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Michael Golrick tries to do the impossible…

By Meredith Farkas | March 14, 2006

You’ve got to give the man credit.

It can’t be easy to try to explain ALA.

I’ve been embarassed to admit that I understand almost nothing about how ALA and the divisions, roundtables, offices, council, etc. fit together. When Michael Golrick said he was going to write some sort of ALA 101 piece in response to my gripes about the organization, I was skeptical. But here it is in all of its eight-party glory. And for the monumental task he took on, Michael’s done a really good job of it! I wish ALA would publish something like this! If you’re a new member of ALA or if you just joined because it was “the thing to do” or to get the magazines, take a look at what Michael has written here. Really good stuff. I understand so much more now!

ALA 101 Introduction
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Divisions
Part 3: Round Tables
Part 4: Offices
Part 5: Committees
Part 6: Buildings and Conferences
Part 7: Governance (this means ALA Council)

Michael has been on ALA Council for 10 years and he is up for reelection this year. Anyone who would write such a terrific introduction to ALA has earned my vote! His committment to the orgnization and the profession jumps off the page (er, computer screen). Other folks I’m “liking” for ALA Council include Ria Newhouse, Heidi Dolamore, Rochelle Hartman and Samantha Schmehl Hines. I’m sure there are a lot of other great folks on that candidate list, but these are folks I know and think really rock.

And I’m really glad to see people using the ALA New Orleans Wiki! With your help, it is going to be a terrific resource for everyone attending the conference. And I am told by reliable sources in the ALA that the wiki will be advertised PROMINENTLY on the conference Web site soon. Right now, it’s a bit buried.

Topics: ALA |

5 Responses to “Michael Golrick tries to do the impossible…”

  1. Michael Golrick Says:
    March 15th, 2006 at 11:05 am

    Thanks Meredith. My one regret so far is that I haven’t got a lot of questions. did I really cover everything? I know that Walt Crawford added a great comment about how LITA is organized. You (or others) are welcome to privately email me questions for future postings.

  2. Meredith Says:
    March 15th, 2006 at 11:50 am

    Thanks Michael! I think it’s just a lot to absorb and I’m looking forward to having time when I can really get into them (as opposed to scanning them). I’m sure I’ll have questions soon. ;)

  3. Samantha Says:
    March 15th, 2006 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks for the mention and the kind words!

  4. heidi dolamore Says:
    March 15th, 2006 at 4:20 pm

    thanks, meredith! right back at’cha with the “you rock” sentiment!

  5. lauren’s library blog » wanna understand ala? Says:
    March 17th, 2006 at 9:55 pm

    [...] Update: Information Wants To Be Free’s Meredith Farkas (new Mover & Shaker) just posted a complete collection of links from the series. [...]