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]> : <[log in to unmask]> : UNC : Connect2-SMTP 4.00 MHS to SMTP Gateway y: [log in to unmask] ----------------------------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 [log in to unmask] 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