ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

ALA candidates on ACRL

The four candidates for ALA president share their views on academic and research librarianship.

Rebecca T. Bingham

Richard M. Dougherty

Irene B. Hoadley

Hannelore B. Rader

Recently the ALA presidential candidates were asked to give some thought to ALA/ACRL relations and academic librarianship in general for this special CÖRL News feature. Their statements may aid you when you vote for ALA officers on this spring’s ballot.

Rebecca T. Bingham:

I have long admired the leadership role of ACRL, ALA’s largest, financially strongest unit. I believe that the goal of any professional association is to enhance the profession it represents and the talents and abilities of its members. By this measure, ACRL’s record is outstanding. It has not only provided a model of standards, long-range planning and effective use of the chapter system for ALA, but ACRL has played a strong leadership role in ALA through the service of its members and officers on Council, in the units, on the committees, and on the round tables.

At the risk of sounding dramatic, I can say that I have a long-standing love affair and identification with academic libraries. I attribute my being a librarian today to the rich and challenging experiences I was privileged to enjoy as an undergraduate student working my way through college as a page in the Circulation Department of the stately, vineclad original library beside the main entrance to Indiana University. I began working there for the 32 hours per week that I needed to stretch my meager resources to cover my college expenses when I was a freshman. By the time I was a junior, I was frequently assigned to be “in charge” of the Circulation Department on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. One day I realized the rewards I felt on this fringe of librarianship and suspected I might enjoy being a librarian more than the career in psychiatric social work for which I was preparing. In response to my question regarding my employment prospects should I change fields, Margaret Rufsvold of the Graduate Library School (its name then) informed me that library schools were preparing only about 10% of the librarians anticipated to be needed for the next ten years, and that for minority librarians, less than one-tenth of one percent. I made my decision on the spot, and have never looked back!

I am currently serving on the off-campus program faculty of the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science and have been a workshop leader and guest lecturer in the library and information science schools at a number of institutions. While serving on President Carter’s Advisory Committee for the 1979 White House Conference on Library and Information Services I was privileged to focus on the participation of academic/research librarians and librarians serving children and young people in a unique way.

While serving in the ALA Council (I am now in my second term), on the ALA Executive Board, as President of the Kentucky Library Association, and as President of the Southeastern Library Association I have maintained an up-to-date knowledge of the issues and concerns facing academic librarianship and I have a track record of addressing them through committee appointments, task forces, appeals to legislators and other appropriate means as the specific circumstances have warranted.

My interest in fostering access to information extends to all of librarianship, and certainly to academic and research libraries. Academic freedom, an openness that precludes misinformation, is basic to the excellence which is the ACRL goal for academic libraries, research and other specialized libraries. I am concerned that any move toward the privatization of government publishing poses a threat to the availability of information by and about our government at the precise time when we so desperately need better information and a good supply of quality resources in the teaching and learning of new decision-making skills. I am aware that changing college and university student populations, which now range from older adults who are enrolling to high school students using academic libraries, are requiring changed realities of outreach and service for the libraries in these institutions.

Academic and research libraries are as much affected by the dramatic changes in the racial, ethnic and cultural demographics of our population as are all types of libraries and the whole field of librarianship. Minority recruitment, the retention of minority librarians, and upward mobility of minorities in the profession are musts if our campus and research libraries are to remain relevant to and representative of the institutions and communities of which they are a part.

I have a deep concern for the Association itself and I am pleased that it is now seriously reviewing its election process. I have long felt that election to ALA leadership positions should be within the financial reach of anyone able to pay the membership dues. When we are striving for the improved financial stability of the Association, when strong professional leadership is so necessary for the challenges we face, and when we are a profession historically typified by modest salaries, it is regrettable that the costs of being a candidate have escalated to the point of deterring many with outstanding potential, interest, and willingness to serve. This unfortunate occurrence is not only affecting ALA, it is filtering down to the Divisions and Round Tables. I see it as a serious threat to the future health of the Association. I am happy that ALA has appointed a Special Committee on the Election Process; I hope it addresses this critical aspect of the problem; and I hope to have the opportunity to act to rectify the situation from the vantage point of the ALA presidency.

