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50. NATIONAL INFORMATION SERVICES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

50.1 Support for "Goals for Action" of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science

The American Library Association concurs in concepts and recommendations contained in "Goals for Action," a report of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, and commits the Association and its units to maximum cooperation with the National Commission in implementation and further development of "Goals for Action."

50.2 Equal Rights Amendment Legislation

The American Library Association supports the equality of women both in the profession and in society at large. To this end the Association (a) supports implementation of the national plan of action as amended at the National Women's Conference in Houston in November 1977; (b) supports through employment practices policy the equal treatment of women in the work place; (c) supports the Equal Rights Amendment legislation; (d) supports the elimination of sex-stereotyping terminology through avoiding the use of such terminology in ALA publications and (e) supports adherence to affirmative action policies through its support of the enforcement of such policies in its library school accreditation standards and guidelines.

50.3 Free Access to Information

The American Library Association asserts that the charging of fees and levies for information services, including those services utilizing the latest information technology, is discriminatory in publicly supported institutions providing library and information services.

The American Library Association shall seek to make it possible for library and information service agencies which receive their major support from public funds to provide service to all people without additional fees and to utilize the latest technological developments to insure the best possible access to information, and ALA will actively promote its position on equal access to information.

50.4 Bibliographic Data Bases

The American Library Association supports open access to information, including the information contained in online data bases, and encourages data base providers and other organizations to minimize restrictions placed on their members' use of bibliographic records maintained in their online data bases.

(See "Current Reference File": 1984-85 CD #41.)

50.5 Funding for Community Access Cable Programming

Libraries should work cooperatively with other groups in promoting the widest possible access to communications and information, including community access cablecasting. The American Library Association, in order to support stable sources of funding for community access channels, endorses the following principles articulated by Open Channel and Publicable, two organizations with knowledge and experience in community access cablecasting:
  1. That a portion of cable revenues be designated to provide financial and technical assistance for community access programming.
  2. That this support be sufficient to promote genuine access.
  3. That this assistance increase as the cable operator's revenue increases.
  4. That the specific structures, funding formulas, and monitoring arrangements be left to the local community.

50.6 Literacy

50.6.1 Literacy and State Library Agencies
The American Library Association supports the achievement of national literacy through educational activities utilizing the historical and cultural experience of libraries and librarians.

The American Library Association urges state library agencies to address the problems of illiteracy and give high priority to solutions in their short- and long-range plans for library development and the use of federal and state funds.

50.6.2 Literacy and the Role of Libraries

The American Library Association reaffirms and supports the principle that lifelong literacy is a basic right for all individuals in our society and is essential to the welfare of the nation. ALA advocates the achievement of national literacy through educational activities utilizing the historical and cultural experiences of libraries and librarians.

ALA confirms that libraries of all types, as appropriate to their mission, have the responsibility to make literacy a high priority in planning and budgeting for library services. As pioneer and equal partners in the national literacy movement, libraries will continue to take a strong leadership role and must join with other literacy providers to urge local, state, federal, and private agencies to promote active development of literacy on a policy level and to support funding of the literacy services in libraries.

50.7 Nominations to the Posts of Librarian of Congress and of Archivist of the United States

The privilege of reviewing nominations made by the President of the United States to the highest government posts in their respective professions is one accorded the major national professional organizations. The American Library Association strongly supports the extension of a similar privilege to ALA, enabling it to review the recommendations and nominations for the positions of Librarian of Congress and of Archivist of the United States whenever new appointments to those posts are under consideration.

(See "Current Reference File": July 1975 CD #58, 1986-87 CD #18.)

50.8 Financing of Libraries

In order to assist libraries facing severe economic problems resulting from inflation, the American Library Association will engage in a broad media information program to make the public aware of the benefits to be gained through tax support of libraries, and will simultaneously explore public financing alternatives for libraries facing financial problems.

50.9 NCLIS Membership

The American Library Association supports the appointment of members to the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science in an expeditious manner with appointees who fully meet the requirements of the statute.

(See "Current Reference File": 1989-90 CD #59.)

50.10 Disarmament and Conflict Solving Information in Libraries

Libraries should make available and readily accessible information on possibilities for disarmament and alternative ways of solving conflicts.

50.11 Nuclear Freeze, the Arms Race and National Security

The American Library Association supports the concept of a nuclear freeze on the development and deployment of nuclear weapons. It urges libraries to establish balanced up-to-date collections of library materials on national security in the nuclear age, on nuclear arms, and the movements for disarmament and a nuclear moratorium. The Association furthermore urges libraries to stimulate public interest in these issues and make information available about various courses of action concerned individuals may take.

(See "Current Reference File.")

50.12 Environmental Issues

The American Library Association urges librarians and library governing boards to collect and provide information on the condition of our Earth, its air, ground, water, and living organisms from all available sources.

(See "Current Reference File": 1989-90 CD #48.)

50.13 National Library Symbol

The American Library Association endorses the symbol recommended by the ALA President's Task Force and promotes its use.

50.14 Trade Publishers Discounts

The American Library Association supports the concept of equal discounts on equal volume orders for all buyers.

(See "Current Reference File": 1983-84 CD #32.)

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