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July 13, 2004
The ALA is opposed to torture
The American Library Association passed a resolution at its annual meeting opposing torture. I wonder if they oppose cancer and beating children as well.
Who could possibly be in favor of torture (or cancer, or beating kids)? More importantly what the heck does it have to do with libraries? Are people being beaten for overdue items? Are people chained to the walls and shocked for not having change for the photocopier. Break the spine of a book and they break your fingers?
No of course not, the ALA is just up to its usual nonsense again. The Social Responsibility Round Table (SRRT) is the nuttiest group in the ALA. They don't limit themselves to library related issues they think they are responsible for the whole world. You don't see the American Dental Association taking stands like this, nor the American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association, The Modern Language Association; no they all stick to their basic purposes.
While I don't suggest that people not take stands to oppose the abrogation of Human Rights, I simply suggest the ALA limit itself to library related topics.
This is nothing new for the ALA, but it overshadows the good works the ALA does. The find it @ your library, and programs to encourage reading are fine programs. Librarian scholarship funds are great, as are continuing education opportunities. However the ALA has become less library related and more of a left wing political organization - especially in the last few years.
This is really disappointing to those of us who belong to the ALA for other reasons. I belong to keep current in my chosen profession, librarianship. I belong to meet other librarians and discuss our work. I belong because it is almost a requirement for one's résumé. I don't belong to see early releases of Michael Moore's propaganda films, nor to support the librarian of Berkeley who would rather go to jail than comply with a court order issued pursuant to the USA PATRIOT Act.
There is nothing wrong with any of these things, there is nothing wrong to being opposed to torture - indeed even I am opposed to torture. However the ALA is an organization for libraries (and since there is no organization for librarians) the people who work in them. Why has it given way to a political agenda? How remarkably unfortunate that is.
Posted by Matthew at July 13, 2004 04:35 AM
Comments
Notice how those other professional organizations seem to be functioning well enough to lobby for better pay for their members? ALA must have a lot of time on its hands to be out fighting so many battles that have nothing to do with well run libraries.
Posted by: Norma at July 15, 2004 10:21 PM