SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

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The Social Responsibilities Round Table works to make ALA more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

Learn more about SRRT on the ALA website.

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Assessment document draft

  • 1.  Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 24, 2025 02:09 PM
    As I said at the Action Council meeting today, I was taken aback when I read the Assessment document today. It seems that there is a short timeframe to send this in. But never mind, the Action Council must vote on the final version before submitting it. That could be done on Connect if the time is too short to wait until the next Action Council meeting. 

    Al


    Al Kagan
    SRRT International Responsibilities Task Force
    SRRT Councilor, 1999-2009, 2011-2015

    African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration Emeritus
    University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign












  • 2.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 24, 2025 02:51 PM

    Al,

    We'll start a more official thread as soon as we can to collect feedback from SRRT about the program assessment. Rachel & I will also remind folks of our contact info in case anyone would prefer to send their feedback that way.

    From there, we'll share with Hillary the feedback we gather, and then the program assessment (along with any further recommendations & context per aforementioned feedback) will be submitted for next steps, i.e. review by ALA Executive Board, Committee on Organizations, and Awards Committee.

    The program assessment is not originating from SRRT or SRRT Action Council, but rather, our staff liaison was tasked with putting this together, so no vote will be made/needed. Instead, we are sharing as much context, feedback, etc. as we can with Hillary, so that she can represent SRRT needs & interests to the best of her ability.

    Thanks,

    Olivia



    ------------------------------
    Olivia Blake (she/her)
    orhysb@gmail.com
    Systems & User Services Support Librarian, Library Connection, Inc.
    SRRT Action Council Co-Coordinator (2025-2026)
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 24, 2025 04:20 PM
    Olivia,
    I'm not sure what you meant when you stated that people can email you privately "if they prefer it that way". Does that mean that feedback from SRRT to the Executive Board will include anonymous statements sent only to you and/or Rachel  that the rest of SRRT members won't see?

    I don't mind disagreeing with the final result, but I would like to see what is reported up from a roundtable of which I am a member.

    Thanks for clarification.
    Katharine
    --
    image.png



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 09:44 AM

    Hi Katharine, 

    I'm not Olivia (obviously) and can't speak for how she and Rachel intend to handle any private emails they receive, but I do have a perspective to offer. It cannot have escaped your attention that many of the Connect threads here have had a high rhetorical temperature lately. While I applaud the passion people are bringing to their debates, it could be pretty intimidating to speak up  as a new member, which does not preclude those people from having ideas worth considering. Rachel and Olivia can always make that anonymized feedback available to the rest of the SRRT before moving it forward. 



    ------------------------------
    Melinda Borie
    Collection Development Librarian
    Floyd County Library
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 11:05 AM

    Hi Katharine,

    We're simply offering multiple avenues to accommodate varying comfort levels, and all feedback will be used in aggregate.

    Thanks,

    Olivia



    ------------------------------
    Olivia Blake (she/her)
    orhysb@gmail.com
    Systems & User Services Support Librarian, Library Connection, Inc.
    SRRT Action Council Co-Coordinator (2025-2026)
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 08:50 AM
      |   view attached
    I think most SRRT members will agree with me that a document that originates from 2 SRRT officers that targets the possible elimination of SRRT activities and task forces should be approved by the Action Council before being forwarded to the ALA Executive Board, Committee on Organizations, and Awards Committee. If not, the document will be the opinion only of the people who wrote it, even if comments from others are sent along with the document.

    I hope other Action Council members will voice their opinions on this flawed process. As I have been saying lately, SRRT has a non-hierarchical structure. We don't have a president, rather we have co-coordinators.

    I have attached the draft document discussed at the Action Council meeting yesterday.

    Thanks for your attention,

    Al


    Al Kagan
    SRRT International Responsibilities Task Force
    SRRT Councilor, 1999-2009, 2011-2015

    African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration Emeritus
    University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign












    Attachment(s)

    pdf
    SRRT Program Assessment Overview.pdf   179 KB 1 version
    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 09:44 AM
    As has already been explained, this is work that Hillary is doing. It did not "originate' from Olivia and Rachel. They met with Hillary to help her perform her work. "Action" council got next to nothing done in our 90 minute meeting yesterday  - in part because we burned at least 10 of those minutes arguing over the agenda - so I can understand why meeting with the coordinators first to get the document started made more sense. 

    SRRT does not have the authority to dictate how Hillary performs her job. She's a liaison. She does not report to us. So no, we are not going to be voting on her report. If you have feedback, by all means give it when Olivia starts her thread, but I remind everyone that this is not the feedback thread, and nobody should expect any posts made here to have any impact on the outcome. 

    Also, I strongly suggest that you actually take on board the issues it lays out about any programs you would like reclassified If those aren't addressed, I doubt the assessment will change. 




    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 12:40 PM
    Just a reminder- ALA is a MEMBERSHIP organization. Members drive programs and priorities. Staff carries them out. 

    Where the document originated is not the essential point. What will be done with the document is key. 

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 10:20 AM
    Can the coordinators clarify? Was this document initiated and drafted by staff or the Coordinators?

    Thanks. 

    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 10:28 AM
    They've already clarified. Read the thread, Patricia. As Olivia says above: "The program assessment is not originating from SRRT or SRRT Action Council, but rather, our staff liaison was tasked with putting this together, so no vote will be made/needed."



    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Assessment document draft

    Posted Sep 25, 2025 11:01 AM
    No need to be offended please. Our messages crossed. 
    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message