Minutes of the 20th Annual Meeting of the
Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians
Wednesday, July 12
Welcome to the 20th ASDAL Conference was given by Maynard Lowry, ASDAL President; Niels-Erik Andreasen, President of Andrews University; Keith Clouten, James White Library Director and Linda Mack, ASDAL 2000 On-Site Coordinator.
Maynard Lowry talked about changes in the field of Library Science over the past 20 years. Technology has changed the way we do things. This is our 20th conference and one of our largest conferences with the most international librarians in attendance.
Niels-Erik Andreason said he had spent many hours, during his academic studies, working in libraries. He worked at the James White Library under Mary Jane Mitchell, as well as the library at Vanderbilt University. He thought it very fascinating that in the ancient world clay tablets had to be burned in fire so they could last, but today if you add fire to books they are gone. His recommendation is that we go to the library to meet people who lived long ago.
Keith Clouten remembers his first ASDAL conference in 1968. It was the largest gathering of Adventist Librarians, and he was the only international librarian there. He was welcomed to the meeting by Mrs. Mitchell, the former director of James White Library. At this meeting today we have at least 20 international librarians.
Linda Mack expressed her thanks to the On-Site Planning Committee - Kathy Demsky, Cynthia Helms, Jess Oliver, Sabrina Pusey, and Steve Sowder. She mentioned the passing of Dr John Waller (professor of English, emeritus), who had been a member of the faculty at AU for many years.
Maynard Lowry introduced the keynote speaker. Dr. Garland Dulan is a sociologist by profession, and has worked at La Sierra University and Oakwood College.
Dr. Dulan brought greetings from the General Conference Education Department and from Dr. Humberto Rasi, the Director. Dulan said over the last several years he has started to think more seriously about missions. "If what we do cannot center around the mission of the church, then we need to rethink what we do." In 1990 the SDA church had 50 institutions of higher education. In 2000 there are 95 colleges and universities.
Growing up, his impression of the library was that it was a place to read books and be quiet. All workers were females nearing retirement age. The library gave the impression of a dark, closed atmosphere, where librarians were constantly watching over the books to ensure that no one confiscated any of them. It was also a place where you would get answers to times past, but very little information on clues to the future. It was very user unfriendly.
Today he views libraries as active learning environments, repositories based on a continual renewal of information. They are more user friendly, providing access to knowledge, opening windows to the world. Librarians are seen as resource persons. He also recognizes that libraries face many challenges-keeping up with the rapid growth of information, finances for the ever increasing cost of library materials, security issues, copyright issues, deteriorating books, etc.
His job takes him to many SDA institutions overseas each year. The demand for Adventist Education is overwhelming in many areas. The library resources and trained library personnel are inadequate. He challenged all librarians in attendance to consider ways in which our expertise and the resources of our libraries can be used to bring developing Seventh-day Adventist institutions across the world into contact with the services provided on our campus. There is a great need to connect French-speaking institutions with materials in French. Outreach to institutions in developing countries can be a new mission for SDA libraries in America and in other developed countries. He said "your arms may be short, but in God's hands they can reach around the world."
Respondent: Hernán Hammerly, River Plate Adventist University
Hernán pointed out that conditions are very different in each academic library on the international scene. In many college and university libraries in the international fields, people are assigned to these positions without the proper training. He emphasized that librarians should educate their constituency on the role of the library in education. For the survey team that comes to the library, make sure you have all their books and materials published available in your library. For those serving on survey teams, never say the library is adequate. Always give suggestions for improvements for the library. If this is not done, then the administration will consider everything okay in the library for the next 10 years.
He stressed that we have a big challenge. How can ASDAL help the international librarians? He suggested that it would be a good idea to have librarians exchange services for short periods of time.
Respondent: Adu Worku, Pacific Union College
Adu mentioned that he has become, by design, a bridge between the super highway and the dirt roads. While he sat and listened to Dr. Dulan's speech, he dreamed that someday we would put "W" (meaning World) on ASDAL and on ALICE to make it truly an international association. ASDAL has to create a link with the church at large. Critical mass speaks volumes to vendors. ASDAL is ready, but it needs partnerships. His great wish is that we move from talking to acting with partnerships with our church. We have to become one large consortium.
