SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

Here are two resolutions which I am PERSOANLLY proposing , as a member of SRRT and of Action Council.

THey will be presented in a ZOOM meeting for IRTF in a few days for their possible endorsement,but they stand as my own proposed resolutions here and now . I look for input and comment in advance of the upcoming AC meeting, but I will propose something like these two at AC.,

I ask the SRRT COORDINATORS  to accept these as formal proposals for the upcoming meeting!

Resolution Opposing U.S. Military Intervention in Venezuela and Iran


Whereas the American Library Association affirms the fundamental principles of peace, international law, national self-determination, and the resolution of conflicts through diplomatic and multilateral means; and


Whereas the mission of libraries includes support for an informed public capable of democratic judgment, which is undermined by war, militarization, disinformation, and the suppression of critical perspectives; and


Whereas the United States government has repeatedly threatened, prepared for, or engaged in military intervention against sovereign nations, including Venezuela and Iran, through direct force, proxy actions, economic warfare, covert operations, and destabilization campaigns; and


Whereas military intervention and coercive regime-change policies have resulted in widespread civilian suffering, displacement, infrastructure destruction, environmental harm, and long-term regional instability; and


Whereas such interventions are routinely justified through misleading narratives that obscure historical context, international law, and the human costs borne by civilian populations; and


Whereas librarians and information workers have an ethical responsibility to oppose policies that normalize war and to defend the conditions necessary for peace, truth-seeking, and international solidarity;


Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association, through its Council, publicly opposes any U.S. military intervention, overt or covert, against Venezuela or Iran; and


Be it further resolved that ALA calls for the pursuit of diplomacy, adherence to international law, respect for national sovereignty, and the lifting of policies that escalate conflict and collective punishment; and


Be it further resolved that ALA encourages libraries and library workers to support access to diverse, independent, and international sources of information on U.S. foreign policy and its global impacts; and


Be it further resolved that this resolution be transmitted to ALA Council and made publicly available as an expression of librarianship's commitment to peace and global responsibility.


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Resolution Condemning ICE Raids, State Violence, and the Criminalization of Journalism and Protest


Whereas the American Library Association has long affirmed the defense of civil liberties, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press, due process, and the right to dissent; and


Whereas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out raids, roundups, and enforcement actions characterized by violence, intimidation, racial profiling, family separation, and the targeting of immigrant communities; and


Whereas these actions contribute to fear, trauma, and the erosion of trust in public institutions, including libraries, which serve immigrant and marginalized communities; and


Whereas journalists, legal observers, librarians, students, and protesters have increasingly faced surveillance, harassment, detention, investigation, and prosecution by federal and local authorities; and


Whereas the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies have used protests and public demonstrations as a pretext to investigate, charge, or intimidate journalists and others engaged in constitutionally protected activity; and


Whereas such practices undermine press freedom, chill dissent, distort public discourse, and weaken democratic accountability; and


Whereas libraries and library workers depend on a free press and the protection of protest rights to fulfill their civic and educational roles;


Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association condemns ICE raids, roundups, and the use of violence and intimidation against immigrant communities; and


Be it further resolved that ALA denounces the investigation, prosecution, or harassment of journalists and others under the guise of protest-related enforcement; and


Be it further resolved that ALA affirms its solidarity with journalists, immigrants, protesters, and all those targeted for exercising their rights to free expression, assembly, and information; and


Be it further resolved that ALA calls on federal, state, and local authorities to cease practices that criminalize journalism, suppress dissent, or endanger vulnerable communities; and


Be it further resolved that this resolution be forwarded to ALA Council and shared publicly as a statement of librarianship's ethical commitment to civil liberties and democratic life.

I just want to say that is is important that SRRT engage these issues and propose public statements by the Association on these matters NO MATTER HOW THE COUNCIL WILL REACT TO THEM.  WE HAVE A "SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: TO DO SO !!! C'mon SRRTers!!!

Resolution Opposing U.S. Military Intervention in Venezuela and IranWhereas the American Library Association affirms the fundamental principles of peace, international law, national self-determination, and the resolution of conflicts through diplomatic and multilateral means; andWhereas the mission of libraries includes support for an informed public capable of democratic judgment, which is undermined by war, militarization, disinformation, and the suppression of critical perspectives; andWhereas the United States government has repeatedly threatened, prepared for, or engaged in military intervention against sovereign nations, including Venezuela and Iran, through direct force, proxy actions, economic warfare, covert operations, and destabilization campaigns; andWhereas military intervention and coercive regime-change policies have resulted in widespread civilian suffering, displacement, infrastructure destruction, environmental harm, and long-term regional instability; andWhereas such interventions are routinely justified through misleading narratives that obscure historical context, international law, and the human costs borne by civilian populations; andWhereas librarians and information workers have an ethical responsibility to oppose policies that normalize war and to defend the conditions necessary for peace, truth-seeking, and international solidarity;Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association, through its Council, publicly opposes any U.S. military intervention, overt or covert, against Venezuela or Iran; andBe it further resolved that ALA calls for the pursuit of diplomacy, adherence to international law, respect for national sovereignty, and the lifting of policies that escalate conflict and collective punishment; andBe it further resolved that ALA encourages libraries and library workers to support access to diverse, independent, and international sources of information on U.S. foreign policy and its global impacts; andBe it further resolved that this resolution be transmitted to ALA Council and made publicly available as an expression of librarianship's commitment to peace and global responsibility.––––––––––––––––––--------------------------------------------------------Resolution Condemning ICE Raids, State Violence, and the Criminalization of Journalism and ProtestWhereas the American Library Association has long affirmed the defense of civil liberties, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press, due process, and the right to dissent; andWhereas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has carried out raids, roundups, and enforcement actions characterized by violence, intimidation, racial profiling, family separation, and the targeting of immigrant communities; andWhereas these actions contribute to fear, trauma, and the erosion of trust in public institutions, including libraries, which serve immigrant and marginalized communities; andWhereas journalists, legal observers, librarians, students, and protesters have increasingly faced surveillance, harassment, detention, investigation, and prosecution by federal and local authorities; andWhereas the U.S. Department of Justice and other agencies have used protests and public demonstrations as a pretext to investigate, charge, or intimidate journalists and others engaged in constitutionally protected activity; andWhereas such practices undermine press freedom, chill dissent, distort public discourse, and weaken democratic accountability; andWhereas libraries and library workers depend on a free press and the protection of protest rights to fulfill their civic and educational roles;Therefore be it resolved that the American Library Association condemns ICE raids, roundups, and the use of violence and intimidation against immigrant communities; andBe it further resolved that ALA denounces the investigation, prosecution, or harassment of journalists and others under the guise of protest-related enforcement; andBe it further resolved that ALA affirms its solidarity with journalists, immigrants, protesters, and all those targeted for exercising their rights to free expression, assembly, and information; andBe it further resolved that ALA calls on federal, state, and local authorities to cease practices that criminalize journalism, suppress dissent, or endanger vulnerable communities; andBe it further resolved that this resolution be forwarded to ALA Council and shared publicly as a statement of librarianship's ethical commitment to civil liberties and democratic life.