D. Ching-chih Chen, professor and Associate Dean, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, is the first Asian born professional in the 120 year history of the American Library Association to be nominated for ALA Presidency. She is a well known educator, administrator, and author/editor of 26 books and over 100 journal articles and reports. She has won many awards, honors and grants and is active in many national and international professional organizations. Dr. Fazle Kabir interviewed Dr. Chen exclusively for LTI and asked her many difficult questions. Dr. Chen was very open and candid during the interview and answered all questions in a professional manner. -- Editor

A growing number of librarians feel that the American Library Association (ALA) is losing its professional image and effectiveness as it has grown so large. The use of such Public Relation expression 'come to the show (conference)' makes the Association look like a socializing venue. Tell us of your own view on this.
Having campaigned in different parts of the country since the end of September, and confronted with similar questions as asked, I realize that there are feelings of alienation for some members of the ALA. They probably reflect a perception that the ALA is an overwhelming political structure -- as indeed it is. The myriad of organizational entities, each of which seems to embody its own set of political agendas and processes, may well create in the alienated member a sense of bewilderment and a feeling that one can have no effect. Given that much of the large scale process is seemingly overtly political, the person whose primary interest is professional rather than political will almost certainly feel alienated. Some may further perceive ALA is run by a small number of "insiders," and simply not interested to be diversified.
My answer to this problem is to strengthen the truly professional components of the ALA operations, to increase their visibility and their role, as well as their programming as represented by many "content-based" sessions at the divisional national meetings. As a 57,000-member association, ALA is bound to be political. To the outside world, we must be as politically savvy as possible in dealing with our governments at all levels, and with non-library groups, but we must devote less energy for internal politics and we must involve our members more to the affairs of the association, not to create heavy-layer structure to exclude the members' participation.

Please state your plan for generating increased confidence in ALA so that all the ALA members by and large can feel that ALA is truly a representative National body looking after the interest of the profession and the professionals as well.
I believe that my answer to the first question has partially addressed this question. Perhaps the best way to make more clarification is to state my vision for ALA and my agendas:
To me, the ALA is the means for maintaining the profession of library and information services as a cohesive body, bringing together the diverse interests as seen by its individual members, and defining, as a continuing process, the issues that are important to the responsibilities of the profession and the positions concerning them. It is also a means for effective participation of the profession in national political processes. Thus, my vision of the ALA is that it must be an organization remembering its past, continuing to build on its present, and ready for its challenges for the 21st century. Only this way, we can Championing a free and open information society with goals of providing information access and improving information services for everyone.
While continuing its present roles, it will have to represent an increasing diversity of interests and deal with an increasingly complex array of issues. While issues of the past will continue to be important, many new ones resulting from revolutionary changes occurring in society must be added. Those changes include the impact of information technology -- on the structure of the economy, on the nature of work, on the means for education, on the forms of recreation -- which must be central to concerns of the profession with its responsibility for assuring preservation of information and of the means for information access. ALA will serve as a primary means to deal with that impact with effectiveness while maintaining its traditional values.
As we are experiencing exceptionally complex political, economic, social, and cultural changes in the nation that far transcend the profession of library and information service and that directly affect the profession and its means for serving the society, the ALA will serve as the means for assuring that the voice of the profession is heard in the large-scale decisions as our society deals with those changes. Finally, dramatic changes are occurring at the international level; since the profession is essentially international, certainly in the materials with which it deals and the information contained in them but also in the common sense of responsibilities, those changes should be considered by the ALA as it responds to needs in the future.
Clearly, I am a candidate with many agenda. Top of the list includes:
€ Position libraries prominently for the new information age, and prepare librarians for the challenges via aggressive educational/training programs -- we must be proactive rather than reactive!
€ The top priority is information access
€ Advocate the value of libraries
€ Campaign for more funding supports, and form relevant partnership
€ Introduce and implement adequate services to children, youth, rural and disadvantaged population groups.
€ Promote equity for librarians
€ Implement effective programs related to cultural diversity
€ Increase membership participation and improve management structure of the ALA


Do you have any plan to reduce the present information technology gap between the Third World countries and the Western World can be reduced in a reasonably short time.
As you probably know, since 1987, I have initiated a series of International Conference on New Information Technology (NIT) for developing countries. They were held in different parts of the world, such as Bangkok (1987), Singapore (1989), Guadalajara, Mexico (1990), Budapest (1991), Hong Kong (1992), Puerto Rico (1993), Alexandria, VA (1994) and Riga, Latvia (1995). These provided most effective forum for interaction, network building, and information sharing among library, information, media, and computer professionals. In less than 10 years, I have created a powerful network of over 2500 librarians representing over 500 organizations in over 25 countries. Almost all those who participated at any of these conferences -- regardless whether they came from the Third World or the Western World countries -- have felt the long-lasting effects of these opportunities for interaction, sharing, and mutual encouragement.
I can not assure that the gap can and will be reduced in a short time, but efforts such as what I have initiated, planned and implemented certainly help to hasten the results.