Dr. Dulan's response to both respondents was: "we need to think of ways to assist each other. If we work together we can provide better service with the resources we have, e.g. help in training librarians, or providing access to resources."
BREAK
Before the scheduled presentation there were comments by several. Dr. Dulan asked "if someone from an international library has a question about library technology, to whom would they go?" The answer came back quickly- Keith Clouten. Keith mentioned that librarians should also use the SDA library listserv. They will get answers.
Carolyn Gaskell mentioned that EasyProxy helps Walla Walla College's off campus students have Internet access to the library's resources. WWC has been using this system since the middle of the Spring Quarter (2000). She also mentioned the ORBIS group on the West Coast, where students and faculty send their Interlibrary Loan request directly to any library within the group for books they need.
Maynard Lowry pointed out that ALICE is associated with ICOLC, and he stressed the importance of staying in this consortium because of the clout they have with vendors.
Keith pointed out that Distance Education (DE) has been around for a long time. What is new in Distance Education is the Internet. Because of the Internet we now have a common global postal system; a global shopping center; a common global library and a common global university.
There are now several forms of DE. There are programs from traditional campuses, off-campus students in a traditional program, and virtual universities. Virtual Universities have been organized by for-profit and non-profit organizations. State legislatures are establishing virtual universities (e.g. Tennessee and Kentucky). Most do not grant degrees or offer courses, but function as consortia to provide services for existing public universities. The North American Division is in the process of establishing a Virtual University.
He highlighted the differences between Traditional Education and Distance Education
| TE (Traditional Education) | DE (Distance Education) |
|---|---|
|
|
DE presents new challenges for libraries. Since few online courses require reading lists or library research, libraries are often forgotten in the rush. There is a lot of uncertainty about how the library and its resources can be successfully integrated into an online format. In 1998 ACRL established Guidelines for Distance Learning Library Services, and there is also pressure from the accreditation bodies.
Adventist Libraries face several additional challenges related to DE. Students are distributed worldwide. Technology is a question of geography. Licensing issues. Lack of collaboration in Adventist Education. Some of the main reasons for lack of collaboration among SDA institutions are:
SDA libraries can collaborate for DE support. "Its what we do!" ASDAL has a proud history of collaboration with the SDA Periodical Index and ALICE (Adventist Libraries Information Cooperative). Some opportunities for global collaboration could include
PRESENTATION - PART 2 Presented by Peg Bennett, Southern Adventist University
Peg Bennett's presentation focused on ASDAL's cooperation in Distance Education. She emphasized that so far SDA library cooperation has resulted in the following:
As we begin the 21st Century what would be the next step for the members of ASDAL. She gave three vital requirements for success: change, flexibility and cooperation. She envisioned library support for Distance Education in the following areas:
| A list of software URLS mentioned in the presentation | |
|---|---|
| AOL Instant Messenger www.aol.com/aim | CoolSpeak www.coolspeak.com |
| ICQ www.icq.com |
NetMeeting www.microsoft.com |
| PowWow www.powwow.com |
Ivisit www.ivisit.com |
| EZ DualCam www.ezonics.com |
|
| To Subscribe to listserves | |
| Adventist Virtual Learning laboratory avll@egroups.com |
Tag Education avllTAG@egroups.com |
| Contact meggers@atie.org |
|
LUNCH
School Librarians had a concurrent session in the James White Library Instruction Lab. Presentations were made by Wolfhard Touchard, Andrews University "Wow! BOOKMARKS! Web Sites for School Libraries," and Ray Ostrander, Andrews University "Internet Resources for Librarians: Children's Literature (and other wonderful things)."
Wolfhard Touchard presented a list of over 100 web sites covering a wide range of subjects. (See them at http://www2.andrews.edu/~touchard/school-ly.html)
Ray Ostrander gave a list of sites helpful for School Librarians
Annette gave a brief history and geographical information of the Philippines. Libraries in the Philippines are regulated by laws. Librarians have to take a government examination to obtain a license to work in the Philippines.
Special problems facing the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (AIIAS) library:
She asked "if some of our SDA libraries cannot participate in automation and computer technology where does that leave them.?"
