ALA-APA External Relationships Task Force

Summary Meeting Notes
April 2, 2002

Discussion Question: What kind of relationships between ALA and outside organizations currently exist?

• Lorelle Swader, Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment Director (HRDR) provided an overview of human resources-related relationships between HRDR and the International Personnel Management Association (IPMA) and Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

  • The majority of the relationships between ALA and outside organizations are informal.

  • Information is shared about a variety of topics of mutual interest including, staff recruitment, education, life long learning opportunities and best work practices.

  • Most of these societies meet annually at the time and place of ALA. On occasion, ALA staff attends these annual meetings, synthesizes meeting notes and shares this information with ALA, including places information on the ALA website.

  • In addition to being an ALA member, those ALA members to whom such connections are also appropriate, are encouraged to join these groups as well.

External Relations Breakout Sessions:

1. Conduct a review of current collaborative relationships ALA has with Affiliate Groups—in general and with specific library associations, other societies and organizations, including involvement by ALA Offices.

   1. Lorelle Swader and Vivian Pisano will:

      • Review and determine the IRS status as stated in the articles of incorporation of ALA affiliate organizations, particularly those listed on pages 142-143 of the Handbook.

      • Recommend a communication plan that includes information about a proposed approach to transition ALA into an APA organization, provide strategies for affiliates to get involved in the analysis of impacts, needs assessment and implementation plan.

   2. Lorelle Swader and Michael Goldrick will:

      • Review how the American Health professionals of the Medical Library Association handle their external relationships. Determine the IRS status of MLA as compared to 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organization.

   3. Margie Axtmann will:

      • Study the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL) past coalition building activities with other library associations including the American Library Association around issues that include: information policies, employment, pay equity, education and certification.

      • Review the results of 1^st and 2^nd Congress on Professional Education, including recommendations contained in the final report to see if overlaps and/or opportunities for APA external relations. (Margie will work in conjunction with Lorelle.)

   4. Lorelle Swader will:

      • Disseminate for an External Task Force Member review, the 1998 Status Report of ALA Relationships with outside organizations.

        • Consider this document or a similar one as a potential Transition Teamwork plan item.

        • Explore how APA may chose to build and maintain external relationships with other associations, including, the American Psychological Association, Medical Library Association, the International Personnel Management Association (IPMA) and Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM).

2. Enhanced Opportunities for APA to work in collaboration with Labor Unions on behalf of all library employees

   1. Diane Fay and Ray Markey will:

      • Contact ALA/AFL-CIO Joint Committee, particularly AFSCME representative (William Wilkinson), to get an assessment of the impacts of APA on relationships already established.

      • Work in conjunction with William Wilkerson, Karen Nussbaun (AFL-CIO, Working Woman Director), Anthony Sarmiento (AFL-CIO Education Director and ember of the RUSA Library Services to Labor Joint Committee) to explore enhanced opportunities for APA to reach out to and work in collaboration with SEIU (Service Employees International Union), NEA and other unions to resolve and be supportive of support staff issues as well as other concerns that are of mutual benefit to librarians. Identify potential opportunities.

      • Make a “placeholder” Transition Teamwork plan item to follow-up contact with the soon to be developed AFSCME’s National Committee of Library Workers as a potential link to APA. (Diane Fay)

3. Further Follow-up with Transition Team Task Forces:

4. Membership Task Force—Anne Sparanese will:

   • Contact Leslie Burger to consider including representative affiliate associations as a separate or inclusive focus group.

   • Suggest that a review of membership dues categories to include the consideration of affiliate organizations to receive ALA services on an optional APA cost/benefit basis. For example, registration services for national conferences, mid-winter and annual meeting support and other transitional services, in general would be provided on a fee basis.

5. Governance—Vivian Pisano and Lorelle Swader will:

   • Consider surveying current affiliate groups to assess organization needs/ challenges/ issues and opportunities using the Bob Doyle email as a model.

6. Certification—Diane Fay will:

   • Shared a concern about the issue of “certification” and the hidden barrier caused from inappropriate use of these credentials. Diane will forward the concern and companion court case to Barbara Stripling for further consideration.