ALA Presidential Candidates Square Off
Staff -- Library Journal, 1/22/2001
The three candidates for presidency of the American Library Association squared off in a low-key forum at the Midwinter Meeting, all pledging to address pressing issues like diversity and salaries, but nevertheless revealing differences in perspective and background. William Sannwald, manager of Library Design & Development, City of San Diego, said that the ALA President has to react to public concerns about the need for libraries and access to pornography in them. While he called the national filtering bill "a tragedy," he said, "I also think that local libraries should be given the ability to adapt to local conditions." Alone among the candidates, Sannwald said he was refusing to spend money on his candidacy. Ken Haycock, Professor and Director, School of Library Archival and Information Studies, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, was asked whether his Canadian citizenship would detract from his effectiveness. He said he had worked for years for various American library groups, adding that if he were asked to lobby on specific issues, he would bring prominent advocates (and his supporters) like James Neal (copyright) and Ann Symons (intellectual freedom) with him. However, Haycock undercut himself slightly with a slip of the tongue, initially saying he was "honored to be a nominee for president of the Canadian Library Association." Mitch Freedman, Director of the Westchester Library System, NY, and a petition candidate, cited his record in generating "political as well as public support." He gave the most impassioned response to a question about how to convince library school students to join ALA: "The public library is a public good. People who work in public libraries contribute to a better democracy."
