Dear all,
Below, and attached as a pdf, are my draft minutes of the special meeting on 4 Feb. Please contact me with any edits, concerns, questions, etc.
All best,
Elaine
BEGIN DRAFT MINUTES
DRAFT MINUTES - SRRT Action Council - SPECIAL MEETING
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
2:30 PM Atlantic / 1:30 PM Eastern / 12:30 PM Central / 11:30 AM Mountain / 10:30 AM Pacific
PRESENT: Olivia Blake (AC), Laura Koltutsky, Derek Wilmott Montoya (AC), Al Kagan (AC), Aaron M. Wilson, Ann Sparanese, K.C. Boyd, Katharine Phenix, Mark Hudson (AC), Mark Rosenzweig (AC), Rachel Rosekind (AC), Ray Schwartz, Tara Brady (AC), Barbara Ford, Deb Corbin, Don Michael (AC), Hillary Pearson, Elaine Harger (AC)
12:33pm meeting called to order
Welcome/call to order, this meeting was not recorded
Approval of agenda for special meeting, DON MOVES, DEREK 2NDS, APPROVED
AGENDA ITEM: UPCOMING ELECTIONS
Roles that will be on the spring 2026 ballot: Coordinator-elect none nominated, so write-in needed; Treasurer - Derek has been nominated and will be listed on the ballot; Secretary none nominated, so write-in needed
Discussion: Tara had nothing new to report about potential candidates and will post an announcement on ALAConnect seeking nominations. She asked that anyone who has served as coordinator in the past to comment re what the position entails. Rachel volunteered to have her name listed as a contact for anyone seeking information about being coordinator. Mark R. asked if there will be an Action Council in the future; given that members will no longer be elected does this mean AC will no longer exist. Olivia responded that SRRT can still have AC, but need to be creative to figure out how AC members will be elected; the future of AC depends on how SRRT decides to move forward.
Mark H. asked whether or not SRRT bylaws/rules need changing. Olivia replied that her understanding is that SRRT's rules fit within the parameters given by ALA an so amendments would not be necessary. Rachel showed this graph and noted that the changes to how ALA conducts elections do not necessarily negate SRRT's rules. Rachel suggested that SRRT could hold a separate election for AC members, noting that if we need to amend SRRT's rules then we'd do that. She added that any SRRT member can propose change to the rules. Al considers that the ALA policy change regarding elections overrides SRRT's rules; our rules say SRRT members elect the AC, and that AC elects SRRT officers. He also things that the coordinator-elect should become coordinator next year, and asked, given new system, what would the coordinator-elect term look like? Will it be like ALA president, elect, current, past? Should we do that, and if so how to we get there? Olivia, great questions, any thoughts? Tara, what we have is a crisis in SRRT, so many people have tried to serve and found continued participation untenable; that is on AC; these meetings are draining, caustic, impossible. Laura added the importance of talking with one another, SRRT has done and excellent job being an advocate on many issues. She noted that having a conversation about changing bylaws right now is not helpful, if I was new member I'd be wondering why we are talking about bylaws when there are more pressing needs.
Derek, suggest that we have a group to find candidates, they would be write-ins. We need another group to work on reviewing bylaws/rules so we can deal with that and make appropriate changes. Olivia pointed out that if we have a rules review group it would bring recommendations to AC and AC would decide if it goes on next ballot. That is the process for amending SRRT's rules. Tara added that new rules must be presented at a SRRT membership meeting. Elaine said she is willing to be write-in candidate for secretary. Al, I think we ought to ask if anyone here wants to consider being coordinator, and nominated Don to be a write-in candidate. Tara said we are not in position to be volun-telling anyone to run. Ann asked if Olivia or Rachel could say what main tasks of coordinator are. Olivia, convening and facilitating AC meetings, liaison with other ALA staff and units. Rachel, also work with Hillary on various ALA activities as consistent partner, happy to help someone else enter into role. Whoever takes on role will be supported. Derek posed the following to chat: "Coordinator, SRRT Action Council
- Establishes working relationship with ALA Staff Liaison, currently the Director of the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS). Must be familiar with the parliamentary guide in use by ALA, currently that authored by Sturgis.
- Arranges for two Action Council sessions at the ALA Midwinter Meeting, two Action Council sessions at the ALA Annual Conference, and a General SRRT Membership Meeting at the ALA Annual Conference. Prepares agendas for these meetings and presides over them.
- Writes column on Round Table issues for each issue of the SRRT Newsletter.
- Maintains working relationship with the ALA Executive Director, the chairs of the ALA International Relations Committee and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and others, as necessary.
- Works as part of a team with the SRRT Secretary and the SRRT Treasurer to ensure the smooth operation of the Round Table.
- Monitors progress of the various task forces and project groups within the Round Table and assists when necessary.
AGENDA ITEM: RESOLUTIONS - Olivia read the process for handling resolutions in order to make the most of our time together, and encourage a fair, smooth meeting:
- Each resolution will be handled separately, on its own, 1 by 1
- The linked docs below are the exact versions that will be voted on.
- Motions: An individual motion requires a second; a motion out of committee does not.
- This is a business meeting, not a casual working session. Once a motion is on the table, then discussion may ensue until such time as the question is called.
- Discussion generally entails asking questions of the author(s); making a case for voting yea or nay; and/or describing substantive edits that would flip your own vote from a nay to a yea.