The profession of librarianship, ALA and ACRL, will continue to meet challenges. ALA and its divisions are already engaged in dialogue relating to the new operating agreement as it becomes a reality. Concerns will continue to arise. New issues will continue to emerge. We will continue to be challenged to find new directions and revise our goals to respond to the new conditions as we come to understand them. As President of ALA, I assure you that I have a history that reflects understanding of the problems and concerns of ACRL. I do not promise solutions to all problems or the resolution of all issues. I do pledge a vigorous pursuit of solutions and resolutions, and I promise your involvement in that pursuit. I pledge to speak out responsibly, on all matters related to ALA and its goals of helping the librarian, in academic/research libraries as well as in all other libraries, to succeed.

I pledge my support! I encourage your active participation in developing appropriate plans, actions, and responses! I solicit your vote!! — Rebecca T. Bingham, Director of Library Media Services, Jefferson County Public Schools, Durrett Education Center, 4409 Preston Highway, Louisville, KY 40213.

Richard M. Dougherty:

There are a host of issues of interest and concern to academic librarians. Some are long-standing, such as bibliographic instruction, faculty status, standards, and preservation of collections, while others are of more recent vintage, such as utilization of information technologies, deployment of electronic and resource-sharing networks, privatization of government information and the changing economics of publishing. I understand the views of academic librarians on these matters. I have been personally involved with most of these issues, and at one time or another I have written about all of them. As ALA President I would remain sensitive to the wishes and priorities of the academic library community.

Many people have asked me why I decided to run for the Presidency. The tone in which they ask infers, “Why bother?” The question they are really asking is, “Can an ALA President make a difference?” Many ALA members evidently don’t think so because so few bothered to vote in last year’s election. Fewer than 28% returned ballots. That, colleagues, is symptomatic of a severe case of apathy. It doesn’t reflect well on the perceived relevance of our Association to the rank and file. But I believe we, as librarians, and ALA, as our professional association, have made many contributions to society, and I believe that I as President could help make a difference.

Can librarians make a difference? Yes.

•Librarians have compiled an enviable record fighting censorship and ensuring citizen access to information—the FBI awareness program is only the latest incident.

•Librarians can play a significant role in the battle against illiteracy.

•Librarians can influence the shape of national information policies.

Can ALA make a difference? Yes.

•ALA is synonymous with librarianship in the minds of most citizens.

•ALA is most effective when it speaks out on issues that transcend the interests of individual units.

•ALA speaks with authority to officials in Washington.

•ALA is our most effective vehicle for improving the profession’s visibility.

•ALA can help to attract the best possible recruits to the profession.

Can Dougherty make a difference? Yes.

•Dougherty is an experienced leader. I have directed university libraries at California-Berkeley and Michigan for the last 16 years. I have also been elected to positions of responsibility and leadership in ALA, ARL, RLG, and IFLA.

•Dougherty is an acknowledged innovator. I established campus document delivery services at Colorado, Berkeley, and Michigan. The first service was established 20 years ago. I funded a fullservice preservation unit at Michigan at the beginning of the 1980s; funded a specialized information and document delivery service to business and industry (MITS); conceived the Research Residency program for new library school graduates at Michigan (the program provides advanced education and training for professionals who aspire to careers in research libraries); founded Mountainside Publishing and launched the Journal of Academic Librarianship, Library Issues, Briefings for Faculty and Administrators, and Research Strategies: A Journal of Library Concepts and Instruction.

•Dougherty is a risk-taker. I have a history of being the “messenger of bad tidings,” speaking out on issues before they are generally recognized as critical issues. This does not mean I have infallible foresight and vision, just a certain measure of fortitude, and a willingness to be wrong on occasion. Being right is not always fun either. Raising the alarm about spiraling serials prices in 1984 meant I was not always welcome in some quarters. It was a message that many didn’t want to hear.

Can you make a difference? Yes, by voting for Dick Dougherty for ALA President and becoming actively involved in state and national professional organizations.

My major objectives are to build: 1) stronger coalitions: to improve the ability of ALA to unite on issues of general concern and speak with a single voice; 2) better communications: to improve ALA’s ability to communicate with citizens and public officials; and 3) greater visibility: to increase the profession’s visibility and recognition as an agent of positive social change.

