“CLA is the national public voice for Canada’s library communities.

We champion library values and the value of libraries.
We influence public policy impacting libraries.
We inspire and support learning.
We collaborate to strengthen the library community.

Executive Council is looking for your ideas and suggestions as to how CLA can best implement this draft mission to make it a reality.  Comments welcome!”

That the executive can be so self-congratulatory given the issues that surround the profession shows how disconnected they are from the activities of librarians and from those of us entering the field who are worrying about the perceived value of librarianship in the 21^st century.

You can’t promote libraries without promoting the people who work in and run these libraries (including administrators). Institutions are just lifeless buildings; it is people that animate them, innovate within them, advocate for them, and give them meaning and purpose. By turning their backs on people, the CLA ignores what libraries are really about, and the people who make them function.

But looking beyond the content of the draft mission, the CLA executive should have communicated to its members BEFORE drafting the new mission to ask for input. This is token representation and it should trouble any active CLA member.

Note that the executive asked only for comments on the new mission and suggestions on how to implement it. This implies that the executive has already decided on the mission and that the role of members is merely to accept it and support its implementation. Comments are welcome, but this language does not show real interest in input from membership. Instead of asking for comments after the fact, why not collect some data by polling members to see what they really want the organization to be? Why not have a forum discussing the issue at the CLA conference this summer? Why not ask librarians who are not currently members of the CLA for their views in order to increase membership and strengthen the association?

Two answers jump to mind: perhaps the executive thinks that this process would take too much time and effort, or perhaps the executive is uninterested in creating a mission that reflects what it’s members and potential members want. Neither of these is acceptable. These are our leaders: we should expect more from them. CLA could strengthen the library community by demonstrating democratic values and operating in a more ‘bottom-up’ fashion. Good leadership involves modeling the way for others. CLA should be teaching new librarians how to lead in this new century, and they should be an example of making decisions based on sound data.

Of course, if the membership was properly consulted, maybe those of us advocating for change would be drowned out by those who want to maintain the status quo (we hope not), but until CLA actually collects some data, how can they presume to make decisions about the mission and goals of the organization? Why not try to create something that librarians across the country actually want to be a part of?

We strongly suggest that CLA members voice their displeasure with this new Mission Statement and demand more from their association. Please share your thoughts on the CLA listserv and ensure that the CLA’s mission reflects the values and role that you believe CLA should have, and that it inspires new librarians to join and help develop the association and the profession.

Andrew Lockhart and Peggy McEachreon, PLG London.

• Western, UofT sign agreement with Access Copyright

Below, I have tried to summarize some of the notable responses, blogs, and objections that have arisen in reaction.

While several post-secondary institutions declared they would not sign the licence and would end their relationship with Access Copyright, UWO and U of T announced two weeks ago that they had signed agreements.  Howard Knopff, Sam Trosow, and the Canadian Association of University Teachers explore the recent decision here:

• U. of T. and Western Capitulate to Access Copyright – Howard Knopf
• Toronto and Western sign licensing agreement with Access Copyright – Sam Trosow
• BACKGROUNDER: University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto Agreements with Access Copyright

The text of the agreement signed by U of T can be found here.

The decision to sign the agreement was carried out without consultation of the Western student body and provoked rebuke from the Western USC here and from the Canadian Federation of Students here.

When the tariff was initially submitted to the Copyright Board of Canada in March 2010, it provoked immediate concern.   It features large royalty increases, attempts to rollback user rights, and claims compensation for uses not covered by the Copyright Act.  Over 100 objections were filed with the Copyright Board in August 2010 from groups including the CLA, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations.  Some of these objections can be found here:

• CAUT-CFS Objection to Access Copyright Tariff
• CLA Objection to the Tariff

Notable bloggers including Michael Geist and Howard Knopf summarize and break down the objections to the Access Copyright tariff here:

• Access Copyright’s excessive $45 per university student proposed tariff  – Howard Knopf
• Should Canadian Universities Walk Away From Access Copyright? – Michael Geist
• Students and Teachers File Joint Objection to Proposed Access Copyright Tariff  – Sam Trosow

Additionally, Professor Sam Trosow provides background and explores the problems associated with the tariff in two detailed video presentations below:

• Bill C‐32 and the Access Copyright Tariff: Double Trouble for Educators and Students
• Bill C-32 and the Access Copyright Tariff: Still Double Trouble for Higher Education

“What we try to do through displays is to bring awareness to different issues and to allow people to educate themselves through access to our collection. We try to do topical displays of various sorts and something like the Occupy movement allows us to bring material from different bits of the collection together into one cohesive place.”

