ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


94

A C R L  L eg isla tiv e P o lic y  a n d  G en era l
G u id e to L eg isla tiv e A c tio n

Prepared by the A C R L  Legislation Committee; 
s u b m itte d  to the A C R L  B o a rd  o f  D irecto rs f o r  
review J a n u a ry  5 ‚ 1982; u n a n im o u sly en d o rse d  by 
the B o a rd  Ja n u a ry 26, 1982.

Com m ittee members: Keith W . Russell, chair; 
W e n d e ll A . B a r b o u r ; D e b o r a h  B r o w n  (intern); 
Gloria Terwilliger Brown; Bob Carmack; Jo h n  C. 
H e y e c k ; V i n c e n t  J e n n i n g s  (in te r n ) ;  R o b e r t  L. 
Klassen; N ancy C. Kranich; Jam es D. Lockwood; 
C h a r le n e  M ason; E la in e  Sloan; J esse C o ttm a n  
Smith; Paul Vassallo; Faye Z ipkow itz.

I . I n t r o d u c t i o n

This d o c u m e n t p re s e n ts  a b rie f legislative p o l­
icy s ta te m e n t for th e  Association of College an d  
R esearch L ib raries (ACRL) an d  t h e ratio nale b e ­
h in d  th a t policy; d escrib es, in a g en eral way, th e  
m eans by w hich th a t policy can b e  im p lem e n te d ; 
and serves as a g en eral g u ide to legislative action 
by ACRL.

T he policy set forth h e re  is in te n d e d  to su p ­
p o rt, c o m p le m e n t, an d  in som e in sta n ce s a u g ­
m e n t th e  legislative policy of th e  A m erican L i­
brary Association (ALA), A C R L ’s p a re n t organiza­
tion, w hile at th e  sam e tim e serving th e  in te re sts 
of ACRL. L egislative actions of A C RL are closely 
in te rtw in e d  w ith those of ALA, its divisions and 
units.

I I .  A C R L L e g i s l a t i v e  P o l i c y  S t a t e m e n t

T h e A ssociation o f C o lleg e a n d  R esearch  L i­
b r a r i e s  (A C R L ) w ill ta k e  a p p r o p r i a t e  a c tio n  
w h e n e v e r n e ce ssa ry  to re c o m m e n d  a n d /o r p r o ­
m ote legislation (including sta tu to ry  and ad m inis­
tra tiv e  laws, e x ecu tiv e policies, s ta n d a rd s, r u l­
in g s, a n d  le g a l d e c is io n s )  a n d  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  
ag reem en ts w hich en h an ce library  services to th e 
academ ic an d  research  co m m u n ities a n d  w hich, 
in o th e r ways, c o n trib u te  to th e  w elfare and d e ­
v elo p m en t of academ ic and research  libraries and 
su p p o rt th e  m ission a n d  goals of ACRL. A ppro­
priate action will also b e taken to p ro te s t legisla­
tio n  a n d  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  a g r e e m e n t s  w h ic h  a d ­
versely affect academ ic and research  lib raries and
the m ission and goals of ACRL.

I I I .  R a t i o n a l e

Actions of th e  fed eral g o v e rn m e n t (and to a le s­
ser e x te n t foreign, state a n d  local governm ents)
g reatly  affect p ro g re s s  to w a rd  A C R L ’s m ission
and goals, an d  A C RL m u st b e  w illing an d  p r e ­
pared to influence g o v e rn m e n t action. T h e fed ­
e ra l g o v e r n m e n t, v ia le g is la tio n , r e g u la tio n s , 
executive policies, program s, an d  legal in te rp r e ta ­
tions, p ro v id e s fiscal su p p o rt a n d /o r reg u latio n s
w hich d ire c tly  affect acad em ic an d  re s e a rc h  libraries

 th e ir p a re n t in stitu tio n s, an d  re la te d  n a ­
tio n al in s titu tio n s  an d  a ctiv ities. In  a d d itio n  to 
existing a n d  p la n n e d  leg islatio n  a n d  re g u la tio n  
w hich m ay n e e d  to b e  s u p p o rte d , m odified, or 
elim in ated , n ew  legislation a n d  reg ulatio n  m ay b e 
th e  m o st e ffe c tiv e  w ay o f a d d re s s in g  c o m p le x  
pro b lem s affecting academ ic a n d  rese a rc h  lib ra r­
ie s.

IV. P r i o r i t i e s  a n d  T i m i n g  o f  A c t i o n

E a c h  y e a r th e  A C R L  L eg islatio n  C o m m itte e  
w ill d e v e lo p  a L e g is la tiv e  P ro g ra m  for A C R L  
w hich reflects th e  c u rre n t legislative scen e an d  
th e  in te re sts of ACRL, an d  w hich takes into con­
sideratio n th e  view  of th e  A C RL B oard of D ire c ­
tors a n d  th e  A C R L M e m b e rsh ip . This p ro g ram  
will b e a basic list of fed eral legislation goals and 
objectives to b e  p u rs u e d  by th e  c o m m ittee an d  
th e  m e m b e rs h ip  d u rin g  th e  y e ar. P ro g re ss on 
th e se  goals an d  objectives shall serve as p a rt of 
th e  annual re p o rt of th e  co m m ittee.

