Heyo from KCMO. Kaite Stover, Kansas City, MO, C-a-L

Hi Wanda

Hello! Barbara McGary, Chapter Councilor, PA

Hello Everyone from sunny but still a little chilly NH! Thanks for joining us today!

Greetings, fellow Councilors!

Sara Dallas, Councilor at Large

Hi from Sonoma County! ALA Exec Board member.

Hello. I am Jackie Bryant, ACRL Division Councilor

Hello! Diane Chen, AASL division councilor, from Nashville TN

Hi all, Alanna Aiko Moore, Councilor at Large, from San Diego CA.

Hello friends, Wendy Stephens, GNCRT councilor

Hi Ed Sanchez from Milwaukee. Councilor-at-Large

Nick Tepe, Ohio Chapter councilor

Hi everyone! Kim DeNero-Ackroyd, Councilor at Large from Cleveland Heights, OH

Hi everyone! Brenda Ealey, Chapter Councilor, Nebraska

Hello! Kimberly B. Knight, Councilor-at-Large from Virginia Beach, VA

Matthew Bollerman, SustainRT Councilor

Joy Panigabutra-Roberts. Councilor-at-Large. Knoxville, Tennessee. Hello All.

It this discussion about Council or Board?

The current size is appropriate. Not all of us think that it should be smaller

+1 John

I agree, John

I agree with John,

Leaner and more efficient.

Hi -- Aubrey Iglesias, New Mexico Chapter Councilor

+1 Deb

Hi Everyone, Ana Elisa de Campos Salles, Councilor-at-large for a few months more and Executive Board.

Welcome, Sarah-- glad to see you here

I do not believe the current number of councilors is appropriate. It is too unwieldy. I would like to see a leaner and smoother council. The last several ALA Council meetings have NOT proven to me that the current model is working.

can you tell me what you mean by Unwieldy?

+1 Kaite

I've been on Council continuously for 18 years. Clearly it's working for me

If you include every state and territory you are already at 57, and this is why I suggested reducing to geographical regions so that there can be more at large councilors than merely 6. Also, with virtual why should a large council be such a problem?

Jennifer, the fact that we are here in THIS meeting speaks volumes to me.

If virtual attendance is going to be an option, and council will be advisory, then I could see where ALA can grow to be larger to allow more representation from different groups.

Jennifer, also unwieldy=not easily managed, handled, or used. See Websters

At our last meeting we numbers in 80-90, I would like to see a number about 110 or so. I also do not believe that one chapter councilor should represent several states. The work of of ALA at the local level is done by the states. Our state associations are vital to ALA

I think 100 is manageable, with all the currently "named seats" plus about 20 at-large members. Definitely keep all the chapter councilors. I don't know why the regionals would be added. The NALCos.

What if there were 30 at large councilors

+Victor

Each Councilor-at-Large based on her/his background, experience and affiliation brings something different to the table. As colleagues say present structure has proven itself to be quite efficient for solving a number of important issues.

+1 Ann and dorcas

What are the demographics of ALA membership? Does the model 1 reflect the membership?

As an at-large councilor I found it difficult not to be “responsible” to some group such as a chapter, a round table.

+1 Muzhgan

Ann, 30 or 40 seems more reasonable than 6! And I understand every state chapter is critical, but I did not like the 57 versus 6 number TAG is suggesting.

Great question, Sara! Are we member reflective?

+ 1 Ann

+1 Ann

Yes, the beauty of running for a Councilor-at-Large apart from representing a group or chapter that you run as independent candidate and you bring different and inoenedent perspectives

It was in the Chat

+1 Ann

Amy did not use that term, it came up in chat.

How many staff vote in general elections in which councilors-at-large are elected? What percentage of membership actively participates in the election the at-large councilors?

Alaska will never have enough ALA members to meet the threshold that some would like however we a vibrant state library association and a slew of challenges including intellectual freedom, serving small communities, etc.

D'oh - members not staff

At the same time all Councilor-at-Large are affiliated with ALA's different groups. so it is a double benefit for the Council.

When I was an at-large councilor (2012-14), I used twitter and blogs to report out constantly….

Totally agree with my LOC colleague! Thanks, Joan!

When you are an at-large councilor, and your name is widely listed, ALA members seek you out -- it is hard to designate that it is a specific constituency. But people have issues that do not necessarily fit into a "designated" slot, and they want to talk to someone about it.

+1 Sarah

When I was at large - I communicated w a variety of groups including my state and nonALA groups such as BCR.

I am a Councilor-at-Large and I use my experiences as a member of the Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services, Association of Rural & Small Libraries, and the NY Library Association in addition to my work with 48 public libraries and public library systems across NY State to help inform my decisions and votes in Council.

Yes, Sarah-- that's what I was about to say. As a councilor-at-large, I feel that I represent any ALA member who contacts me. I was elected from the entire membership

Absolutely, dear John!

+1 John

+1 Keturah. Councilors-at-Large are also directly elected by membership, which is the most democratic approach to representation.

1+ John

We have caucuses now - Youth Council Caucus is open to all always.

As a councilor at large, I represent the small rural, small urban and small suburban public libraries; and of course I have my interests in core values, Intellectual Freedom and Advocacy

How frequently are CaL's contacted by general membership (by folks they hadn't met in person) to express interest/concern about Council decisions?

As a Member at large= MAL I feel like I can speak to anyone about ALA

Exactly, Erica! You better articulated what I was trying to say earlier!

I find this research cited: “Dunbar’s number,” which is based on research by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar who claims that the optimal size of communities, and even business organizations, is approximately 150 members."