The article continues: “Caloren stressed this wasn’t LPL taking a stand on the movement, but rather only about raising awareness. “That’s sort of how I saw it,” he said. “I tried to make it so it was sort of obvious and that it had a large amount of material that people could, if they wanted to, educate themselves.”

Read the full article here: http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/2011/10/occupy-by-the-books/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17KmNqPw-TH3pIt0VPtXC3OTsKbKW-tcgJg2IVORLcnk/edit?hl=en_US

Cheers.

-Rob Johnston

There has always been a tenuous argument for the professional status of librarians. This was the case in 1876 and it is still the case now. When your teacher is not professional the youth suffer, and when nurses are not professional seniors suffer. But the powers that be don’t really see how professional librarians benefit everyone. I’ve always felt that professional organizations were there to advocate for the professionals they represent.

It is perfectly clear that the CLA is not a professional organization, or an organization of professionals. The Canadian Medical Association is an association of physicians, while the ALA’s mission is “to promote library service and librarianship.”

The CLA is not a organization of professionals. This was stated outright by Ms. Adams at the recent “Academic Librarianship – A Crisis or An Opportunity” symposium at the University of Toronto. And, as the FAQ on the Future of the CLA admits, most of the benefits of the work of the CLA accrue to libraries, and only “trickle down” to librarians. If they are going to then be increasing the percentage of funding from institutions, will these institutions not now want more for their money?

If this is something that we want to change, then it is something the membership needs to advocate for. Being a new and a solo librarian, I was and very much am outside the discussion of the future and restructuring of the CLA. Those discussions happen somewhere high up in the Executive (whose 2010 budget is 10x larger than the budget allocated to member services).

In the six or so years I have been a student, then a professional, I have been ambivalent about my CLA membership. Perhaps many people have their dues covered by their workplace, but that has never been the case for me and every year I have to judge whether it is worth it for me. And some years it is not worth it and I’ve let it lapse.

If we are wondering why people are not renewing their membership and the association is not making money, I think discussions like the PLG London post are very informative as to the cause. I am sure these issues have been discussed by those up the Hierarchy.

Nothing in this post is against any of the individual librarians I’ve met though CLA. You are all amazing.

Some additional thoughts can be found on Steven’s blog, Subject/Object.

UWO Librarians and Archivists, and their supporters, rally at the gates of the university on Richmond Street in London, Ontario.

The Canadian Library Association (CLA), which represents Canadian libraries and library workers who are members, sees itself as the “advocate” and “public voice” for the “Canadian library and information community.”¹ The association has a simple, straightforward² “Code of Ethics”

that outline the responsibilities of the CLA and its members. It is necessary for an association, especially one with members from disparate places and backgrounds, to have a clear code of ethics and responsibilities because it shows its members what the association stands for and what its role is. It is also necessary and expected that an association will follow through with their code of ethics by acting in accordance with them and advocating for causes that are in line with their ethics and mission. We should expect that an organization that represents Canadian libraries and library workers takes these ethical principles and translates them into actions.

However, recent issues, such as the cuts to the Toronto Public Library System, the librarian and archivist strike at UWO, and the altering of the mandate of Libraries and Archives Canada, show that the CLA chooses not to advocate and be the voice of the library community, but instead remains silent or attempts to be neutral. Meanwhile, unions such as the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) and the Toronto Public Library Workers Union (TPLWU) have advocated strongly for the continued importance of libraries. Because of this, librarians and library workers should put their time and energy into working with their unions, as these are the organizations that take a real stand to protect libraries, the people who work in libraries, and the values that the CLA themselves seem unable or unwilling to defend. Furthermore, a national professional organization should be created so that librarians can better coordinate and advocate on behalf of the profession.

