What Do Library Staff Want President Obama to Know: Special Membership Town Hall Meeting

What Do Library Staff Want President Obama to Know: Special Membership Town Hall Meeting

When: Saturday, January 24, 2009, 3 PM to 4:30 PM

Where: Four Seasons Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center

What library issues are most important to ALA members to share with the incoming administration? How can libraries serve as catalysts in communities to help the administration put its agenda into motion? ALA’s Executive Board and Membership Meeting Committee are sponsoring a Special Membership Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24th, from 3 PM to 4:30 PM in the Four Seasons Ballroom at the Colorado Convention Center. ALA wants to hear from you!

During the economic downturn, library services are in greater demand for access to and assistance with job searching, financial aid, class assignments, lifetime learning, free Internet for poor families, government forms and programs. Just when families need libraries more, budgets, services, and hours are being cut.

 

Topics can include:

· e-rate applications

· broadband

· network neutrality

· libraries as agents of equal learning opportunities for all

· school library media specialists as professionals

· libraries as the sole sources of no-fee access to the Internet for many citizens

· libraries and access to e-government services

· transparency in government

· civil liberties vs. security

· Internet filters

· library services for active-duty military

· library services for the visually impaired

· libraries and early childhood literacy

· the rights of the public and of copyright holders. 

We hope that you will address these and other issues and perhaps give specific examples of the role of libraries in the life of our nation.

The meeting will begin with a couple of short (five-minute) presentations and then open the floor to the members. We are looking for a healthy and vigorous discussion of the role of libraries in our country and welcome all views. Your suggestions and comments will help us as we develop our library message that President Jim Rettig will share with President Obama and the new administration.

Before the meeting, share your views at the Town Hall Discussion wiki:

http://wikis.ala.org/midwinter2009/index.php/Town_Hall_Discussion

Theresa Liedtka

Dean, Lupton Library

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

ALA, Membership Meeting Committee