Stronger coalitions.To communicate messages that are heard more clearly and with greater authority by public officials, we must stand together. We sometimes seem to forget that outside the profession, ALA is able to represent our interests best. I will work to emulate those successful politicians who are able to build coalitions of special interest groups willing to speak as a single voice on key issues.

Better communication.Our image in Washington is already stronger than many of us realize. We could send even more persuasive messages by strengthening our grassroots State Association/ Chapter-oriented communications network. This requires ALA to redouble its efforts to work with each and every Chapter. It also requires the chapters to become more active in the communication process. And, most importantly, it requires that more individual members contact state and U.S. representatives on issues of professional importance. There is nothing like communications from constituents to grab the attention of representatives. Lobbying is the way business is conducted in our society. If we aren’t willing to participate, we shouldn’t complain about being overlooked as a profession.

Greater visibility.We need greater professional visibility. There are too many people who don’t know who we are, what we do, or how we can contribute to the solution of societal problems. We are known as champions in the cause of intellectual freedom, but too often we as a profession are overlooked. The battle against illiteracy affords us a special opportunity to demonstrate the importance of libraries and librarians. Literacy is already a grave concern. When almost half the high school students in areas such as Chicago, Detroit, and New York drop out of school, and many of those who remain graduate without passing a reading proficiency test, society has a problem. Or when AT&T must interview over 50,000 candidates to find 2,100 who are qualified to fill entry-level jobs, again society has a problem. It is becoming extremely difficult for officials to ignore the fact that our country is educationally at risk. How can librarians contribute?

Research demonstrates that reading to children decreases the likelihood that a child will grow up illiterate. Why not then expand and intensify what we already do well—reading to children? A future slogan might be: “Reading and Librarians— Giving Youth an Edge for Life.” ALA is best suited to provide professional leadership in this effort.

ALA is currently concerned about improving the information literacy of students and citizens. I hope more academic librarians become directly involved in this effort. If we are unable to attack the problem of illiteracy during the pre-school and early elementary school years, there is little hope that many students will ever care or be able to become information literate by the time they complete high school. As academic librarians, we too have a stake in this battle.

ALA can make a difference in championing the causes that excite and concern librarians. I decided to run for the Presidency because I’m committed to the profession and presumptuous enough to believe I can make a difference. I will need your support in order to win.—Richard M. Dougherty, Professor, School of Library & Information Studies, University of Michigan, 500 E. University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1092.

Irene B. Hoadley:

As an academic librarian, I find many issues that are important for today’s libraries and librarians. My platform for the office of ALA President centers on several of these key areas.

The dissemination of government information is a pressing issue today. There is a movement to have government information disseminated by the private sector, and the profession has chosen to fight that stance. Government information should continue to be distributed without cost to depository libraries. However, I am enough of a realist to know that we are probably fighting a losing battle to have all government information at no cost to libraries. If government information is separated into two categories—one which is distributed by the government and the other by the private sector—then there are two courses of action. What is issued by the government should be without charge. What the government will not produce should be handled by the private sector. Statistics are a good example. It would be better for the federal government to contract out those publications so the data would be available. The federal government will never have the funds to publish everything they have. If the private sector does not provide it, the information is not available. It is better to have the information available at a price than not to have it available at all.

As an academic librarian, I have a long-standing commitment to the profession as a strong proponent of faculty status. Librarians who are actively engaged in scholarly research and in professional activities often contribute more to their institutions and to librarianship. While faculty status is important to some academic libraries, for others there are other types of status which make them partners in the organizations in which they work. This is an area where ACRL has taken a strong role and should continue to exercise leadership and guidance. In the end it is really the recognition of and respect for the role of librarians which is important.

Perhaps what I believe in most is the future. The present is stimulating because there are so many new things happening which have been made possible because of technology. Libraries have become a world of magic where anything is possible. Ahead lies the task of implementing these advances and reshaping the image of libraries to dynamic, exciting organizations which change to meet the information needs of the various publics they serve. The future can be what we let it be or it can be what we make it. I want to help shape the future of libraries by being one step ahead and that means moving in the fast lane. I would like to see ALA move faster too. ALA must be in the forefront making the future happen. To accomplish this end, strong leadership will be needed.