N aturally, allow ance m u st b e  m ade each y ear 
for necessary changes in p rio rities a n d  for action 
on p ressin g  issues th a t arise.

V. P o s s i b l e  A c t i o n s

Im p le m e n ta tio n  o f th e  A C R L L egislative Pol­
icy, and program s w hich su p p o rt th at policy, will 
re q u ire  th a t A C RL take actions such as th e  fol­
lowing:

•  R eview  an d  analyze im plications of legisla­
tion (including statu to ry  and ad m in istrativ e laws, 
r u lin g s , o r le g a l d e c is io n s )  a n d  i n t e r n a t i o n a l  
a g re e m e n ts  w h ich  d o  o r c o u ld  affect a c a d e m ic  
and research  libraries.

•  C o m m u n icate th e  resu lts of such review s and 
analyses, and th e  A C RL view po in t resu ltin g  from  
th o se  re v ie w s a n d  a n aly se s to p u b lic  officials, 
o th e r associations, etc.

•  M obilize su p p o rt, b o th  w ith in  a n d  o u tsid e 
ACRL, for legislation, an d  a g re e m e n ts beneficial 
to academ ic an d  research  libraries; m obilize su p ­

 p o rt for a d eq u a te  fu n d in g  of existing lib rary  p ro ­
g ra m s; m o b iliz e  o p p o s itio n  to  le g is la tio n  a n d  
ag reem en ts w hich ad v ersely affect academ ic a n d  
research  libraries.

•  In flu en ce p u b lic officials b y  such m eans as: 
 ed u catin g  th e m  a b o u t th e  im p o rtan ce of library 
 an d  inform ation issues, an d  th e  co n seq u en ces of 

leg isla tio n  a n d  re g u la tio n s  for lib ra rie s , h ig h e r  
ed u catio n , an d  th e  national inform ation system .

•  E d u c a te  A C R L  m e m b e r s  a n d  f r ie n d s  o f 
academ ic an d  research  lib raries a b o u t th e  political 

 pro cess an d  th e  issues re la te d  to lib raries, a n d  
, how  th e y  can e ffe ctiv e ly  e x erc ise  th e ir  c itiz e n



95

privileges and responsibilities to influence politi­
cal opinion.

•  Encourage and motivate m em bers to be in­
volved in the political process, provide them  as 
many resources as possible to facilitate th eir in­
volvement, keep them  inform ed of legislative d e ­
velopm ents, and prom pt them  when political ac­
tion is needed.

•  Act cooperatively with o th e r divisions and 
units of ALA, ALA itself, other library and infor­
mation associations, professional and educational 
organizations, the publishing and communication 
industries, and others, when appropriate, to sup­
port or block legislation and regulations serving 
m utual interests and needs.

V I .  O r g a n i z a t i o n  f o r  A c t i o n

The following com m ittees, boards, offices, etc., 
all have roles to play in th e im plem entation of 
ACRL legislative activities, and in one way or 
another influence ACRL legislative actions. The 
charges to some of th ese  groups, and some of 
their key functions relative to the ACRL Legisla­
tion Com m ittee are:

A. ACRL Legislation Committee (13 members)
•  Charge: “To take a direct and active role in 

form ulating objectives and in planning legislative 
action at the national level which may affect the 
welfare of academic and research libraries; to take 
responsibility for initiating as well as prom oting 
such pro g ram s; to w ork th ro u g h  n o rm al ALA 
channels and o th er channels for th eir passage and 
im plem entation. ”

B. ACRL Office
•  Provides support services for regular work of 

the com m ittee and for legislative actions.
•  M onitors legislative developm ents and ini­

tiates action via the com m ittee and/or directly, as 
needed; assists the com m ittee in setting legisla­
tive priorities for ACRL.

•  Keeps ACRL m em bers (and others) aware of 
legislative issues and activities, and broader is­
sues related to legislation, through publications of 
th e association (C&RL N ew s‚ College and Re­
search Libraries) and other means.

C. ACRL Board of Directors (14 members)
•A pproves resolutions and other legislative ac­

tiv itie s  of A C R L  a n d  th e  A C R L L e g is la tio n  
Com m ittee, and the funding needed for such ac­
tivities; assists the com m ittee in setting legislative 
priorities for ACRL, and in carrying out legisla­
tive programs.

D. ACRL Legislative Network
•  Consists of approxim ately 220 academic li­

brarians, nationw ide, who have v o lu n teered  to 
write legislators and in other ways take action on 
legislative issues affecting academic and research 
libraries. Action of this network is coordinated by 
the ACRL Legislation Com m ittee with assistance 
from the ALA W ashington Office. Contact with

th e netw ork is m aintained via m em oranda and 
urgent m em oranda (i.e., “calls for action”) sent to 
the netw ork as needed.