SOLUTIONS
Per remarked that in the UK the educational environment is in a changing mode. The reasons for change he categorized as the following:
Implications for HE libraries and librarians - "In serving a learning oriented society there are clear choices for library strategies on a spectrum from reactive provider of information to pro-active provider of learning services. In addition to the lifelong learning agenda libraries are also faced with an increasing pressure to make use of information and communications technology, reduced funding, and complex issues, such as copyright, associated with electronic publishing."
Het presented some results of her research on machine translation as part of her MA program at the Amazon Federal University in Brazil. The Internet is now the most modern way that people get information. The Internet integrates people from all nations and has become the fastest way of sharing knowledge. However, the use of different languages is still a consistent barrier for communication on the Internet. Several sites have attempted machine translation on the web, with varying degrees of success. Currently the best translator is still a real live person, but the technology is improving and machine translation will improve with time.
Examples of free machine translation on the web are:
Business Session I - July 12
Maynard Lowry, President, brought the session to order.
Secretary's report - Violet Maynard-Reid moved that we accept the minutes as printed in the Fall 1999 issue of ASDAL Action. VOTED
Treasurer's Report - Lee Marie Wisel moved that we accept the report as printed in the handout. VOTED
The Treasurer's report shows a net gain from the conference held in Montemorelos last year. It was moved to split the net gain between ASDAL and Montemorelos. Adan Suriano (Library Director at Montemorelos) will give instructions on how the funds should be distributed. VOTED
Tony Zbaraschuk asked about the Hilts Scholarship fund. Maynard Lowry explained that we have not awarded anything within the past 2 years, it is possible we won't continue to have funding from Mrs. Hilts for the Scholarship.
Chloe noted that ASDAL has been very generous in funding the Hilts Scholarship when the funds did not come in from the donor.
Both Jannith Lewis and Morris Iheanacho emphasized the importance of continuing the scholarship fund. Morris felt the membership needed to make a decision regarding the fund.
Jannith suggested that the Scholarship Committee meet and then bring information back to the session.
Adu Worku said it should not be left to the committee alone, but that it should come to the Business Session under New Business.
Norma Greaves suggested that another option to the Scholarship Fund could be a loan.
Adan Suriano expressed his thanks to everyone for the motion voted earlier. They will use the funds for a project in the library.
ASDAL Action Editor Report - Cynthia Helms expressed thanks to all the columnists for their contributions: School Librarians Column - Nancy Kim (4 years); Adventist Resources Column - Marilyn Crane (4 years); Preservation Corner - Randy Butler (2 years) and all those who submitted articles.
Accomplishments:
She challenged the incoming editor to continue to build the publication with more professional articles, and to pursue our application for an ISSN.
Cynthia moved that the editor's report be accepted. Moved and VOTED
A motion was made that we recommend to the Periodical Index Board that ASDAL Action be included in the index. MOTION DENIED
Someone asked how many SDA newsletters does the index include? Jim Ford responded that the ASDAL newsletter would fall in the ephemeral material and would therefore not be included.
Cynthia moved that the most current issue of ASDAL Action be made password accessible only to current paying members, and that older issues be available for anyone to access. Seconded and VOTED (23 for and 14 against)
Succession of President Report - Maynard Lowry explained the crisis faced by the resignation of Chris Cicchetti. One suggestion was that referral be made to the Constitution Committee for a clarification on how to resolve the issue should it arise again.
Adu Worku moved that the language in the constitution be clarified on how succession to a position is determined when someone resigns. Motion seconded and VOTED.
New Parliamentarian - Maynard announced that as VOTED by the Executive Committee, Steve Sowder is the parliamentarian for the Business Session.
2000 Election Ballot Results - presented by Maynard Lowry.
Nominations for the Resolutions Committee
Motion that nominations cease. Moved and seconded. VOTED
Nominations for the Nominating Committee
VOTED members for the Nominating Committee
ADJOURNED
After supper there was a meeting of the ALICE Board.
At 7:30 pm a tour of the James White Library - The New Adventist Heritage Center/Ellen G. White Branch Office, the Mary Jane Mitchell Multimedia Center Lab, the Instruction Lab, and some of the branch libraries. On the tour participants were given a demonstration of the new search software for the SDA Periodical Index.
