SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

Social Responsibilities Round Table

Action Council I & II Meetings

ALA Annual Conference 2018

New Orleans, LA

SRRT Action Council Meeting I

Saturday, June 23, 2018

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: Morial Convention Center, Rm 230

Agenda - SRRT Action Council Meeting I

1. Welcome and Introductions

1. Review of Agenda

2. ALA Executive Committee Report

3. Resolutions

1. Resolution to Honor African Americans Who Fought Library Segregation

2. Resolution on Socially Responsible Investments for the ALA Endowment Fund

1. BARC response

3. Memorial Resolution in Honor of Herb Biblo

4. Resolution on Cessation of Family Separations for Refugees Arriving at the United States Borders

4. Reports

1. Treasurer

2. Membership Committee

3. Task Forces

1. Feminist Task Force

2. MLK Jr. Holiday Task Force

3. International Responsibilities Task Force

4. Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty Task Force

4. SRRT Newsletter Editorial Board

5. Planning & Budget Assembly

6. Legislative Assembly report

7. Committee on Legislation

8. Round Table Coordinating Committee

5. SRRT Programs at Future ALA Conferences

1. Juried program submissions

1. Census 2020 and Social Justice (co-sponsored with GODORT)

2. SRRT Coordinator's program

3. Discussion group submissions

1. Amelia Bloomer Program

6. Additional Items

1. SRRT Conference Travel Grant proposal

2. SRRT website redesign

1. Updating current Action Council

1. Photos and email addresses needed

3. SRRT Statement of Appropriate Conduct/Community Guidelines

4. SRRT liaison to the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC)

5. SRRT representative to the ODLOS Advisory Committee

6. SRRT Award in honor of Herb Biblo

7. Open Forum/Conclusion

Guests:

Saturday, 10:30-11:30am – Mike Marlin, Executive Board Liaison

SRRT Action Council Meeting II

Sunday, June 24, 2018

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location: Morial Convention Center, Rm 225

Agenda - SRRT Action Council Meeting II

1. Resume where we left off from Action Council I

2. ODLOS Report

3. Membership Meeting

Other SRRT Events:

Friday, June 22, 2018

• SRRT All Task Force Meeting, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM, Morial Convention Center, Rm 201-202

• Feminist Task Force Meeting

• Hunger, Homelessness, & Poverty Task Force Meeting

• International Responsibilities Task Force Meeting

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Task Force Meeting

Saturday, June 23, 2018

• Women of Library History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon I, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Morial Convention Center, Rm 264

• Women of Library History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon II, 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Morial Convention Center, Rm 264

• Memorial Reception and Celebration for Herb Biblo, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Hilton Riverside, Magazine Room

Sunday, June 24, 2018

• Assisting Palestinian Libraries, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Morial Convention Center, Rm 210

• Progressive Librarians Guild Meeting (PLG), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Morial Convention Center, Rm 225

• Women of Library History Wikipedia Edit-a-thon III: Working Party, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 Saint Charles, 504-596-2625

• Progressive Librarians Guild - Braverman Prize Dinner (PLG), 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, Mulate’s - The Original Cajun Restaurant, 201 Julia Street (11 minute walk from the Convention Center)

Resolution to Resolution to Honor African Americans Who Fought Library Segregation

Whereas the system of “Jim Crow” laws and customs officially existed into the 1960s—a century after the official end of slavery in the United States; [1] [2]

Whereas virulent racism, disenfranchisement, Black Codes, and racial segregation laws imposed a rigid system of officially sanctioned racial segregation in virtually all areas of life, including access to public libraries; 1 2

Whereas, despite the work of African American librarians, including but not limited to Clara Stanton Jones, E.J. Josey, Albert P. Marshall and Virginia Lacy Jones, and the allies who stood with them to fight segregation, a large majority of the nation’s library community failed to address the injustices of segregated library services until the 1960s; [3]

Whereas, in many cases the American Library Association participated, both passively and actively, in the disenfranchisement of African American librarians, depriving them of the resources of professional association;

Whereas the American Library Association continued to accept segregated public libraries as members into the 1960s; 3

Whereas the American Library Association filed no amicus curiae briefs in any of the local, state, and national lawsuits filed in the 1950s and 1960s to desegregate public libraries;3

Whereas the nation’s library press reported nothing about the 1939 Alexandria (VA) Public Library sit-in by five young African Americans that took place two months after the American Library Association passed a Library Bill of Rights; 3