And as a CAL I am also contacted by members from throughout the association, especially disability librarians/workers who have no other rpresentation

Don't forget the 150 Dunbar number

how bout 37 to round out to 120?

When ALA members at conference become aware that I'm a councilor, they often speak to me about concerns, Admittedly outside of conference, it does not happen often

Is the number of CaL's the issue, or are we maybe saying we need better communication opportunities between CaL's and general membership?

Maybe a more formal system?

Hopefully the Pause Polls will give us a system to hear from members

Very good observation, Pauline

Perhaps an electoral college model?

This kind of discussions make our voices and opinions heard and shows that we really need a wider representation

Deb are you serious?!

+! Lorelei, as I am Chapter Councilor from Idaho.

Totally agree with Lorelei

I liked what Joan was saying about caucuses, I think that facilitating that sort of organization within council would help with the advisory role, and if Council is not having to manage the government and policy business we would be able to really focus on the issues that we’re facing and coming up with creative solutions through caucuses or other new ways of organizing our work.

+1 Lorelei

+Lorelei

Aren't we discussing our options?

Council can have more Caucus and Task Forces

+1 Nick

Exactly, Lorelei. I was glad to see TAG’s recommendation that preserved representation of councilors from each of the state chapters.

Thanks, the “smaller” states need a voice too.

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Ed!

Going back to what Sara (I think) said earlier about demographics, I wonder if we could structure it so that the nominating committee refers to the organization’s professional demographics when making nominations for the at-large seats?

+1 ED

Good point, Ed!

Also as a member of Council, I hear and learn from the discussion.

🏆

yes, Jennifer! and it is two way communication. We also bring Council knowledge back to the groups we are affiliated with.

So what I am hearing is that 6 is too small a number. What about going to 25? That would bring council to 108. Still large enough to have diverse representation,

Why can't we reduce the number of Councilors at Large by making those positions regional? And - here's an unpopular thought - base it on population? Each state would have a councilor, but this would reduce the number of councilors as a whole

@Amy - something like that seems wise.

I like that idea on reducing council size gradually that Joan suggested\

25 too small representation

Elected from the AASL membership or the AASL board?

An proposal from the WTTF Resolution - Council suggest that their was a penalty for not coming to Council. that you might want to consider

Please remember NALCo is not an official term...JCLC affiliate might be more appropriate?

Thanks, Amy

thanks, for that

Ok, thanks Lee!

Agree LeRoy

Nalco’s - I would like to understand more where this term came from and who are the Nalco's

Anne: https://www.jclcinc.org/about/

All members of the executive board, will need to be ALA members, correct?

Ann, the National Associations of Librarians of Color (NALCo)--AILA, APALA, BCALA, JCLC, REFORMA, CALA

@Sarah Yes, ALA membership would be a requirement

Thanks, LeRoy

+1 Liana -- I worry about EBD being too "designated." It needs to speak with broad concerns at hand.

+1

+1 Sarah

What are the suggested terms for the Board, non-officers?

Having served on the Executive Board, I find that the current size is effective and appropriate

Wasn't the "all voices" the original purpose of Council itself? And that's why Council needs to e larger?

+1 John

What about some seats be voted on by Council?

Brenda's comment about fiscal management is important *if* the Board is going to meet in person 4 times per year. It, just like Council has been twice a year, is a sizeable expense. if only one in person mtg per year then a slightly larger Board/Council may be doable.

Great points Nick

Great point Susan!

Thank you, Betty

Hear, hear. Thank you Betty Turock!

Yes Betty Thank you

Bylaws committee is mindful of what Jennifer raises!

after all of this conversation about the expense of governance I would hope we aren't planning to ask the membership to pay for room board and travel for 25 people four times a year. shouldn't this body meet virtually?

+1 Tara

You said it, Tara

+1 Sara

In addition to conference meetings, the Board has all day meetings twice a year. Doing this virtually is simply not practical

Agreed, Joan.

Executive Board: we have lived through 2+ years of virtual. I don’t see virtual as a way for the Board to be effective and I also think that the size of the board should stay at 121

Before there was Zoom, we had monthly conference calls also

12 not 121

+1 Ann

Yes, John agree but we were often taking up issues that couldn’t wait for a next meeting and issues based on policy in place.

Expense is always going to be a barrier to serving on the Executive Board if ALA isn’t paying.

when are meeting again?

when are WE meeting again? sorry

I believe Exec Board and Council would continue to meet virtually or hybrid with one or two in person meetings.

How is TAG going to use today’s discussion? Al Kagan, SRRT

+1 Diane

+1 Diane

Spot on, Diane!

Thank you, Diane, for this important message

There are lot of allied fields that librarians fill, that maybe ALA can be a voice for too.

+1 Tracie

Thanks, Tracie!

Thanks Tracie, Amy, TAG and the wonderful assembly of voices here today!

I'm speaking at a DC Librarian event about how ALA Works and advice about going to Conference in DC in June.

I will respond more next conversation-fyi

Does have anyone have a slide deck I can use? Please send it my way boettcher@georgetown.edu

Thanks, TAG and fellow councilors and ALA staff!

Have a good afternoon! Thanks for the conversation.

Thank you Amy, TAG for all your work!

Thanks for the excellent discussion and background work!

I do appreciate all the discussion today!

Thanks, all!!

Jennifer-- check with Conference Services-- they may have something

Thanks, Amy and everyone else!!

Thanks Amy and TAG!

Thanks everyone!

Once again, thank you TAG and ALA staff for all of your work on this

Registration links for those session will be sent soon

Thank You TAG...lots to reflect now that conversation one has happened

I will ask on Connect.

Thank you, Amy and Tag Team!

Important stuff, thanks so much