[Michlib-l] MI-ALA discussion

Thu Jun 26 14:04:24 EDT 2014

I strongly echo Larry Neal's sentiments and hope my Academic Librarian
colleagues will continue to be a part of MLA.  We would greatly miss you
and all the wonderful skills and expertise you bring to our organization if
you were to no longer participate as MLA members and leaders.

Jocelyn Baldwin, MLIS
jmb.mlis at gmail.com

Youth Services Librarian
Baldwin Public Library,
Birmingham, MI

Substitute Librarian
Clinton-Macomb Public Library
Troy Public Library
Bloomfield Township Public Library

 From: Larry Neal <lneal at cmpl.org>
> To: Stacy Nowicki <Stacy.Nowicki at kzoo.edu>, "mi-acad-dirs at mcls.org" <
> mi-acad-dirs at mcls.org>, "michlib-l at mail.mcls.org" <michlib-l at mail.mcls.org>
>
> Cc: "cwolford at wayne.edu" <cwolford at wayne.edu>, "Asante Cain \(
> acain at grpl.org\)" <acain at grpl.org>
> Sent: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:03:18 +0000
> Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] MI-ALA discussion
>
> > Hi Stacy,
> >
> > It’s nice to hear from someone from the academic community regarding
> MI-ALA. Frankly I've been extremely disappointed by what I’m reading about
> MI-ALA on several levels:
> >
> > *Process*
> > ·         MI-ALA indicates this issue has been around for the past 5+
> years. An issue of this seriousness should have been brought forth at one
> of the association’s annual meetings; it was not. A special meeting of the
> membership is another option; I’m not aware of any attempts to call such a
> meeting.
> > ·         As a former member of the Restructuring Task Force that was
> formed after MLA nearly went bankrupt, as a past MLA president (2008-elect;
> 2009-president; 2010-past-president) who was heavily involved in the
> revision of the dues structure to ensure MLA’s long-term financial
> stability, I can assure you that there was good representation from the
> academic community during all of the discussions and decision-making.
> Ultimately our members voted to implement both of these major changes.
> > ·         I can also attest to the fact that the issues referenced by
> MI-ALA were never brought to my attention as MLA president.
> >
> > *Collaboration*
> > ·         The absence of many academic colleagues involved in MLA in
> the future could be a serious detriment to the Michigan library community.
> One simple example is MLA’s Leadership Academies, which over the years have
> created long-term networking and friendships between academic and public
> library professionals.
> > ·         I have personally found more opportunities to come to know
> and collaborate with my academic colleagues at the state level through MLA
> over the national level.
> >
> > *Advocacy*
> > ·         Advocacy is every library professional’s job, from page to
> director to dean, whether it’s legislative, administrative or in a social
> setting.
> > ·         Every library in Michigan has MLA to thank for MeL funding at
> the very least. Just 5 years ago the legislature went on a library funding
> cutting spree and we fought back (publics and academics) and have succeeded
> far beyond most people’s expectations.
> > ·         The current legislative power in Lansing is not based in East
> Lansing or Detroit. In many instances it comes from small communities in
> towns many of us have never heard of. While most of those communities don’t
> have an academic library, they most likely have a public library and a
> natural advocate that MLA can work with to influence a potentially powerful
> legislator.
> > ·         MI-ALA makes a brief reference to donating to MLA’s advocacy
> efforts. Advocacy is a full-time job, important in a crisis and even more
> important when there’s not a crisis and can’t be funded on a whim.
> > ·         If MI-ALA forms as a 501(C)(3) there could be serious
> limitations on how much may be contributed to advocacy.
> >
> > *MLA Operations*
> > ·         As the chair and a member of MLA’s Legislative Committee I’ve
> worked closely with Gail Madziar and found her to be extremely organized,
> professional and receptive of constructive feedback. We are lucky to have
> her as our Executive Director.
> > ·         I’m not familiar with the details surrounding the move of
> MLA’s offices, but this was an item that had been under discussion even
> when I worked with Gretchen Couraud as president back in 2009. This isn’t
> the first time the office has moved and I find the spinoff of MI-ALA to be
> a far more serious challenge to communication than separating the offices
> from MCLS.
> >
> > Last, I am very disappointed about the example MI-ALA leaders are
> setting to newer professionals about how to constructively resolve
> conflict. I encourage my academic colleagues to continue their support,
> membership and active involvement in MLA and to build on our success
> together.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > --Larry
> >
> > -----------------------------------------------
> > Larry P. Neal, Library Director
> > Clinton-Macomb Public Library
> > 40900 Romeo Plank Road
> > Clinton Township,  MI 48038-2955  USA
> > (586) 226-5011    |   (586) 226-5008 – fax  |  lneal at cmpl.org
> >
> > Library millage proposal – please vote August 5 -
> http://www.cmpl.org/millage/
> >
> > President-Elect, Public Library Association
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org [mailto:michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org] On
> Behalf Of Stacy Nowicki
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 3:37 PM
> > To: mi-acad-dirs at mcls.org; michlib-l at mail.mcls.org
> > Subject: [Michlib-l] MI-ALA discussion
> >
> > I haven't seen much discussion on these listservs about MI-ALA, which I
> find curious.  Since it wasn't widely disseminated, I would just like to
> point out Veronica Bielat's open letter to the steering committee here:
> >
> >
> http://www.miala.org/updates/minkinr/mi-ala-purposes-organization-are-now-open-your-review-and-input/
> >
> > I remain concerned about starting a new organization without the
> infrastructure MLA can provide. If we want more opportunities for academics
> within MLA, then we have to participate -- not withdraw.  Further, MLA's
> efforts to support public libraries also support academics -- the kids who
> use public libraries become our students, after all.
> >
> > Stacy
> >
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Dr. Stacy Nowicki, Ph.D., J.D.
> > Library Director and Title IX Coordinator Information Services Kalamazoo
> College
> > 1200 Academy Street
> > Kalamazoo, MI 49006
> > voice: 269.337.5750
> > fax: 269.337.7143
> > email: Stacy.Nowicki at kzoo.edu
> >
> > green dot: a single choice in one moment that makes our college safer
> http://www.livethegreendot.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Michlib-l mailing list
> > Michlib-l at mcls.org
> > http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
> *------- End of Original Message -------*
>
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