E. ACRL Membership
•  Assists the com m ittee in setting legislative 

priorities for ACRL, and carries out m uch of the 
p rescrib ed  action e ith e r individually or through 
th e  A C R L c o m m itte e s , s e c tio n s , d isc u s s io n  
g ro u p s, c h a p te rs , a n d  th e  A C R L L e g isla tiv e  
Network.

F. ALA Washington Office
•  K eeps ACRL m e m b e rs (and m e m b e rs of 

ALA, and o th e r in te r e s te d  p erso n s) aw are of 
legislative developm ents via direct contact, formal 
presentations, the A L A  W ashington Newsletter, 
etc.

•  Provides assistance to the ACRL Legislation 
Com m ittee, as n eed ed  and available, in th e p re p ­
aration and mailing of u rgent m em oranda to the 
ACRL Legislative Network, provides advice and 
recom m endations to th e com m ittee, and prom pts 
the com m ittee w hen action would be useful.

•  Serves as a liaison to other associations seek­
ing to influence legislation related to libraries, in­
formation, and higher education.

G. ALA Legislation Committee (10 members)
•  Charge: “To have full responsibility for the 

A ssociatio n  s to ta l le g is la tiv e  p ro g ra m  on all 
levels—federal, state, and local. To recom m end 
legislative policy and program s for Council a p proval



96

 a n d  to take th e  n ecessary  ste p s for im ­
p lem en tation . To p ro te s t any legislation or execu­
tive policy adversely affecting libraries. To seek 
rulings an d  in te rp re ta tio n s of laws and regulations 
affecting th e w elfare and d ev elo p m en t of lib ra r­
ies. To re p re s e n t th e ALA before executive and 
legislative branches of g o v e rn m e n t as re q u ire d  at 
all lev e ls. To p ro v id e  a fo ru m  w ith in  ALA to 
g ath er inform ation about n e e d e d  legislation and 
to k eep  all units of th e  Association inform ed of 
th e  ALA legislative program s. To d ire c t th e activ­
ities of all units of th e  Association in m atters r e ­
lating to leg islatio n .”

•  Issu e s a n d  re g u la rly  u p d a te s  tw o p u b lic a ­
tions: A L A  Federal Legislative Policy, A L A  Legis­
lative Program.

•  Sponsors th e “Legislative U p d a te ” program  
p re s e n te d  at each annual and m id w in ter m eetin g  
of ALA.

H. ALA Legislation Assembly (10 members)
•  C harge: “To act in an advisory and reso u rce 

capacity to th e  ALA Legislation C o m m ittee. T he 
in d iv id u a l m e m b e rs , n a m e d  b y  th e  d iv isio n a l 
boards to th e  assem bly, shall serve as liaison to 
th e ir divisional boards in m atters relative to legis­
latio n .” (Note: th e  chair of th e ACRL Legislation 
C o m m itte e  is th e  A C R L r e p re s e n ta tiv e  on th e  
Assembly.)

I. ALA Council
•  Acts on reco m m en d atio n s of th e ALA L egis­

lation C o m m ittee; p u ts th e  full w eight of th e  As­
sociation b e h in d  issu es by a d o p tin g  reso lu tio n s 
taking p articu lar positions. ■ ■

Serial Titles Still Vary

To c o n ti n u e  t h e  w o rk  b y  t h e  r e c e n t l y  
ceased publication Title Varies, th e  ALA R e­
sources and T echnical Services Division s Se­
ria ls  S e c tio n  h as e s t a b l i s h e d  an Ad H o c 
C o m m itte e  to aw ard th e  W o rst Serial T itle 
C hange of th e Year. C ategories to b e consid­
e re d  (in k eep in g  w ith th e  Title Varies tra d i­
tion) include:

1) Frivolous title  changes for no a p p a re n t 
reason which p ro d u ce no advantage.

2) T he change of an old re sp e c te d  title u n ­
necessarily.

3) R e p e a te d  t it le  c h a n g e s , th e  la te s t o f 
w h ich  is no b e t t e r  th a n  any o f th e  fo rm e r 
ones.

4) The “ E t tu , B ru te? ” category for library 
p u b lic a tio n s th a t sh o u ld  know  b e t t e r  (m ore 
r e c e n tly  kn o w n  as th e  S nake in th e  G rass 
Award).

N o m in a tio n s  w ill b e  w e lc o m e d  th r o u g h  
Ju n e 1, 1982. Please supply a co m p lete cita­
tio n  d e s c r ib in g  th e  c h a n g e , in c lu d in g  th e  
n u m b e r an d /o r d ate and title  of th e  last issue 
with th e  old title; n u m b e r and/or d ate of th e 
first issue w ith th e  new  title; an d  p u b lish e r’s 
full nam e an d  address. Photocopies of relev an t 
title pages are en co u rag ed  as verification.

Send nom inations to: M iriam  Palm , Serials 
D e p a rtm e n t, G re en  L ibrary, Stanford U n iv er­
sity, Stanford, CA 94305.