ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries In this issue: The Im pact of the New Dues S t r u c t u r e ........................................... 83 A C R L Emphasizes Ethnicity Theme at Chicago Conference . . . 85 News F ro m the Field . . . 86 P e o p l e ...................................................9 5 Statement on Access to Original Research M aterials in Libraries, Archives, and M anuscript R e­ positories: Proposed Revisions 99 Statement on the Reproduction of Manuscripts and Archives for Noncommercial Purposes: Pro­ posed R e v i s io n s .............................102 Classified Advertising . . 1 0 6 ISSN 0 0 9 9 -0 0 8 6 COLLEGE & RESEARCH LIBR n AR ew IES s NO. 4 • A PR IL 1976 The Impact of the New Dues Structure Louise Giles join no division, or would they sign up for one or more divisions? Would ALA headquarters “go down the drain”— or would the divisions? The answers to some of these questions be­ came obvious as we moved into implementation of the new dues structure: the allocation of dues to the respective divisions served as a stark showcase which displayed those divisions that were “pulling their weight” and those that were not. Members from divisions that were shaky financially showed paranoid leanings, while members from more prosperous divisions were “on the muscle.” The ensuing tensions spawned thoughtless talk of “seceding” or buy­ ing divisional services elsewhere. One staunch ACRL member told me about a year ago: “ACRL can make it on its own—we ought to When I made my “inaugural” speech as ACRL president last July in San Francisco, I said: Each ACRL President appears to specialize or emphasize certain issues during his/her term of office. When I was elected, some­ one asked me what was going to be my theme, or my claim to fame, I suppose. My response was that I didn’t even think it would be necessary to try to identify any special theme or issue because history was going to do it for me. The very fact that during my term of office such issues were coming to a head as the move to­ ward a stronger identity for ALA divisions and the implementation of the new dues structure would mean that such important concerns were presenting themselves just in the natural course of events that I would not have to go out and seek other issues to address in order to “make my mark” as ACRL President. At this point in time, more than ever, I ’m con­ vinced of the validity of those remarks. When the ALA Council authorized the revi­ sion of the association’s dues structure several years ago, most of us Council members did not realize that that single action would have such wide-ranging implications for ALA politics, policy, procedure, and organizational structure. The mere fact of offering basic ALA dues for $35.00 and dues for each division for $15.00 raised a question of allegiances. Would librari­ ans view themselves as ALA members first and foremost, or was their membership in ALA held primarily due to their interest in the divisions? Would librarians opt to pay the $35.00 and News issue ( B ) of College & Research Libraries, vol. 37, no. 2 84 just pull up stakes and leave ALA.” But, over the months, time— and cooler heads— pre­ vailed, and most of us are able to view the scene with a bit more balance now. But, the impact of the new dues structure is just beginning to be felt— I suspect it will widen and grow, much like the ever-widening circles of the ripples in a pool. We are clearly in a transitional period in the evolution of the American Library Association. This is the time for us to look at where we have been and de­ cide where we wish to go; to review and re­ evaluate our past practices, traditions, and sys­ tems. Already the new dues structure has effected a subtle realignment of relationships. A couple of divisions are sharing an administrative office; the division presidents have formed an informal group, Division Interests Special Committee ( D IS C ) ‚ now called Division Interests Discus­ sion Group, to discuss common problems and serve as a communication link between the di­ visions and the ALA executive director and Executive Committee. Questions on the role, relationship, and responsibility of the division president, executive secretary, executive direc­ tor, and Executive Committee are coming to the fore— as well they should be. For ACRL’s part, I think we have reached the time when we need to seek the answers to some of those questions. W ith over nine thou­ sand members, ACRL is, as you probably know, the largest of the thirteen divisions of ALA. W e are one of the fortunate divisions which received a surplus of revenue under the new dues structure. For this, I think our atti­ tude should be a grateful rather than a gloating one. In addition to maintaining and developing our own division, we should seek ways in which to lend our strength and leadership to the asso­ ciation as well as to the profession. But, we can do this better if we get ourselves together. Now is the time to take a look at the roles of our division, its membership, its presi­ dent, its executive secretary— to revise and up­ date the authorization for those roles. What can you, the ACRL member, do to help? You can get new members; you can join a chapter; if there is no chapter, you can start a chapter; you can attend our Midwinter and Annual Con­ ference meetings; and you can keep those cards and letters coming. Meanwhile, the American Library Associa­ tion’s budget is back in the black again. At Midwinter, the treasurer’s report showed a sur­ plus of about $12,000. This augurs well for the association. ALA is still not rich, but things look much better now than they did in the dark days leading up to the implementation of the new dues structure. To what do we owe this solvency? We owe it to the leadership and persistence of Edward G. Holley, who was determined to preside over an association which had a balanced budget; to the ALA members who became alarmed at the extent of the association’s deficit; and final­ ly, we owe the solvency to the discipline, de­ termination, and herculean efforts of Robert Wedgeworth, ALA executive director, and his staff—the people who have labored over the past two or three years to implement the policy of fiscal responsibility initiated by Holley. The association’s members owe a vote of confidence to Holley and Wedgeworth for that feat. L ou ise Giles President, A CR L u a New Biannual Publication D ocum entation N ew sletter is a new biannual publication from the Depart­ ment of Manuscripts and University Ar­ chives of the Cornell University L i­ braries. Archival processes, problems, and solutions are discussed within this newsletter. Also included are notices of recent accessions, and descriptions of se­ lected collections. For information or to be placed on the mailing list, write the department, 101 Olin Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 11853. News items for inclusion in C&RL News should be sent to Mary Frances Collins, Assistant D irector of Libraries for Technical Services, University Library ULB-35A, State University o f New York a t Alb any, 1400 W ashington Ave., Alb any, NY 12222. A d v e r­ tising (inclu d in g classified ads) should be sent to Leona Swiech, Advertising O ffice , Am erican L i­ brary Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Production and circulation matters are han­ dled by A LA Central Production Unit, a t the above address. News e d ito r: Mary Frances Collins, Assistant Di­ rector o f Libraries fo r Technical Services, State University o f New York at Alb any, A lbany. As­ sociate News e d ito r: Anne Dowling, Assistant Li­ brarian, Acquisitions Department, Library, State University of New York a t A lbany. Editor: Rich­ ard D. Johnson, Milne Library, State University C ollege, Oneonta, New York 13820. President, ACRL: Louise Giles. Executive Secretary, ACRL: Beverly P. Lynch. C ollege & Research Libraries is published by the Association of C ollege and Research Libraries, a division of the Am erican Library Association, 17 times yearly— 6 bim onthly journal issues and II monthly (com bining July-August) News issues— at 1201-05 Bluff St., Fulton, MO 65251. Subscription, $ 15.00 a year, o r to members of the division, $7.50, included in dues. Second-class postage paid a t Fulton, Missouri 65251. © Am erican Library Association 1975. A ll material in this iournal subject to co p y rig h t by the A m e ri­ can Library Association may be photocopied fo r the noncommercial purpose o f scientific o r educa­ tional advancement.