- If the body votes nay but generally suggests that substantive changes would shift sentiment to a majority yea vote, then the resolution author(s) could decide to reconvene, revise based on discussion feedback, and bring a revised version to the next AC meeting for a motion and a vote.
- Finally, please remember that a nay vote does not always mean one disagrees with the intent of an action.
Action item: Resolution Opposing U.S. Military Intervention in Venezuela and Iran Mark, bringing this forward from IRTF. Olivia began by saying that the resolution was already passed by IRTF, so it doesn't need to be moved or seconded. Mark R. provided an introductory statement. Mark H. asked if everyone had a chance to read the resolution. Olivia noted that there is a link in the agenda to the document and so it has been available for all to read. Al noted that the practice is to read resolved clauses so everyone clear on what we are voting on. Mark R. reads resolved clauses. Olivia asked for any final questions, thoughts. Seeing none, calls the question. YES-5, NO-1, ABS-2 MOTION APPROVED.
Olivia asked about next step for resolutions. Tara said it should be posted to the SRRT resolutions archive. Al added that the resolution calls for ALA to publicly oppose policies, so we need to forward it somewhere, might be International Relations Committee, ALA Council. Olivia suggested the Committee on Legislation. Mark H in addition another resolved clause suggests further steps. Mark R we should also forward it to the Executive Board. Olivia do any of these actions require a vote? Tara replied that it is the coordinators' discretion on next steps. Elaine added that AC approved the resolved clauses so no further votes needed. Olivia asked Rachel if they should as co-coordinators move forward or delegate the tasks. Rachel is willing to help move forward. Don, whatever the protocol can we learn from this instance so that next time it'll be easier and we'll know what to do? Olivia noted that was on our "to do" list. Don, people will want to know what the workflow is. Derek added that on the SRRT webpage is information about our resolutions, and a section on procedures. Do we follow those? Olivia we should absolutely look at that. In chat, Derek posted:
- Resolutions for Further ALA Action:
- Resolutions going beyond SRRT in the ALA structure must be available in several forms. The Whereas and Resolved Clauses must mention the appropriate body involved. A Resolution must not go to the floor of ALA Membership calling upon SRRT to act in a particular manner. (This has happened in the past and has been the cause of some anguish and reproach.)
- The mover/seconder or sponsoring Task Force(s) are responsible for gathering endorsements from other ALA units unless they request, and are afforded, specific assistance from the Round Table.
- Any two ALA members may bring an issue to the floor of an ALA Membership Meeting. This may be done by SRRT members, whether or not SRRT endorsement has been asked for or granted. However, only after adoption by SRRT Action Council may any Resolution be billed as being SRRT-endorsed. With the change in times for the ALA Membership Meetings, the passing of a resolution at SRRT Action Council first and then submitting it to ALA at-large under the 24-hour rule, may no longer be possible.
- In the absence of an ALA Membership Meeting, Resolutions may be sent directly to the ALA Council. Resolutions need not go through the ALA Membership Meeting should one be held. They may go directly to ALA Council. This is to be determined by the mover/seconder with such advice as they seek on this matter from SRRT Action Council and others. Any Resolution going before ALA Council requires the signature of two ALA Councillors. Obtaining these signatures is the responsibility of the mover/seconder or sponsoring Task Force(s) unless they request, and are afforded, specific assistance from the Round Table.
Tara, it's on mover to take care of resolutions. Olivia said that Rachel, Elaine and I will meet to figure out next steps and underscored the need for step-by-step outline.
Action item: Resolution Condemning ICE Raids, State Violence, and the Criminalization of Journalism and Protest MOTION Mark R. moves, Don 2nds, that SRRT AC to endorse the resolution. Olivia asked for discussion. Mark R. reads a statement. Olivia, would you like to read the resolved clauses? Mark R. reads resolved clauses. Olivia asks for comments, questions. Derek asked a question related to mentions in the resolution regarding ICE; does this include Border Patrol or Department of Homeland Security? I ask because I'm concerned the resolution is limited to ICE only and should be expanded. The Border Patrol shot Pretti. How does resolution address that? Mark R. replied that it would be possible to specify Derek's concern in a friendly amendment. Derek suggested that the language should start with DHS and place in parentheses ICE, Border Patrol. Mark R. we could vote with the idea to make that change. Olivia was curious if an amendment would change resolution substantively. Tara suggested that making an amendment could suggest that the language was not tight enough to begin with. Aaron replied that, to be on safe side, we should go ahead and make an amendment. MOTION Al moves, Mark H. 2nds TO AMEND - All resolution references to ICE be replaced by Department of Homeland Security, except in 5th whereas "ICE and other". YES-8 to amend.
Olivia asked if there were any last questions, thoughts on the MOTION AS AMENDED? Seeing none she called for a vote. YES-6 NO-0 ABS-1 APPROVED Al, do we use the same process as previous one for next steps. Olivia, Rachel and Elaine will look into it.
Action item: Resolution Concerning United States of America In Crisis Elaine, withdrew request for action given the meeting time was at an end.
Meeting adjourned at 4:00 PM Atlantic
DRAFT minutes submitted by Elaine Harger, 12 February 2026
END DRAFT MINUTES
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Elaine Harger
Librarian (retired)
She/Her/Hers,we/all
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