Is anyone following the comments by ALA members on ALA Connect about the draft Council resolution about a preferred MLS vs a required MLS for the next ALA Executive Director? Is the RMRT Board or membership considering weighing in on this matter? At least two divisions and one round table have adopted official positions on this draft resolution.
I had several questions and a few comments on this issue:
How many highly qualified applicants might be considered for a first interview under either requirement? Would the "MLS required" result in too small of a pool of highly qualified candidates? Or would the "MLS preferred" result in a much larger pool of highly qualified candidates? How might the selection committee make an intial determination of whether those applicants without a MLS degree possessed an adequate knowledge of complex library-related issues and a strong commitment to our organizational values?
It's interesting that none of the current executive directors of three other nationwide library associations - AALL, MLA or SLA - have an MLS degree, according to a scan of their biographies. SLA did not require a MLS degree of their applicants in their 2015-2016 search for an ED, and, according to their press release below, received 79 initial applicants for their ED position before choosing a candidate with a background in association management:
What education requirement might best result in hiring an ED would would understand the organizational complexity and organizational culture of ALA; collaborate with Council, divisions, round tables, committees, chapter, affiliates and member leaders to strengthen and transform ALA; and grow our revenue streams as publishing and meeting revenues stagnate? And, if the MLS degree is simply "preferred", what IS the minimum education requirement of applicants for the ED position.