Midwinter Report: Presidential Candidates Face Off Quietly

Staff -- Library Journal, 2/8/1999

A poorly attended forum at the Midwinter Meeting for ALA presidential candidates Nancy Kranich (associate dean, NYU) and Jim Schmidt (university librarian, San Jose State Univ., CA) turned up relatively few strong differences between the two: both, for example, stressed the importance of diversity and the Spectrum initiative. In his opening statement, Schmidt focused on intellectual freedom, diversity in library education, and stewardship of ALA funds. He also suggested an emerging ALA responsibility: "As the globalization of the net proceeds apace, ALA will be called upon to play a leadership role internationally." Kranich's concerns leaned more toward library funding and public policy, citing advocacy for open access, fair use, and library support. Asked to comment on a library board requesting filtering devices on all terminals in the children's section, neither endorsed use of filters but did leave some wiggle room for filter use.