Thursday, July 13
Devotional by Karen Abrahamson, Andrews University Seminary Studies
Adu gave a history of the PUC library. The current 32,000 square foot structure was built in 1958. The building is home to the Computer Center, the Learning Resource Center, and the Library. By 1967 the building was no longer adequate for the growing needs of the library. Plans were drawn up in 1967 and 1972 for a new building, but were withdrawn. They have been through several accreditation visits with no improvements to the building. The library is now the #1 priority for the Administration and the Board for a new building.
In California if you add more than 5% to a structure all the codes for the rest of the building have to be upgraded. The 42 year old structure cost $400,000 to build in 1958. Today the same structure in California will cost 6 million dollars. The reality of the cost has caused some administrators to reconsider what libraries should be like. The virtual library is here, but it is not replacing paper.
To convince administrators we need to be balanced. On the right is the Ludites and on the left are the techno-tyrants. Over 1.6 trillion pieces of paper circulate each year. This is not going to be a paperless society anytime soon.
Questions & Comments
Keith Clouten said that wireless technology has saved Andrews University millions of dollars in rewiring for computer access.
Chloe Foutz reminded us that in the advent of the credit card, predictions were that we were going to be a currency-free society, but there are no trends to stop building banks.
Adu was asked what is the proposed cost of the new library for PUC. He replied that for the 70,000 sq. ft proposed plan, the total project cost is $18 million
Most higher education institutions have technology support services, libraries, instructional labs, language labs, media services and telecommunication centers operating separately from each other. In the late 1990's some institutions changed this model, and established centers either in or near the library. This new model brought together staff and other resources from faculty development, library, and technology support organizations. These new centers have been referred to as Teaching, Learning, and Technology Centers (TLTCs). To varying extents, TLTCs use the principles on which most local Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtables (TLTRs) are founded.
A TLTR "is a diverse group that fosters discussion and provides recommendations to leading academic administrators about policies, practices, and resource allocation for the improvement of teaching and learning with technology."
A TLTC can be the venue for fostering more effective, long-term collaboration among different service units from different administrative parts of the institution. It is not advisable to include the entire staff of any service unit within the TLTC, but have representatives from some of the units working together on a daily basis. This can "help get beyond the usual separatist turf-defensive institutional culture."
For a list of guidelines and other information about TLTRs and TLTCs visit www.tltgroup.org
BREAK
Concurrent Session for School Librarians
| Services from college/university libraries | |
|---|---|
| Check-out Privileges | 4 |
| In-house Use of Materials | 6 |
| Reference | 6 |
| Info. Lit. Instruction | 3 |
| Use of Catalog | 5 |
| Access of Spec. Collec. | 4 |
| Online Searching | 4 |
| Interlibrary Loans | 1(minimal) |
| Photocopier | 5 |
| Use of Special Facilities | 4 |
| Other Services | 0 |
| Off-limits | 5/NO |
Josip's presentation started out with if's.
Would their great achievements still be available to us today?
He asked why bother? Why should we be concerned about preserving digital formats or whatever other formats we use in the future? Because of research done in graduate school at the University College London and the excellent presenters at the Digital Reality II conference he attended in June 2000, it has made him more aware of the need for preservation in this area of technology.
A digital library provides specialized resources and staff to select, organize, interpret, distribute, preserve and ensure readily affordable access for a specialized group of users. Digital material comes in various formats, and may or may not have a print equivalent. Digital material is vulnerable to media obsolescence, format incompatibilities, dependence on obsolete hardware and software, physical, chemical, and magnetic effects. Preserving digital material then means creating a product worth maintaining over time. The issues involved in the preservation of digital materials are longevity, quality, integrity and accessibility. It has been said that "digital documents last forever - or five years, whichever comes first."
Examples of lost digital documents:
Research dealing with preservation and access is an ongoing process for many organizations in the U.S., Europe, Australia, etc.
The solutions are varied, with some more practical than others.
For the future Josif asks "how can libraries, archives and other similar institutions cope with the increasing digital information? Will future generations be able to access our digital information at least in the same way we can access ancient manuscripts?" For his answer he quoted Stewart Brand "Exercise is always the best preserver. Major religious works are kept impressively persistent because each age copies, analyzes and uses them."
Comments:
Jim Ford - many of the digital formats are updated with the next format. Others are not, and the material they contain will be lost.
Maynard Lowry - migration in format is a real problem.
Randy Butler - from an archival point of view, once we loose the original it is gone forever. We are losing continuity with digital technology.