Let’s begin by looking at the CLA’s ethical standards. The CLA’s “Position Statement on Code of Ethics” dates back to 1976 and is reproduced in its entirety below:³

Members of the Canadian Library Association have the individual and collective responsibility to:

1. support and implement the principles and practices embodied in the current Canadian Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom;⁵
2. make every effort to promote and maintain the highest possible range and standards of library service to all segments of Canadian society;
3. facilitate access to any or all sources of information which may be of assistance to library users;
4. protect the privacy and dignity of library users and staff.

The most important point for the purposes of this discussion is number two: it indicates that promoting and maintaining the highest possible standards of service is a principle that the CLA and its members have the responsibility to uphold. Taken broadly, this means that the CLA should be an advocate for the importance of libraries in our society, and the improvement of the quality of our libraries. But the text also says that “every effort” should be made to uphold those highest possible standards: this means that according to their ethical standards, the CLA has a responsibility to do more than just advocate or release statements, but to pursue every avenue that is available to promote and protect libraries. These assertions are further emphasized by the CLA’s stated mission, “CLA/ACB is my advocate and public voice, educator and network. We build the Canadian library and information community and advance its information professionals.”⁵ The ramifications of these statements seem fairly straight forward: for example, if a Library was being threatened with significant cuts or a closure by a municipal government, the CLA and its members should do everything they can to “maintain the highest possible range and standards of library service to all segments of Canadian society.” At a minimum one would imagine that this would involve a strong statement of support for the Library and its staff, but it could also mean financial support or lending resources and expertise to help the Library and the members of its community promote the Library and fight against the proposed cuts.

Toronto Public Library cuts

Moving beyond our theoretical example, we can look at recent events to see if the CLA upholds its “Position Statement on Code of Ethics” and its stated mission. The first issue to examine are the cuts to the Toronto Public Library System proposed by the administration of Toronto’s Mayor, Rob Ford. These cuts provoked a huge public response, criticism from public figures such as Margaret Atwood, and a great deal of negative coverage in the press.⁶ The Toronto Public Library Workers Union has been instrumental in coordinating the response to these proposed cuts and increasing the public’s awareness of the issue. The union operates a blog⁷ that has almost daily updates on the Toronto library cuts and advocates that the Toronto city council listen to the overwhelming support that the people of Toronto have shown for their libraries. TPLWU has also sponsored the site Our Public Library,⁸ which acts as a nexus of information on the issue and provides ways for people to support the cause by sending letters to public officials. TPLWU has also produced many press releases, such as the recent “‘No interest in public opinion’ by Toronto Public Library board members…”, where their president, Maureen O’Reilly, strongly defends the library’s staff and collection:

“It is a shocking show of disrespect for taxpayers. Either that or these Board members are simply afraid to face the public after they voted to cut over 100 positions from an already overwhelmed library staff and also cut 27 per cent from the materials acquisitions budget, ensuring that the library collection will go downhill.”⁹

This type of advocacy is in line with the second point of the CLA’s “Code of Ethics”: these cuts will certainly damage the quality of services at TPL and represent a devaluation of the profession of librarianship as a whole. Meanwhile, I was not able to track down even a statement from the CLA: if they are attempting to “make every effort to promote and maintain the highest possible range and standards of library service”, they are certainly very shy about doing so on this issue.¹⁰ The only thing on the CLA’s website relating to the Toronto cuts is a news post saying that the former head of the CLA will be discussing the issue on CBC’s The Current.¹¹This lack of a response is disappointing. As mentioned above, cuts of this magnitude would certainly affect the standards of service and the CLA’s Code of Ethics indicates that they should be involved in this issue.

Library and Archives Canada’s restructuring

However, to give the CLA the benefit of the doubt, another issue can be examined. According to Library and Archives Canada’s biography of Daniel Caron, current Deputy Head and Librarian and Archivist of Canada,¹² in 2010 he “launched [a] modernisation initiative in order to ensure [Library and Archives Canada] would be able to embrace the multiple challenges of the digital environment.”¹³ In a “Backgrounder” document, the CAUT indicated this “modernisation” threatens LAC’s health through restructuring, cuts, and changes to its mandate.

