New ALA e-Government subcommittee; AASL can submit names for possible membership March 17, 2008
Posted by Sara Kelly Johns in : Check this out! , add a commentIf you have an interest in e-government, would like to participate in the committee described below, and will be in Anaheim and can attend the subcommittee’s meeting, please contact me <johns@northnet.org> before the end of the week (by March 22) with a message describing your experience and interest. The decision about who will represent us will be made next week.
It’s a great opportunity to get involved in an ALA committee if you are interested in e-government.
ALA Committee on Legislation’s new “Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on E-Government Services,” would like to create a committee that is comprised of people who have some knowledge of E-Government services and who are eager to work with a diverse group of people from many different ALA units. The draft charge of this subcommittee is:
to develop policy recommendations, legislative proposals and other strategies for the ALA Committee on Legislation related to the role of libraries and the delivery of E-Government services to the American public. The subcommittee shall seek involvement from the broadest range of interested units within ALA and promote collaboration to determine and meet the needs for policy, training, research, legislation and other activities related to libraries and E-Government services.
We have a chance to send in names for this. Anyone will be able to participate on the subcommittee’s wiki. This is a large issue, affecting many areas of the library world in different ways and we want to ensure that everyone’s perspective is heard.
This sub-committee will be meeting at Annual but the subcommittee will begin its work before the conference. We need to make our recommendation very soon!
MEET AASL: The Intellectual Freedom Committee
Posted by admin in : AASL Committees, Community , 2 comments What is the Intellectual Freedom Committee?
A group of six school librarians and college faculty working in school library programs (plus a chair and 2 AASL liaisons). We work together to carry out the Committee Charge: to gather, prepare, and disseminate information on Intellectual Freedom issues and available support services pertinent to school library media programs.
How does the Intellectual Freedom Committee fit into AASL?
Over 70% of all challenges to books and other resources occur in schools and school libraries.
What does the Intellectual Freedom Committee do?
We:
- Gather, prepare and make available materials advising school library media specialists of available services and support in formulating Intellectual Freedom policies and for resisting local pressure and community action designed to impair the rights of others.
- Work with the ALA Intellectual Freedom Office and with the Freedom to Read Foundation in gathering information as requested and responding to issues and concerns.
- Provide technical assistance to the AASL Intellectual Freedom Award Committee.
What are 2-3 goals you have for the Intellectual Freedom Committee for 08-09?
- Review and revise the resource guides available for school librarians on the AASL website.
- Gather, prepare and make available materials advising school library media specialists of available services and support (1) in formulating Intellectual Freedom policies and (2) for resisting local pressure and community action designed to impair the rights of others.
- Revise the AASL Intellectual Freedom brochure and make it available in PDF format for downloading
- Plan/initiate monthly intellectual freedom themed postings on AASL Forum, AASL Blog, and Hotlinks (this is where I come in).
In a perfect world, what would you like the Intellectual Freedom Committee to be/do?
I (Clover Taylor, Committee Member) guess if this were a perfect world, we wouldn’t need an Intellectual Freedom Committee! Or our task would merely be to celebrate all the freedoms being excercised in all our schools and libraries!
How can I get involved?
Watch for and respond to AASL Forum and blog postings. Report assaults on intellectual freedom to the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. Right now the committee is at capacity, but there will likely be openings in the future. When the AASL President sends out her appeal for participation, put this on your list of committee interests.