ALA has not paid much attention to the international librarianship. Do you think under your leadership and the 1996 scheduled IFLA Conference in Beijing will make any difference in the position of ALA on this important issue?
First of all, I am proud to be the first Chinese American or first Asian American to have been nominated as a candidate for this highest leadership role of the ALA. Throughout the years, I have been a very active player in the international library and information arenas as consultant, speaker and program organizer. I have always seen the great potential for the ALA in the international arena. Yet, throughout the years, the international programs of the ALA have been in the bottom of the ALA agenda due to budgetary considerations. Now, with the help of Internet and growing sophistication of the global information infrastructure (GII), we can communicate with our colleagues in other countries sometimes faster than with those in the US. The footprint from the cyberspace is indeed very large! Thus, opportunities are plenty for the ALA, being the largest professional organization of our fields in the world, to play a more significant role in the global scene. Both the 1996 IFLA in Beijing, as well as the first US/ALA-China Joint Invitational Conference immediately before the IFLA meeting will be golden opportunities for the ALA to develop more aggressive and effective global internetworking among librarians of over 70 countries.
Throughout the years, I have been very privileged to have worked with librarians from over 30 countries, and many of my international friends are delighted to learn of my candidacy. Needless to say, my colleagues from China shared my enthusiasm as well.

State your view of the fact and the reasons that ALA has taken that long to nominate any Asian born outstanding professional as its presidential candidate.
I really don't think that it is necessary to second guess the reasons why I am the first Asian American ever been nominated to run for this highest office of the ALA in the 120-year ALA history. We all know that despite of the popular expressions of multi-cultural diversity etc..., we still have to work very hard toward the eventual goals. Yet, the very fact that I was nominated is certainly one step toward the right direction, and the ALA Nominating Committee should be complimented for their openness and sincerity. But, let's make no mistake to think the "glass-ceiling" can be reached easily with difficulties and collective efforts. So, those who shares my vision and supports my agenda must work very hard together with me toward our common goals. Let me take this chance to thank those who have already worked very hard on my behalf, and we need more to join the force.

It is a well known fact that there are numerous Asian born outstanding librarians in the profession; however, very few have top positions in the National Association or in any library school or in any library. What are your views on this issue?
I believe that I have alluded to the situation in the last question. I would like to fancy that at this present time, we are functioning in a totally unbiased environment, but that is totally unrealistic! I have been very fortunate not to have experienced any discrimination over 35 years in my role as a librarian, teacher, trainer, author, speaker, consultant, researcher, and innovator. But, reaching for the "top" leadership role will add the political factor! For the first time in my life I know that we still have a lot to work for in this area!

It is perceived that there is an element of reservation amongst the rank and file of the librarians toward Asian born and various ethnic minority professionals. Suggest some ways to neutralize this reservation.
I am aware of the element of reservation which you referred to. Let me share with you what I have done in my role as educator/administrator, I have developed and implemented plans to increase sensitivity related to cultural and ethnic diversity among employers in the work place.
To me, sensitivity to and tolerance of ethnic and cultural differences among workers, and appreciation for diversity are the foundation for multiculturalism. Thus, I have offered seminars, and directed nation-wide institutes on the topic. For example, as early as 1978, I directed the Institute on Management Without Bias, sponsored by the US Department of Education, to sensitize library managers selected from different parts of the country. The results and experience of this institute were also shared with many non-participants via a book publication under the same title.
As an educator, I initiated an innovative educational program in early 1980s at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College by submitting proposals to the US Department of Education for Title IIB Fellowships for our Doctor of Arts Program. These fellowships were specifically aimed for educating white women and minority men and women for high-level library management careers. I was successful in obtaining such funding supports for over 5 years. As a result, over fifteen minorities graduated with our DA degree, and many have since become very visible and successful leaders of our profession. Furthermore, this program continues even now to be one for our Master-level preparation of minorities.
Again, these are simply examples to show that efforts like what I have described can make a real difference in neutralizing biased environment.

Do you have any plan for appointing ethnic minorities and Asian born librarians to the important ALA Committees, if you are elected.
Absolutely. We have seen considerable improvement in this year's appointment with President Turock's committees, and I shall definitely pledge to involve more ethnic minorities and Asian born librarians in important ALA Committees.

You have been very prolific in writing, teaching, organizing successful international conferences on technology and looking for the interest of the profession as well. Please tell us the secret of your success.
I believe that I am a good time manager who has spend every minute of my 24-hour day effectively. But, most importantly, I feel strongly in everything I am involved in and committed to, and I am good in conceptualizing a situation or problem. Because of these, once I have conceptualize something, I can develop a very focused plan to implement that given activity.
Finally, I am a very hard and persistent worker, who enjoys being challenged, and love to face new and difficult problems.

A.F. M. Fazle Kabir, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor, School of Library and Information Science, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is an active professional and a well known author.

Please visit Dr. Ching-chih Chen Home Page:

http://www.simmons.edu/~cchen/ALA/home.html