e ffo r ts t o re cru it a d iv e r s e w o r k f o r c e w it h a v a r ie ty o f b a c k g r o u n d s a n d sk ills t o s h a p e th e lib ra rie s o f to m o r r o w . It is im p o rta n t th at as lib ra rie s c h a n g e , A L A is r e a d y t o a d a p t t o w h a t th e n e w p r o fe s s io n als w i l l w a n t fr o m a p r o fe s s io n a l a s s o c ia tio n . T h e w a y p e o p l e w a n t t o in teract w it h A L A m a y c h a n g e , b u t I e x p e c t th a t th e d e s ir e f o r p r o fe s s io n a l d e v e lo p m e n t , f o r a u n ite d v o i c e o n th e issu es th at a re im p o rta n t, a n d f o r c o m m u n i c a tin g w it h o th e rs w h o h a v e a c o m m o n in ter e st w ill n ot. ■ ACRL m em bers running for ALA Council T h e f o l l o w i n g A C R L m e m b e r s a r e e i th e r n o m in a t e d o r p e t it io n c a n d id a t e s f o r A L A c o u n c ilo r in th e s p r in g 2 0 0 0 e l e c tio n s . A C R L m e m b e r s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o v o t e f o r th e s e c a n d id a te s t o in c r e a s e A C R L ’s v o i c e in A L A ’s a ffa irs . K a t h le e n B e th e l, A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n S tu d ie s L ib ra ria n , N o r t h w e s t e r n U n iv e r s ity . T y ro n e H . C a n n o n , d e a n o f th e U n i v e r s ity L ib ra ry , U n iv e r s it y o f S a n F ra n c is c o . J a m e s V. C a rm ic h a e l Jr., a s s o c ia te p r o fe s s o r , U n i v e r s i t y o f N o r t h C a r o lin a at G r e e n s b o r o . J o h n W . C o llin s H I, lib ra ria n , H a r v a r d U n iv e r s it y . L y n n S ilip ig n i C o n n a w a y , v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f r e s e a r c h a n d l i b r a r y s y s t e m s , n e tL ib r a ry , In c . B e r n a r d F ra d k in , d e a n o f L e a r n in g R e s o u r c e s , C o l l e g e o f D u P a g e L ib ra ry , G le n E lly n , Illin o is . J u lie G . H u is k a n ip , c o o r d i n a t o r o f le a r n in g r e s o u r c e s , N o r t h e a s t I o w a C o m m u n ity C o lle g e . T h o m a s L e o n h a rd t, d ir e c t o r o f th e L i b ra ry , O r e g o n In s titu te o f T e c h n o lo g y . B e v e r ly P. L y n c h , p r o fe s s o r , G r a d u a te S c h o o l o f E d u c a tio n & In fo r m a t io n , U n iv e r s ity o f C a lifo r n ia , L o s A n g e le s . Steve R. M a rq u a rd t, d e a n o f L ib ra rie s , S o u th D a k o ta S ta te U n iv e r s ity . R ic h a r d W . M e y e r, d ir e c t o r o f th e L i b ra ry , T r in ity U n iv e r s ity . M a u r e e n D . P a stin e , u n iv e r s it y lib ra r ian , T e m p l e U n iv e r s ity . S a ra h M . P ritc h a rd , u n iv e r s ity lib ra ria n , U n iv e r s it y o f C a lifo r n ia , S an ta B a rb a ra . J a m e s R ettig, u n iv e r s it y lib ra ria n , U n i v e r s ity o f R ic h m o n d . L a r r y R o m a n s , h e a d o f G o v e r n m e n t In f o r m a t io n S e r v ic e , V a n d e r b ilt U n iv e r s ity . M a rk R o s e n z w e ig , c h i e f lib ra ria n , R e f e r e n c e C e n te r f o r M a r x is t S tu d ie s. D a v id A . T y c k o s o n , h e a d o f r e fe r e n c e , C a lifo r n ia S ta te U n iv e r s it y , F re s n o . E la y n e S. W alsted ter, o u tre a c h lib raria n . F o r t L e w is C o lle g e . T h o m a s W ild in g , d ir e c t o r o f lib ra rie s , U n iv e r s it y o f T e x a s at A r lin g to n . ■ 2 2 2 / C&RL N e w s ■ M a r c h 2 0 0 0