ALA Councilor Annual Report 2004

This year the South Carolina Library Association, through the ALA Councilor, spearheaded a movement to recognize the work of Joyce Claire Parks. As a result, Memorial Resolutions were passed by the South Carolina Library Association, the Southeastern Library Association and the American Library Association. Ms. Parks was a professor at Bob Jones University in Greenville for over 50 years and Parliamentarian of the American Library Association for the better part of a decade. She offered workshops to SCLA, The State Library’s Trustee Institute and other South Carolina library-related organizations. As a result of her position with the American Library Association, she became the highest profile South Carolinian among the officers of ALA during her tenure.

Throughout the year, the ALA Councilor apprised the Executive Board of Activities of the ALA Council. Chief among those activities were the debated issues of RFID technology in libraries, the fate of imprisoned Cuban librarians, and the revised Core Values Statement (see attached). Another issue, brought to Council floor by South Carolinian Dwight McInvaill of Georgetown, was the report of a taskforce that voiced concerns of rural libraries across the United States. This initiative was well received by Council.

Occasionally, the ALA Councilor distributed information on these and other topics to the SCLA listserv. Meanwhile, the Councilor attended the Mid-winter Conference in San Diego, California, and the Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. At both Conferences, the Councilor voted on issues, representing the Association’s viewpoint to the extent possible. He reported these votes to the Executive Board and they are listed at http://www.ala.org. In addition, the Councilor addressed Council at Conference and via the ALA Council listserv.

The Councilor attended workshops designed for new and returning Councilors at both of the ALA Meetings during the year.

Respectfully submitted,

Norman Belk
ALA Chapter Councilor 2004
South Carolina Library Association