ALCTS Network News v6n10 (September 27, 1993) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/ann/ann-v6n10 ISSN: 1056-6694 ALCTS NETWORK NEWS An electronic publication of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services Volume 6, Number 10 September 27, 1993 In this issue PLMS/RLMS ISSUE STATEMENT ON BYLAWS SUMMARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO STUDY SERIALS CATALOGING ************************************************************************** PLMS/RLMS ISSUE STATEMENT ON BYLAWS [Editor's note: This is the text of a letter sent by the PLMS and RLMS Executive Committees to all members of ALCTS beginning the week of Sept. 13.] The Executive Committees of PLMS and RLMS urge you to vote "no" on the special ALCTS ballot on the new set of by-laws. They drastically change the organization by eliminating the sections that are the center of our ALCTS identities as specialists in acquisitions, cataloging, collection development, preservation, and serials. They concentrate leadership in the hands of half a dozen people. They bear almost no resemblance to the OSTF report, which has been thoroughly discussed and disseminated. Instead, they are the last minute thoughts of the Organization and Bylaws Committee, presented to you for vote with no public hearings. DO WE NEED COMPLETE REORGANIZATION? The new bylaws address a crisis that is invisible to many members. ALCTS as currently structured serves its members well in many ways. The advocates of change have not made clear what works and what doesn't, nor have they identified where the problems originate: in the sections? in central ALCTS? at the ALA level? They haven't tried to correct those problems within the current structure. Voting "yes" is throwing a healthy baby out with the bathwater. LOSS OF IDENTITY The sections in ALCTS have served an important role by giving librarians with functional specialties a place to work together on issues related to their jobs. Forums are supposed to replace sections and provide an identity for our communities. But in the bylaws forums have no assignments, no powers, no purpose, no function. Their leadership will not be chosen by mail ballot of all of ALCTS; only people actually attending a conference will vote. Communities are formed by groups with shared activities and goals; forums have neither. Such a formless, unempowered entity cannot nourish an effective community or a sense of identity. Sections now serve as the training ground not just for the future leadership of the ALCTS but also for the future leadership of our cherished libraries and information organizations. In eliminating sections you eliminate a primary means for many library staff to acquire the skills necessary to advance in their home institutions. DIS-EMPOWERING THE MEMBERSHIP The issue of empowerment is primary. In the proposed organization all power and authority rest in the hands of eight people (six directors-at-large, president, vice-president) rather than being shared by over fifty people as in the current structure. This can in no way be characterized as member "empowerment"; rather, it is a deliberate attempt to limit the input members can have in management, planning, and fiscal issues. Interest groups and forums must petition the ALCTS Board for permission to exist. All committees will report to the board. The past-president will serve as the chair of Organization and Bylaws, further concentrating the power of the organization in a few hands. A vote in favor of the bylaws endorses the move away from self-determination. INBRED LEADERSHIP Some members complain that it is difficult for new people to become active because the ALCTS establishment generally appoints/nominates only people they already know. The new structure will increase the inbred nature of the ALCTS leadership. The vice-president will make ALL appointments to committees and task forces. How can one person know about all interested and able members who want to contribute their valuable efforts to the work of the division? TIMELINESS OF ACTION There is strong concern over a lack of timeliness and responsiveness now in ALCTS. The bylaws make ALL committees, forums, and other groups report directly to the Board. Actions which require Board approval will need Board discussion during conferences. In ALCTS now there are about sixty committees (excluding executive and 'bureaucratic' committees). If even half of these continue, an incredible bottleneck to action could quickly develop as the Board attempts to deal with all of those reports directly rather than through section chairs. Timeliness is essential in planning programs and other events. ALCTS now sets the time tables, while section committees do much of the work. The proposed bylaws don't address how these matters will be handled in future. Attendance at programs, preconferences, and institutes is one of the most valued activities for ALCTS members. Should we not at least have a description of the new procedures before we vote to destroy the old ones? We are all aware that ALCTS needs to change. But it needs to change for the better. Creating an improved ALCTS is possible, but these bylaws are not the way. We urge members to vote against the proposed changes to the bylaws, and we further urge them to take up the challenge to find how we can best create the dynamic, flexible, and useful organization we all want. ************************************************************************* SUMMARY REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TO STUDY SERIALS CATALOGING The first meeting of the ALCTS Serials Section Committee to Study Serials Cataloging, was principally concerned with the upcoming reconfiguration of the Committee and the dissolution of the Serials Section. The Committee may continue as a serials cataloging discussion group under the direct auspices of ALCTS. These changes may be implemented within one to two years. The other important issues discussed included planning for a preconference or series of regional institutes, the schedule for format integration, and efforts to establish a liaison relationship with the cataloging discussion group of NASIG (North American Serials Interest Group). The meeting was held on Sunday, June 27, 1993, from 11 am to 12 pm, at the 1993 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. At the Committee's second meeting, format integration was discussed again, and it was announced that it will not be implemented until 1995. Organizational structure issues regarding the Committee and the Section were revisited. A resolution of appreciation for the efforts of former longtime LC Liaison Dorothy Glasby was presented to the group by the Chair. Liaison reports followed, including those of the Acting LC Liaison, the CC:DA Liaison, and a Committee Intern who attended relevant MARBI meetings. Items reported on were those related to cataloging of serials. Highlights from these reports include: LC is considering not using uniform titles for serials that are translations or other language editions. They are also reviewing a draft Rule Interpretation that reduces the number of added entries needed for variants of variant titles. A specific question, submitted by Patricia McCoy, D'Angelo Law Library, University of Chicago, concerning changes of frequency statements within serial titles was discussed; a recommendation for LC to draft a rule interpretation to alleviate this problem was made, and representatives from LC agreed to look into the matter. Submitted by: Carolyn Havens, Auburn University, Committee Intern INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBTAINING THE FULL MINUTES Complete minutes of this meeting are available from ALCTS. 1) Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (Legal-size) to: ALA/ALCTS, 50 S. Huron, Chicago, IL 60611. (specify which meeting you are interested in) 2) Obtain the minutes electronically by the following method: Send the below message to: LISTSERV@UICVM (A "Subject:" line is not necessary; however, whatever you put there will not affect the request.) send serials report Just type the above message. No punctuation or other text should be in the message. Do not add your address; it is automatically identified when the request is received. If you have problems, request assistance from your local systems or computer center personnel or contact the ALCTS Office. Procedures for receiving file transfers may vary depending on your e-mail system. ************************************************************************* ************************************************************************* ALCTS NETWORK NEWS (ISSN 1056-6694) is published irregularly by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, a division of the American Library Association. Editorial offices: ALCTS, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; Jennifer Younger, President; Karen Muller, Executive Director. Editor: Karen Whittlesey (u34261@uicvm); Editorial Advisory Board: Liz Bishoff, Jennifer Younger, Robert P. Holley; Editorial Assistance: Karen Muller. ALCTS NETWORK NEWS is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the division. News items should be sent to the editor at the e-mail address above. To subscribe, issue the network command "tell listserv@uicvm sub alcts [your name]." Back issues of AN2 are available through the listserver. To find out what's available, send the following command to LISTSERV@UICVM: send alcts filelist. Send questions about membership in ALCTS to the ALCTS Office, u34261@uicvm. All materials in the newsletter subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or education advancement. For other reprinting or redistribution or translations, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions, 50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611. *************************************************************************