In May 2009, LAC announced a ten-month moratorium on all purchased acquisitions. While the official moratorium was lifted in January 2010, acquisitions have not resumed. Holes in LAC’s collection are the result of this cessation of acquisitions and will be difficult, if not impossible, to restore retroactively.¹⁴

CAUT also launched a national campaign to protect and support LAC.¹⁵ The campaign’s website provides tools to help people become informed about the issue and take action by sending letters to members of parliament. These actions by the CAUT show that the organization is actively involved in protecting our national library and archive from cuts and reorganization that would reduce the quality and service of this institution. Meanwhile, CLA President Karen Adams wrote a response to the CAUT Backgrounder. Instead of decrying the cuts, Adams writes that:

While the [CLA] shares some of the concerns outlined in [CAUT] correspondence, particularly in the areas of acquisitions and the provision of services by qualified professional staff, we also understand that Library and Archives Canada must adapt to the digital age and address competing demands from its mandate as well as from the political realities of the day. With all federal departments facing increased scrutiny and requirements to produce significant budget reductions, LAC has to make difficult decisions with regard to its collection and services.¹⁶

Despite acknowledging that the changes at LAC will affect the quality of service, Adams concedes that “political realities” necessitate these changes. Looking back at the CLA “Code of Ethics”, one can’t help but think that this letter does nothing to help “promote and maintain” LAC’s level of service. CLA seems eager to capitulate to the government’s changes to LAC and unwilling to advocate for LAC or attempt to incite the public to demand that the government support LAC financially. This again shows that the CLA either ignores its own Code of Ethics or that it is unable to put this Code into practice.¹⁷

UWO librarian and archivist strike

Another issue that recently arose was the strike by librarians and archivists (who are members of CAUT) at the University of Western Ontario in September 2011. CAUT Executive Director James Turk argued that the strike “is another example of the challenges faced by academic librarians as they resist attempts by university and college administrations to devalue librarians’ work and jobs”, while affirming the importance of the profession of librarianship, “Librarians play a vital role for faculty and students, and their having decent and fair working conditions is crucial in sustaining high quality education and research in our universities and colleges.”¹⁸ CAUT also provided a million dollar donation to the striking workers’ fund. This level of support is expected: CAUT is after all a union protecting and supporting its members. But saying that the union has a vested interest in the strike doesn’t negate their advocacy for librarians and the support that was shown. Compare this with the CLA response: UWO Professor Sam Trosow wrote a letter to the CLA listserv that provided an update on the UWO situation and gave a number of suggestions for ways that members of the CLA could support the striking workers.¹⁹ Trosow characterized the strike as “a situation where librarianship is under attack” and called for “a better and more coordinated response.” He asked that the CLA leadership “issue a statement in support, [because] it’s important that our professional associations support their members.” The response from CLA President Karen Adams was the following:

In any case of negotiations between institutions and library staff, CLA encourages both sides to work in good faith towards fair and equitable settlements that ensure the on-going provision of quality library services to users. As the Canadian Library Association, we count both libraries and all those who work in libraries as members. We cannot and will not indicate support for one side over another in the case of dispute or strike. Each situation involving negotiations is unique, and must be resolved with respect to local circumstances. (Italics added for emphasis.)

Despite not protecting libraries in the previous examples, Adams uses the need to support both the librarians and the library (i.e., management) as the CLA’s reason for not providing a statement of support. Again, the the CLA seems unwilling to address issues that are affecting the health of the profession, its workers, and its libraries.

After looking at these examples, one would be justified in asking “What exactly would it take for the CLA to take a stance and defend libraries?” The only recent statement that they have on their website that condemns an action²⁰ is on the destruction of the People’s Library at Occupy Wallstreet in New York City.²¹ This suggests that in order to provoke the CLA, one must deliberately physically destroy a library; from the Toronto example “destroying” a library through cuts and branch closures is not enough to justify a statement.

