by Deb Nerud
Lincoln (NE) City Libraries
and Brad Martin
The Queens Borough Pubic Library

[Only answers from presidential candidates are included]

Candidates for ALA office held an open forum Monday afternoon to state their views on the association and answer questions from members.
The three presidential candidates, Barbara Ford, Ching-chih Chen and Charles Beard gave insight into their background in the profession and the association.
The candidates for Treasurer are Wanda Brown, who was unable to be at the forum, and Bruce Daniels.
Questions posed by the audience indicated an interest in funding, priorities and challenges faced by librarians today.
Q: What concems, criticisms or praise have you heard as you've traveled across the country?

Chen: "I have sensed a feeling of alienation, partly due to the largeness of ALA. We must work to try to diminish internal political maneuvers and to address real professional concerns of the rnembers."

Beard: "I believe most people who don't attend conference really don't have an understanding of ALA. We are already beginning to correct many of the false impressions. Exchange of information and garnering of concerns will insure that we continue to develop an outstanding organization that helps not just the members but the entire profession."

Ford: "We have more members than we've ever had before. We have wonderful new initiatives and ways to communicate with members. We need to use chapters more effectively. I'm delighted to hear good and bad things people have to say."

Q: Several months ago ALA was attacked by Focus on the Family. How would you respond to such future attacks?

Ford: "We need to all be working from the same set of values and priorities. We need to be certain we are serving all users. We must be certain we are sending that message loud and clear. These things need to be addressed at the local level and ALA should provide the foundation."

Chen: "This is a very complex topic. ALA needs to have a firm stance. Intellectual freedom and fundamental principals need to be followed. We must make sure committees and task forces would work very hard at that. It is important for us to look at intellectual freedom and see which side is shifting out the information."

Beard: "I've long advocated the need to enable and empower our people at home to do a better job. We've always had family friendly libraries, we simply must provide access to information for everyone about everything."

Q: How do you think the ALA Washington Office priorities should be set and how should the Fund for America's Libraries be spent?"

Beard: "Our membership surveys have said, secure funding, protect our rights to do our job, enable libraries everywhere to better tell library stories. Funding and recognition are the two most important things. In addition, the creation of a diversity office for ALA and the needs of the association must be considered."

Chen: "The members surveyed say information technology, access to information, public relations, and intellectual freedom are most important. We must continue to strengthen those activities. Above all we can't do anything without proper funding. We need a diversity office and we need to learn to use technology more effectively to enhance information access.

Ford: "The Washington Office must get the input it needs to set priorities. The Executive Board and Council need to be certain we are setting priorities. As far as spending, the elected officials must get in touch with members and find out their needs and put funds where the priorities are."