A web tutorial is designed to help library users search the library catalog, locate articles, search the World Wide Web, make interlibrary loan requests and develop search strategies. To develop and maintain a web tutorial is expensive.
To make web tutorials cost effective teach concepts and principles. Do not teach specific databases because they are constantly changing, and the cost to keep up with the changes is expensive. Secondly, begin simple. Look at what others have done, and develop a tutorial that matches the skill of whoever will be maintaining it. No matter how simple the tutorial, it is going to take a lot of time.
Creating the James White Library web tutorial was a six step process.
Marge Seifert then gave a presentation of the library tutorial that is being developed for Southern Adventist University. The tutorial is used as a supplement for English Composition II students. The listed goals of the tutorial:
LUNCH
Breakout sessions
BREAK
BUSINESS SESSION II
Committee Reports
Marilyn Crane (ARS) - Marilyn will continue as chair. She is very interested in any ideas the group may have for next year's program. Specific projects now in progress include Andrews who is working on the virtual SDA catalog, and Loma Linda who is working on a specific section of the SDA bibliography. All librarians are encouraged to collect historical material on their institutions, as well as collect Adventist resources in their local area. The Adventist Pioneer Library is working on the third volume of collections, which will include twelve volumes of the Review & Herald. The APL group is requesting any help we can give them to defray the cost of $25,000 to complete this volume.
Stan Cottrell (SDA Classification Committee) - The new edition of the classification schedules is ready and will be put on the ASDAL website.
Hernán Hammerly (Nominating Committee) - Provided a list of committees which will need nominees.
Loranne Grace (Site Planning)
Peg Bennett (Statistical Committee) - Recommended changes to the first four lines of the statistical report as follows:
Keith Clouten (Overseas Libraries Coordinator) - As the coordinator, Keith said he was happy to announce that this was the largest attendance of international librarians at an ASDAL conference in the U.S. When ASDAL was formed nineteen years ago it was almost exclusively a North American institution. The first significant development in the evolution of ASDAL as an international body occurred in 1995 when ASDAL met at Newbold College, England, at a gathering that was billed as the "first international congress" of Adventist librarians. Since that date a European Chapter of ASDAL has been formed.
After the Newbold conference, James White Library launched SAIL (Services to Affiliated Institutional Libraries) as a service to worldwide institutions affiliated with Andrews University. The services offered were acquisition of US published books, handling of periodical subscriptions, and distribution of donated materials. The response to the service was enthusiastic, and with some financial support from the university, SAIL opened its doors to any post-secondary SDA library outside North America willing to pay the $100 joining fee. By June 2000, SAIL (the acronym now standing for Services to Adventist International Libraries) has 34 member libraries on five continents. Since its beginning the SAIL program has handled more than $300,000 of book orders for overseas schools, and shipped over 28,000 pounds of donated library materials to its member institutions.
To coincide with the General Conference in Toronto, the ASDAL Conference at Andrews, and ALA in Chicago, the librarians at James White Library advertized a two-day intensive workshop "Library Foundations for a New Millennium," July 9-10, 2000, for international librarians. Twenty-one librarians from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the South Pacific, Central and South America pre-registered for the workshop, with actual attendance of 17, including two world division education directors. The workshop emphasized new technologies, but also covered topics of interest for international libraries.
Future Projects: from visits to SDA libraries abroad, and discussions among participants at the Library Foundations workshop he highlighted some needs.
Jess Oliver (Publicity Coordinator's Report) - An announcement of the D Glenn Hilts Scholarship was sent to the union papers and placed in ASDAL Action. A bulletin board poster advertising the scholarship was mailed to the colleges and universities. The main thrust this year was promoting this ASDAL Conference and the workshops and seminars. In December a press release was sent to the union papers and Keith Clouten produced brochures which he distributed wworldwide
Stan Cottrell II (Web Coordinator's Report) - This year the focus of his work on the ASDAL web page has been to clean up the HTML code of the existing files. He has worked with Allaire's HomeSite software and its HTML validator program, which has enabled him to "clean up" the web site so that pages will display without errors on multiple versions of various browsers. Plans for next year are to continue updating the content and to fill in missing areas. It is important that the membership supply him with corrections for inaccurate data or updates for various reports and lists.
