Melissa Lamont has resent this message toMaps-L.-------Johnnie
 
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
 
    : Fri, 16 Jun 1995 16:11:08 -0500 (CDT)
    : Ridley Kessler <[log in to unmask]>
       : Death of ALA Round Tables
      : Discussion of Government Document Issues <[log in to unmask]>
  : Multiple recipients of list GOVDOC-L <[log in to unmask]>
        : Discussion of Government Document Issues <[log in to unmask]>
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            : UNC
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----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Dear Colleagues,
 
This is addressed to those of you who belong to ALA GODORT and other
interested parties.  My boss  handed me this today.  I had heard rumors
about it but wasn't sure it really existed.  It is called the "Revised
Draft proposal for ALA Structure"  and is dated June 9, 1995.  It was
done by the ALA Organizational Self Study Committee (OSSC).    It is
evidently going to be the subject of a discussion at ALA Council and the
OSSC has recommended that they approve it.  The document is 10 pages
long.  ALA would be newly organized into 4 Societies--School, Public,
Academic, and Specialized.  These would have their own governance
structure, have staff,speak externally for ALA, etc.  Then there is
something called Association-Wide Centers which are structured to
coordinate with the appropriate Societies the pursuit of those interests
not specific to one type of workplace and that represent important
initiatives within ALA and libraries.  The Centers are proactive and can
move quickly when needed.  Centers should be fast, flexible, focused, and
friendly.  No extra dues are paid by or required for members to become
involved with any of the Centers.  Next comes Association-Wide Services.
These are  structured to assist the Societies and the Centers, individual
and institutional members, and the profession at large. These Services
serve as producers of products, consultants and experts, and offer advice
both internally (for ALA staff and members) and externally (for
individual libraries, state and regional associations, etc.).
 
 
 
Then comes  Special Interest Groups/Member Interest Groups   Created as
Needed.  The report states that: " We believe Special Interest Groups
(SIGs) and Member Interest Groups
(MIGs) serve an important function within ALA and should be created as
needed to keep ALA positioned for the future. They should disappear when
they no longer serve a need. Issues coming from these groups are brought
to Council through ALA membership meetings or through one of the
Societies.
 
Characteristics of Special Interest Groups / Member Interest Groups:
 
-     Do not have staff
 
-     Have a simple structure
-     Established by petition of 25 ALA members to the Executive
 
      Director
 
-     MIGs usually smaller and newer than SIGs
 
-     Have conveners, who are the only officers/governance
 
      structure
 
-     Both MIGs and SIGs cover specific interests or concerns not
 
      addressed elsewhere
 
-     Both MIGs and SIGs are fluid and change as issues and
 
      priorities change
 
-     MIGs are allocated one meeting space at conferences
 
-     SIGs are entitled to a certain specified level of support
 
      from ALA, including their own listserve, a very limited
 
      number of meeting spaces at conference, and a list of
 
      members (which is given to the convener)
 
-     Both MIGs and SIGs cease to exist when their purpose has
 
      been accomplished
 
-     Both MIGs and SIGs must maintain a pre-established number of
 
      ALA members to continue
 
-     Both MIGs and SIGs are evaluated for continuance every three
 
      years".
 
Then the final paragraph says:
 
"Round Tables will be incorporated into the new structure.  We recognize
the importance of these groups in identifying emerging, cutting- edge
issues for the ALA.  We also recognize that Round Tables have allowed
grassroots forums for these new ideas and emerging issues.  It is our
hope that Round Tables will find a comfortable place in the new
structure.  Those Round Tables that are small and meet regularly to
discuss common interests/problems will become MIGs.  Other Round Tables
may choose to be a part of a Society, or may be incorporated into the new
structure of a Center.  Larger Roundtables [sic] that do not find a "fit"
will become SIGS."
 
After reading this document I do not see anyplace in it that meets the
criteria of what we have in GODORT now, nor does MAGERT seem to fit in
here either.  I do not know what this means to all of us nor what the
time table on this is, or how much discussion is going to be allowed or
what participation we are going to be given in this process.  I am going
to try and post the entire document on this listserver so that you can
all read and study it if you are interested.
 
Ridley Kessler
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Ridley Kessler                              Voice: (919) 962-1151
Regional/Documents Librarian                Fax: (919) 962-4451
Reference Department-Documents              E-Mail:
CB 3912, Davis Library                      [log in to unmask]
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-8890
 
"Never tell people how to do things.  Tell them what to do and they will
surprise you with their ingenuity."
  George S. Patton