Whereas a sincere and heartfelt apology is an important and necessary first step in the process of reconciliation;

Whereas an apology for decades of injustices cannot erase the past, but a recognition of the wrongs committed and injustices ignored can help the nation’s library community confront the ghosts of its past: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the American Library Association

(1) Acknowledges the fundamental injustice, cruelty, and inhumanity of racially segregated libraries;

(2) Apologizes to African Americans for wrongs committed against them in segregated public libraries;

(3) Commends African Americans who risked their lives to integrate public libraries for their bravery and courage in challenging segregation in public libraries and in forcing public libraries to live up to the rhetoric of their ideals;

(4) Welcomes all African Americans to libraries, recognizing in particular those who were forced to use segregated libraries;

(5) Encourages libraries to defend, in their policies and in their actions, the ALA Code of Ethics principle 1 – “We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and courteous responses to all requests;”[4]

(6) Will review policy documents and internal procedures to ensure Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles are reflected throughout, and;

(7) And be it further resolved that this resolution be printed in full in American Libraries and publicize widely via all media channels.

[1] United States. Cong. House. Apologizing for the Enslavement and Racial Segregation of African-Americans. 110th Cong. 2nd sess. H. Res. 194. (2007-2008). 154 Cong. Rec. H7224. Washington: GPO, 2008.

[2] United States. Cong. Senate. Apologizing for the Enslavement and Racial Segregation of African-Americans. 111th Cong. 1st sess. S. Res. 26. (2009-2010). 155 Cong. Rec. S6761. Washington: GPO, 2009.

[3] Shirley A. Wiegand and Wayne A. Wiegand, The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism, (Baton Rouge, 2018), LSU Press.

[4] Code of Ethics of the American Library Association.

Resolution on Socially Responsible Investments for the ALA Endowment Fund

Whereas, ALA Council passed a “Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries” (2014-2015 ALA CD#36_62815_FINAL), which specifically includes ALA internal policies;

Whereas, ALA Council passed “An American Library Association Statement on Global Climate Change and a Call for Support for Libraries and Librarians” (2016-2017 ALA CD#41_6817_ACT), which includes recognizing that human interactions and activities affect the dynamics of Earth’s climate system;

Whereas an organization's investments are a significant indicator of its values;

Whereas, divestment from fossil fuel corporations is a fast-growing worldwide movement encompassing educational, cultural, faith-based, philanthropic, government, and health care organizations, and includes pension funds, NGOs, and for-profit corporations;

Whereas, the ALA Endowment Fund has progressively increased its holdings in Environmental, Social and Governance/Socially Responsible Investments (ESG/SRI), and about 23.5% are currently in the ESG/SRI portfolio;

Whereas, ALA’s socially responsible portfolio is currently managed by ClearBridge Investments, and that company has determined that ESG/SRI returns have very closely followed the S&P 500 index since at least 2001, noting no loss of investment income;

Whereas, ClearBridge uses “customized client screens” for investment policies;

Whereas, 350.org shows at least 830 institutions are divesting fossil fuel holdings worth at least $6.01 trillion;

Whereas, at least 186 US mayors have committed their cities to 100% renewable energy;

Whereas, over 260,000 jobs have been created in the solar energy industry, and the industry grows by at least 20% per year;

Therefore, be it resolved that the ALA Council strongly recommends the following to the ALA Endowment Trustees:

1.     Increase the percentage of Endowment funds invested in socially responsible portfolios in a practical manner every year for the foreseeable future;

2.     Exclude from the Environmental, Social and Governance/Socially Responsible Investments (ESG/SRI) portfolios all fossil fuel investments, notwithstanding any socially responsible designations by any company or organization; and

3.     Report on progress made towards these goals at least annually to the ALA Council and membership.

BARC Report to ALA Council regarding the Resolution on Socially Responsible Investments for the ALA Endowment Fund

May 30, 2018

Submitted by Rhea Lawson, Chair, BARC, Susan Hildreth, ALA Treasurer, Endowment Trustee and BARC member and BARC committee members

During the Midwinter 2018 meeting, ALA Council referred the Resolution on Socially Responsible Investments for the ALA Endowment Fund to BARC. Since February, BARC, the Finance and Audit Committee, and the Endowment Trustees have researched the financial implications of the resolution and provide the following information for ALA Council and the Executive Board.

Increase the percentage of Endowment funds invested in socially responsible portfolios in a practical manner every year for the foreseeable future.

