Making Strides at a Subdued ALA

Despite a depressed turnout at the American Library Association's (ALA) annual conference in Toronto, the June 19–24 gathering exceeded many expectations. For one, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) approved recommendations for the National Educational Technology Plan, which will set federal guidelines for the future role of technology in K–12 schools.

AASL's primary suggestion is an emphasis on "student learning and the teaching of information literacy skills through the school library media center," says AASL's Executive Director Julie Walker. Other recommendations include collaboration between media specialists and teachers on the use of information technologies, ensuring access to technology for the disabled, and teaching kids related ethics, such as ways to avoid plagiarizing online information. The document, required under President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act, will be released in January and incorporate recommendations from educators and the public. While most school districts are expected to abide by the guidelines, they are not mandatory in order to receive federal educational technology funding.

Walker says AASL also approved the creation of a $50,000 "long-term investment account" to fund research and special projects that promote the role of school librarians.

Indeed, the conference crowd was noticeably thinner due to the fear of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)—some 17,500 showed up, compared to the 20,725 in Atlanta the year before. Although many council meetings failed to meet their quorums—and cancelled meetings and parties were the norm—the conference was less of a financial blow than expected. The gathering should pull in about $3.4 million in gross revenue for ALA.

At the conference's opening session, Rep. Bernie Sanders (IND-VT) galvanized librarians in his fight against the USA Patriot Act, which gives the FBI greater authority to search library records. Sanders has introduced the Freedom to Read Restoration Act, which would require investigators to demonstrate probable cause before seeking library or bookstore records. So far, 118 members of the House have co-sponsored the bill.

Some librarians took advantage of Ontario's recent legalization of same-sex marriages. Brian Vetruba, a catalog librarian at Washington University in St. Louis, picked up a marriage license and finalized plans to marry his partner Michael Getty, a professor. Leone Cole, director of the Watertown (MA) Free Public Library and her long-time partner Sue Wawrzaszek also picked up a license.

Overall, attendees were pleased with the conference's outcome and couldn't stop gushing about the reception they received from their host city, Toronto.