Motion moved and seconded to accept the above reports. VOTED
Questions were asked about the Scholarship Fund. The concern is that we want to continue offering this scholarship, but how can we fund it. Maynard Lowry suggested that we could all contribute to an endowment.
Randy Butler said he believes it is the responsibility of this organization to maintain this scholarship. A lot of us are graying and we need to bring new members into the profession.
Tony Zbaraschuk said, speaking for the younger generation, he believes it is a worthwhile project. It would be better to establish an endowment.
Adu Worku pointed out that along with the scholarship idea, recruitment should be an important aspect of our association.
Chloe Foutz, chair of the 20th Anniversary committee, emphasized that there would be no better way of celebrating than by announcing a $20,000 endowment at the conference next year.
Randy made a motion that we commit ourselves to a 20th Anniversary endowment of $20,000. Moved and seconded.
There was discussion on incentives for raising the funds. Another suggestion was made about listing the donors on the web page. Lee Wisel and Jannith Lewis suggested that we should make the scholarship more than $1000.
Wolfhard Touchard suggested that we come back to the original motion made by Randy.
Motion VOTED
Randy suggested that the Scholarship Committee take charge of the publicity, mailings and other issues involved in getting the information out to everyone. The information will be referred to the committee.
Carolyn Gaskell (ALICE Report) - Representation from all the ALICE members were present, which was very historic. They welcomed their newest member - Montemorelos. Because vendors seem to be a bit more willing to talk about the possibility of accepting overseas libraries as part of the ALICE consortium, Joel Lutes, the new coordinator will be asked to work with Ebsco and Silverplatter to try and include more international members in ALICE.
ALICE appointed a task force to develop a demonstration project with a selected group of overseas libraries. The project will outlive and implement a plan for placing an appropriate, full-text database in those libraries. Those libraries will become a model for others. The task force will work with the GC and other entities to develop funding for the initial project. Libraries and their administrations would then need to commit to continued funding for access to the database in subsequent years.
Members of the task force are: Keith Clouten, Adu Worku, and David Rios. They will work with Dr. Dulan's office to identify appropriate libraries for the project.
In response to a request from the Adventist Virtual Library Laboratory (AVLL) group to provide assistance in acquiring electronic databases, it is recommended by the ALICE Executive Council that:
Motion moved and seconded. VOTED
ARIEL addresses will be collected and placed on the ALICE Web site.
Paulette Johnson (School Librarians Report) - there were no K-12 librarians in attendance, but there were five librarians interested in what is happening in the profession at that level, and they got together. Here are their recommendations:
Tony Zbaraschuk (Technical Services Report) - most of the discussion was about the internal processes. One librarian from overseas asked about the best type of system to use to catalog, and they suggested the Dewey system.
Marge Seifert (Public services Report) - the concern of Public Services librarians is marketing the library. The group discussed ways of marketing the resources available in the library to the campus and off-campus (distance learning) community.
Marley Soper (Library directors)
Distance Education
Motion seconded. VOTED.
Keith mentioned that this ad hoc committee would provide a focus within ASDAL of the needs, and dialog with the GC about these needs.
Ruth Swan asked that someone from Oakwood be included on the committee. Ruth Swan was nominated to serve on the committee. Moved and VOTED.
Maynard suggested that Ruth be the convener to call the group together, and the group will select a chair.
Statistical Report - Clarification was sought on some of the changes to ASDAL reporting requirements. Suggestions were made for the changing and/or dropping of several items.
Reports from International Institutions - Some of the international directors highlighted some of the issues that they face in their institutions.
ADJOURNED
Banquet - Berrien Springs, circa 1900. Bob Myers, Curator of the Berrien County Historical Association gave an entertaining slide presentation on Berrien Springs at the turn of the 20th century.
Friday, July 14
Devotional by Elder George Smith, Industrial Training Coordinator, Andrews University
Maynard expressed special thanks to Linda Mack, the AU site coordinator. He also told the group that this will be his last role as librarian in ASDAL. However as he takes on his new role as Vice-president for Development for La Sierra University, he will continue to work with ASDAL but not as a professional librarian.
Petronetta gave a short geography lesson on Trinidad. The study she did focused only on Public and School librarians, and was limited to the book collections. There were several objectives for the study:
She gave several definitions of censorship, with the basic reason being protection. Definitions were given for other terms associated with censorship: Intellectual Freedom, Self Censorship, Restrictive Access, Labeling, Expurgation, Book Selection.
