Conference Report: CLA Grapples With Change, Sustainability
By Donna Bourne-Tyson, University Librarian, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NSJun 14, 2010
Earlier this year the Canadian Library Association (CLA) Executive Council startled CLA members by announcing serious financial problems and its decision to suspend elections in 2010. While there was no formal theme at this year's CLA Conference June 2¬-5 in Edmonton, AB, the underlying issues were change and sustainability, both for the profession at large and for CLA in particular.
All delegates were asked to respond to "Two Simple Questions about the Future of Canada's Libraries" posed by the CLA Executive Council: "Why does CLA matter?" and "CLA is the national advocate for Canada's libraries: How can we better accomplish this?"
Exhibit space was sold out and delegate registration of more than 900 was higher than last year's conference in Montreal.
Need for action
Despite sunny weather on a Saturday afternoon, the 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM) was very well attended, a sign that members recognized the crisis. CLA President John Teskey cited reports from previous CLA treasurers that indicated a precarious financial situation as much as eleven years ago.
Immediate Past-President Ken Roberts oversaw a special audit process this year and reported that CLA has run a deficit budget for ten of the past eleven years. CLA currently spends about $8,000 more than it brings in every month.
Two resolutions were passed; the first acknowledged the serious financial situation of the Association and the urgent need to address it. The Executive Council is to (a) address CLA's financial challenges and achieve a balanced 2011 budget, (b) keep the CLA membership and the profession informed frequently of its progress between now and the 2011 AGM, and (c) present a full plan to the 2011 AGM.
A special President's Task Force headed by Teskey has been working since this past winter examining CLA's problems. Rather than present suggestions for cost savings at this point, the Task Force recommended a consultative process which will run over twelve months culminating at the next AGM. A new Task Force formed to work with 2010-2011 President Keith Walker, who took office this month, will continue that process.
Election back on
The second resolution addressed concerns over the constitutionality of suspending the election. The Executive Council declared it was desirable to maintain continuity in its membership in the coming year to develop restructuring options for CLA.
Members agreed to resume the election of CLA Vice-President/President-Elect as soon as possible after the 2010 AGM. A link has been posted to outline the election process.
Report from 2001 lingers
Several times during the Conference the March 2001 report Writing the Future: Shaping the Canadian Library Association for the 21st Century, written by a CLA Task Force chaired by the late and much loved CLA Past President Alan H. MacDonald was referred to as prescient and still relevant.
Varied program
As they did for last year's Conference, programmers Marie DeYoung and Melody Burton dispensed with an overall theme. This allowed for more a rich, timely, and varied program.
The opening keynote by Sue Gardner, executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, whose inspiring comments about sustainability and the powerful contributions of engaged volunteers could well apply to the CLA of the future.
The closing keynote was delivered by Michael Geist, Law Professor, University of Ottawa, who focused on the ongoing "copyfight" over the newly proposed Canadian copyright legislation.
More coverage
Read more about the Conference by searching on the Twitter hash tag #cla2010 and on blogs by new professionals such as the Curling Librarian and Kim Stymest. Conference presentations will be posted on the conference website.
Awards
CLA Outstanding Service to Librarianship Award: Lynn Copeland, University Librarian and Dean of Library Services, Simon Fraser University, for her work in creating the digital library in Canada.
CLA/Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship: Wendy Newman, Senior Fellow, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto, for her tireless work in advocating the importance and relevance of libraries to government, both federal and provincial.
The 2011 Conference will be in Halifax, Nova Scotia, May 25-28.