As of 4/30/18, 25.3% of the Endowment is invested in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) classified funds.  Since 2002, the Endowment ESG ratio has steadily increased while maintaining a diversified portfolio to help the Endowment withstand market volatility.  The Endowment Trustees continue to consider the mix of investments to provide the greatest return on investments while being socially responsible. The Endowment was $45.9 million at the end of 2017, funding critical services and initiatives advancing the association.  Mandating an even larger investment in ESG during an unpredictable financial market will place the investment earnings at risk. The Endowment Trustees have been steadily increasing ESG investments and will continue to do so in a prudent manner as the market and options continue to evolve.  BARC agrees with the Endowment Trustees that the proposed directive to the Endowment Trustees will negatively impact Endowment earnings affecting the availability of resources for the ALA budget.

Exclude from the Environmental, Social and Governance/Socially Responsible Investments (ESG/SRI) portfolios all fossil fuel investments, notwithstanding any socially responsible designations by any company or organization.

The Endowment Trustees work closely with their investment advisor Merrill Lynch to determine the mix of investments supporting the goals of ALA.  Within the ESG investment sector, many energy companies in the portfolios include both renewable and fossil fuel energy, further complicating the ability to fully separate certain investments within mutual funds.

Clearbridge Investments, the primary (20.5% as of 4/30/18) ESG vehicle held by the Endowment, developed its own definitions regarding fossil fuel investments that represent stricter criteria than most other ESG fund definitions, thus providing a greater confidence in companies included in the Clearbridge portfolio.

The Resolution also suggests that customized client screens might be utilized to further separate fossil fuel holdings in Clearbridge. While this appears to be a simple way to address one of the key concerns expressed in the resolution, Clearbridge Investments and Merrill Lynch have shown this is not prudent. Removing specific stocks within mutual funds requires those assets be invested in cash only rather than rebalanced in other investments within the fund. This will result in a negligible return from the cash portion of the fund and will negatively affect the fund’s performance.  Finally, decreasing the performance of a portion of the Endowment’s holding will result in a negative investment return for the ALA Endowment as a whole.

Report on progress made towards these goals at least annually to the ALA Council and membership.

The Endowment Trustees provide regular reports to the ALA Council, Executive Board, BARC and Finance and Audit Committee. These reports are posted on the ALA Treasurer’s webpage. The reports already provide ESG investment details. BARC does not see the need for additional reporting since ESG details are already included within existing reports.

Resolution on Cessation of Family Separations for Refugees

Arriving at the United States Borders

Whereas “refugees should not be penalized for their illegal entry or stay,” and not be “charged with immigration or criminal offenses relating to the seeking of asylum, or being arbitrarily detained purely on the basis of seeking asylum,” (UN General Assembly resolution 429(V) of December 14, 1950;

Whereas the US Department of Justice recently announced a coercive “zero tolerance policy” resulting in the traumatic separation of 2,000 children from immigrant parents and the subsequent incarceration of children in secretive detention centers;

Whereas US Department of Homeland Security has responsibility for CBP and ICE enforcement of border security;

Whereas the American Civil Liberties Union is filing a lawsuit against US immigration authorities for separating children from their parents;

Whereas the Department of State has responsibility for implementation of the US Strategy for Central America (Strategy) and while this Strategy supports and complements the Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity (A4P), a joint initiative adopted by the Northern Triangle Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; and

Whereas the US is the only country in the world that has not ratified the International convention on the Rights of the Child; and

Whereas the UN Human Rights Office has condemned the US practice of separating children from their parents at the border as “a serious violation of the rights of the child;” now therefore, be it

Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA), on behalf of its members:

1.    demands that President Trump honor the US agreement with of the UN General Assembly resolution 429(V) of December 14, 1950 regarding refugees;

2.    demands the US Department of Justice immediately discontinue its “zero tolerance policy” and reunite children who have been separated from their families;

3.    urges the Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, Kirstjen M. Nielsen, to instruct the CBP and ICE to establish a more humane policy for families arriving at our borders who are seeking refugee status;

4.    will join an amicus brief in support of the ACLU’s case that opposes the US government’s “zero tolerance policy;”

5.    urges the US Congress to dedicate increased resources to the Department of State to provide additional educational and library support to the Northern Triangle countries in conjunction with the American Library Association and other non-governmental agencies working in those countries; and

6.    urges The United States Senate to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; and

7.    urges Nikki Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, to correct the U.S. policy on the “rights of the child” and to work within the United Nations guidelines for the treatment of refugees arriving at our borders.