Questionnaires were distributed to 33 qualified librarians (MLIS) employed in School and Public Libraries in Trinidad. The response rate was 65% from the sample.
Findings:
Public librarians expressed more anti-censorship views than school librarians. Librarians in Trinidad know that as professionals they should not censor, but they feel responsible for their young charges. Personal judgment rather than professional tenets sometimes guide their actions to censor.
Lauren started her presentation with definitions for intellectual freedom and censorship. Her definitions came from the American Library Association, the Concise Columbia Encyclopedia the General Conference, and SDA scholars.
A questionnaire was designed based loosely on Craighton Hippenhammer's survey of conservative Christian college libraries in the US and Canada in 1993. Hippenhammer's wanted to determine how Christian librarians handled objections to their collections.
Lauren's questionnaire was made available in English and Spanish. The questionnaire was sent to Library Directors of SDA institutions rated T-3 or above by the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook 1999. The survey was distributed by hand, e-mail, and post between June 1999 and April 2000 to libraries. She received a 52% return rate.
The results were distributed in the following way-
Two-thirds of the libraries had received materials challenges in the last five years. The types of materials challenged included books, videos, internet, periodicals and pamphlets. The challenges were dealt with in four major ways:
For those who had challenges to the Internet they have two options: Internet filters using the keyword method, or filters using site blocking. They both have advantages and disadvantages. Internet filters using keyword is very inexpensive and can be turned off. The disadvantages are that there are multiple meanings to words; keyword also slows the loading process and can shut down the computer.
Internet filters using site blocking means that humans make more of the decisions instead of the computers. The disadvantage is that good information may be lost if an entire site is blocked.
She gave some suggestions for responsible Internet usage.
Conclusions:
The question was asked whether we can establish a censorship policy for all SDA libraries. The response from two international librarians was no.
The issue of censorship means different things to different people in the US and on the international scene. As an SDA librarian working in or outside SDA institutions, there will always be a balancing act between morals and professional standards. Culture and background will play an important part in the way each person looks at the issues. Expectations are different in different countries of the world.
BREAK
Business Session III (Chloe chaired in Maynard's absence)
Chloe presented Bylaws--Article IV, section on Vacancies. Because of the unprecedented resignation of Chris Cichetti and Maynard Lowry, a void was left in the leadership of ASDAL. The Constitution and Bylaws committee decided that Gilbert Abella will become President and Annette Melgosa will become President-elect.
Jim Ford (SDA Periodical Index Board) - Jim gave a demonstration of the new version of the Periodical Index.
Loranne Grace (Site Planning) - The most likely dates at this point for the ASDAL Conference at PUC would be the week of June 18 or 19. Some will have a problem with charges for two conferences in the same fiscal year. The anniversary will be part of the conference, but every effort will be made not to make it overbearing.
Resolutions for ASDAL 2000
WHEREAS we recognize the contributions of those among us who have recently retired or are soon to retire-Shirley Cody for her 27 years of service to Walla Walla College's School of Nursing Library in Portland, Oregon, and Jess Oliver for her 19 years of service to the James White Library here at Andrews, IT IS RESOLVED that we show our appreciation for their years of service to SDA librarianship by asking the secretary of ASDAL, Violet Maynard-Reid, to send a letter of recognition to each expressing our gratitude for their dedicated and professional service.
WHEREAS some among us are retiring, yet others have been enticed out of the noble profession of Librarianship into the field of Development, namely, Maynard Lowry, Norma Greaves, Joyce Garrigus, and Sally Alger, BE IT RESOLVED that the number one task assigned to those who have moved into Development be the raising of much-needed funds for Adventist libraries at the start of the 21st century.
WHEREAS this ASDAL session was opened by the ASDAL President without the traditional sound of the gavel, perhaps because it has been archived or has undergone emulation or has been converted into microfilm or simply has been digitized, BE IT RESOLVED that ASDAL expend unlimited efforts in retrieving the original gavel to open and close its annual sessions.
WHEREAS this first ASDAL of the millennium is the largest ASDAL ever with excellent presentations, BE IT RESOLVED that ASDAL through a personal letter show its appreciation to each speaker listed in the printed program, and especially appreciation to Dr. Garland Dulan, who opened our eyes to the needs for adequate libraries servicing a worldwide educational system with 53,000 teachers and over one million students.