By looking at these three issues, it is clear that the CLA is unable or unwilling to put its Code of Ethics into practice. Meanwhile, the CAUT and other unions are not just strong voices in support for librarians and library workers, but also libraries as a whole. Based on this, there is no point in trying to improve the CLA’s Code of Ethics or attempt to make the CLA follow these statements: the CLA has shown that it is not interested in representing librarians through its inaction and complicity on issues that its Code of Ethics indicate it should be actively promoting and defending. This may seem like a harsh judgement, but the CLA has no excuse: how can we not judge it for not upholding its own values? Why should we continue to support an association that does not support us? Instead of trying to overhaul the CLA, librarians interested in protecting and promoting the profession should spend their time and energy within the organizations that are already doing this work: their unions. CAUT and TPLWU have both shown that they will come up to bat on library issues and that they are capable of translating their support for librarians into real activism.

While I do see value in the CLA’s present activities, librarians have been left without a unified, national voice. If the CLA is unwilling to fill this role, a new national professional organization that can be a real voice for librarians and take on the critical issues facing the profession should be created.

Notes:

In response to this: “The final vote on the library’s budget is scheduled for City Council’s next meeting on January 17 – 19. Despite a massive outcry by Torontonians, and a new report that shows the city will have a 2011 surplus of more than $150 million, our cherished public library system is still facing a 10% cut. A cut of this magnitude would close several neighbourhood branches, drastically reduce hours of operation, slash programs and cut librarian and other staff positions.” (Maureen O’Reilly OurPublicLibrary.to) PLG formulated the following statement:

Keep all Toronto Public Library branches open. Keep them public. Please continue to fund your libraries! The Toronto Public Library provides free information and recreation services. Without TPL, what recourse do citizens have to meet their information needs?

Public libraries are more than the collections they house: they are vital community spaces that provide free and equitable access to information; they provide a space where people can connect with each other and their neighbourhoods.[1] Recent research (2007) on public libraries in the US commissioned by the Urban Libraries Council documents a “shift in the role of public libraries — from passive, recreational reading and research institutions to active economic development agents”[2]. This same shift is occurring here in Canada. It is important that our municipal, provincial, and federal leaders are aware of this.

Mayor Ford has stated that he is a “believer in building better communities through community action”;[3] he is passionate about “promoting the positive development of youth.”[4] Public libraries play a significant role in community action and the positive development of youth. Closing library branches and reducing services will result in the removal of access to free information services for Torontonians. “The combination of stronger roles in economic development strategies and their prevalence… make public libraries stable and powerful tools for cities seeking to build strong and resilient economies.”[2] In other words, having multiple branches is good for the city.

The City of Toronto must reduce its costs to avoid a $774 million budget shortage.[4] However, cutting funding to the Toronto Public Library could prevent the city from balancing its budget. Research has proven that for every tax dollar spent on public library services, the community receives close to a five dollar return on investment.[5] As a result, cuts to the city’s public library system could also decrease tax revenue for the city and make it more difficult for the city to balance its budget.

The Urban Libraries Council commissioned report highlighted 4 ways in which a public library contributes to the economic well-being of a city:

1. Early literacy services contribute to long-term economic success
2. Library employment and career resources prepare workers by training them in new technologies
3. Small business resources and programs reduce barriers to market entry
4. Public library buildings are catalysts for physical development [2]
(For further details on these points, please follow this link to the 35 page report.)

The Progressive Librarians Guild – London Ontario Chapter beseeches Toronto City Council to keep all 99 branches of the Toronto Public Library open, to adequately fund the branches so they can maintain accessible hours for patrons, and to support and celebrate the services provided by library workers to their communities. Further, we urge Toronto City Council members to begin working with TPL — take advantage of the amazing potential your excellent public libraries provide. Your public libraries can be your partners in community and economic development in Toronto.

[1] Toronto Public Library: http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/about-the-library/mission-vision-values/. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
[2] Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development. Research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1001075_stronger_cities.pdf Retrieved January 9, 2012.
[3] City of Toronto: http://www.toronto.ca/mayor_ford/index.htm.  Retrieved July 30, 2011.
[4] Ibid.
[5] City of Toronto: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewPublishedReport.do?function=getAgendaReport&meetingId=5052. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
[6] CUPE: Nova Scotia Provincial Library: https://www.library.ns.ca/content/use-public-libraries-hard-economic-times. Retrieved August 4, 2001.