A critical issue for academic libraries is funding. As campus competition for financial resources increases, it is essential that the library be prepared to support its needs in an effective way. Funding will not come automatically because libraries are “good things.” And as many institutions become more “state assisted” rather than “state supported,” there is an increasing need for supplementary sources of funding. Librarians will need to be hustling for the dollars. There will be more emphasis on fund-raising to build endowments, to fund nontraditional services and to build collections. Sources of gifts will also become more diverse from football bowl proceeds to class gifts to gifts from Mothers Clubs. Successful programs will provide a new visibility for libraries which in turn should enhance funding.

Technology has brought great changes to most academic libraries. With technology has come enhanced access to library materials in all formats and subjects and a new image in the eyes of many users of an upscale, modern environment. Technology is also providing the basis for networking and building cooperation and coordination among libraries because of the accessibility of sharing data. This is both a blessing and a cross; a blessing in that sharing of resources is increasing and a cross because of the cost of sharing resources.

Academic librarians have an opportunity now to influence and shape libraries of the future. We had a similar opportunity about 25 years ago with the introduction of automation, but we did not seize that opportunity. We took automation and superimposed it on our manual systems assuming that what we did was good and right. As a result we have simply automated what we did rather than looking at how technology might have helped libraries to change. We should not repeat this a second time.

Academic libraries and therefore ACRL do have some special problems that we must address, but equally important are the issues that affect all types of libraries. These are the similarities that bind us together to provide the dissemination of accurate and timely information in the pursuit of knowledge. ALA allows us to seek common goals, solve common problems and pursue common aspirations. I want the opportunity to influence these issues by serving as President of ALA. To do this I need your vote and your support. But ALA also needs you, so it is especially important that every member exercise his/her right to help select the next President of ALA.—Irene B. Hoadley, Director, Evans Library, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.

Hannelore B. Rader:

During its Fifth National Conference held in Cincinnati this month, ACRL celebrates a century of accomplishments, leadership, progress and cooperation related to academic and research librarianship. Throughout 100 years of growth and development, ACRL has supported academic and research librarians in problem-solving, training and continuing education, and in addressing challenges, especially during times of change. As the professional association for academic librarians, ACRL has successfully developed a model organization, which is fiscally sound, features strong leadership and has the largest membership for an ALA Division. Academic and research librarians also receive support and guidance from ACRL through an outstanding national and international publication program, which has had an immense impact on higher education and scholarly activities through Choice and Books for College Libraries. ACRL’s list of accomplishments is long and distinguished. I am indeed proud to have been a member for more than 20 years and honored to have been ACRL President in 1986/87.

As we embark upon ACRL’s second century, we as academic librarians will continue to face major challenges. Among these challenges are:

1) adequate funding for collections and services;

2) ensuring access to information;

3) ensuring an information literate citizenry;

4) building coalitions with other agencies and organizations to help solve problems within higher education;

5) becoming more visible in the community by improving the image of librarians;

6) quality library staff;

7) performance standards for libraries and librarians;

8) increasing the number of minority library professionals;

9) integrating new technology and new information formats into libraries;

10) cooperation between libraries and computer centers; and

11) copyright as related to resource sharing and electronic information formats.

There are many other challenges I could add to this list. The point I wish to make, however, is that it is obvious that we must work together to address all of them. Given ACRL members’ excellent track record, I am confident that solutions will be found.

The question then becomes: how can I as Vice- President/President-Elect help ACRL, and ultimately ALA, address these challenges?

I will work for continued access to libraries and information by all citizens, regardless of economic status, race, sex and age. I will work on providing more opportunities for minorities to enter our profession and for them, and other young professionals, to become more involved in ACRL and ALA. Above all, I will try to form new, and strengthen old, coalitions with social and public agencies and groups to improve learning environments on all levels, and particularly in urban areas.

The challenges we must face as academic librarians are not isolated; on the contrary, all librarians will have to face them in a variety of ways, and it is through cooperative efforts among all libraries that we will be able to meet them. ACRL’s relation with ALA, therefore, must continue to be strong and vital. ACRL must continue its excellent leadership and sharing role within ALA.

I think that my 20 years of ACRL/ALA leadership experience qualifies me to provide the crucial guidance to address our many challenges. I offer the membership a record of hard and successful work, and creativity and vision, for libraries in the 21st century.—Hannelore B. Rader, Director of Libraries, Cleveland State University, 1860 E. 22d St., Cleveland, OH 44115-2403. ■ ■