WHEREAS it seems that one speaker in particular, Adu Worku, despite his East African roots, lost sight of the concept of time zones and as a result missed the van leaving for ALA in Chicago (with a different time zone), BE IT RESOLVED that Adu be required to locate a book in his library explaining the concept of time zones, and read it. Alternatively, if the recent weeding program at PUC has led to a lack of relevant print material, then it is recommended that he be required to conduct an internet search.
WHEREAS our guest speaker, the afore-mentioned Dr. Dulan, stressed especially the dire needs of Wallace University in the eastern Congo, BE IT RESOLVED that ASDAL 2002 meet at Wallace University instead of at River Plate University, Argentina, so that ASDAL members have the privilege of undergoing the four-day trip to Wallace, taking off and landing on ungraded dirt runways, traveling by Jeep or Land Rover on rutted jungle roads, going through Army check-points, having luggage repeatedly checked for contraband, and finally arriving at a paradise school in the mountains, so that we can indeed appreciate the challenges of Librarianship in the "Developing World."
WHEREAS this first ASDAL of the new millennium has the largest representation of overseas librarians in its history, BE IT RESOLVED that we ask the ASDAL Secretary to send out letters of appreciation to Division educational directors (Dr. Garland Dulan and Dr Stephen Guptill) honoring their attendance at this historic event and assuring them that SDA librarianship in their respective institutions will be enhanced as a result.
WHEREAS the tee shirt worn by Adu Worku in his presentation (illustrating a stack of books) comes in five different colors and three different ties and the tie worn by Jim Nix (illustrating Shakespeare) comes in one size that fits all, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that we ask all library directors to wear such items, to remind them that books are not obsolete, but are here to stay.
WHEREAS we have been graciously treated with a wide variety of delicious refreshments at this ASDAL conference, we have enjoyed the fine audio system, and we have been regaled with the colors and graphics of Power Point and overheads, IT IS RESOLVED that we express our appreciation to all those who have made our meetings both enjoyable and esthetically appealing-Linda Mack as on-site coordinator and receptionist, Steve Sowder, Stanley Cottrell, and Joshua Baltazar as technicians, and finally Kathy Demsky and those who helped on the refreshments-by giving them a round of applause. In addition IT IS RESOLVED that we take Kathy Demsky's chocolate-chip cookie recipe and set up a company to market these cookies worldwide under the label "ASDAL Delites," hopefully rivaling Little Debbie, the proceeds of which are to bring in the $25,000 that the SDA Pioneer Library needs, to provide an extra $20,000 for the D. Glenn Hilts scholarship beyond the $20,000 we are providing, and eventually to fund new SDA library buildings around the world [starting with PUC]!
Resolutions Committee Members:
Paulette Johnson (reader of the resolutions),
Warren Johns, and Marley Soper.
Moved that we end the business session. VOTED
ADJOURNED
Sabbath, July 15 - Battle Creek Tour
Sunday, July 16 - Henry Ford Museum/Greenfield Village Tour
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For May 31, 1999 to May 31, 2000
Presented July 12, 2000
| Balance on hand May 31, 1999 | $4,755,08 | ||
| INCOME: | |||
| Dues | 1,195.00 | ||
| Subscriptions | 60.00 | ||
| Scholarship | 205.00 | ||
| '98 conference | 1,472.74 | ||
| '99 conference | 6,120.45 | ||
| Interest | 55.47 | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | 9,108.66 | ||
| TOTAL | 13,863.74 | ||
| EXPENSES: | |||
| ACTION | 698.46 | ||
| Supplies | 28.83 | ||
| Administration | 104.05 | ||
| '99 conference | 4,086.22 | ||
| Transfer to Savings | 1,542.74 | ||
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 6,460.30 | ||
| Balance on hand May 31, 2000 | 7,403.44 | ||
| Lincoln SDA Credit Union - March 31, 1999 | 4,859.92 | ||
| Interest | 198.88 | ||
| Transfer from checking | 1,542.74 | ||
| Lincoln SDA Credit Union - March 31, 1999 | $5,601.54 | ||
Last Revised February 2, 2001
