At the first meeting of the Executive board ordinary routine business
was first transacted, and, later, Mr. Henry E. Legler, as chairman
of the committee appointed to draft a by-law stating definitely what
person or persons are entitled to cast votes for institutional members,
reported that the committee recommended that the by-laws be amended by
adding the following section:
Sec. 11. The vote of institutional members shall be cast by the
duly designated representative whose credentials are filed with
the secretary. In the absence of such designation or of such
delegate the vote may be cast by the chief librarian or ranking
executive officer in attendance at the meeting.
Consideration was given to the recommendations adopted by the Council
from the Committee on relation of the A. L. A. and State library
associations and on motion of Dr. Andrews, it was voted to recommend
to the association that Section 14 of the Constitution be amended by
inserting the following clause, after the words "and twenty-five by the
Council itself;"
"and one member from each state, provincial and territorial
library association (or any association covering two or more such
geographical divisions) which complies with the conditions for
such representation set forth in the by-laws."
Also that Sec. 3a be added to the By-laws as follows:
"Each state, territorial and provincial library association (or
any association covering two or more such geographical divisions)
having a membership of not less than fifteen members, may be
represented in the Council by the president of such association,
or by an alternate elected at the annual meeting of the
association. The annual dues shall be $5.00 for each association
having a membership of fifty or less, and ten cents per additional
capita where membership is above that number. The privileges and
advantages of the A. L. A. Conferences shall be available only to
those holding personal membership or representing institutional
membership in the Association."[5]
[5] As this by-law would be meaningless until the above recommended
amendment to the Constitution is in force, action on the by-law was
postponed by the Association until the next annual conference.
Adjourned, subject to the call of the chair.
The second meeting was held after the election of officers. Mr. Legler
presided.
Mr. George T. Settle, acting assistant librarian of the Louisville
free public library, appeared before the board and in behalf of the
library board and various officials and organizations of Louisville and
Kentucky invited the association to meet in Louisville in 1913.
A letter was read from Mr. George F. Bowerman, librarian of the
District of Columbia public library, in which was expressed a desire
that the association meet in Washington in 1913 and, if found
practicable and desirable, to adopt the policy of holding recurrent
meetings in that city.
Invitations for the conference of 1913 were also received and read from
the convention bureaus of Chicago, Buffalo and San Francisco. All of
these invitations were tabled for due consideration.
After general discussion it was voted as the opinion of the Executive
board that the next conference should be held at some summer resort in
the eastern section of the country and the secretary was instructed to
investigate places of this nature, and report to the board.
A report of considerable length was received from the Bookbuying
Committee relative to negotiations between the respective committees
appointed by the A. L. A. and the American Booksellers' Association,
upon which it was voted that this report be sent to the respective
members of the Executive board and their opinions and suggestions
thereon be filed with the secretary to be later considered by the board.
A communication from the secretary of the Catalog section was received
stating that the following resolution had been unanimously adopted by
that section:
RESOLVED, that the A. L. A. Executive board be asked to appoint
a committee to investigate the cost and method of cataloging
in accordance with the suggestions in Mr. Josephson's paper,
"What is cataloging?"[6] Mr. Josephson's paper accompanied the
communication. It was voted that the president appoint a committee
of three for this purpose and that an appropriation of $15 be
made for the necessary expenses of the committee. The president
appointed as this committee Mr. A. G. S. Josephson, Miss Agnes Van
Valkenburgh and Miss Emma V. Baldwin.
[6] For Mr. Josephson's paper, see page 245.
A communication was considered from Mr. Asa Don Dickinson, addressed to
the secretary, relative to a campaign for a library clearing house for
periodicals. It was taken by consent that such a campaign would not be
practical for the A. L. A. to undertake under present conditions.
Mr. Wellman, as special committee of one from the Publishing board,
to investigate the advisability of the appointment of a committee to
work upon the compilation of a code for classifiers, reported favorably
on the plan and recommended that the Executive board take the matter
in hand and appoint a committee as requested. On motion it was voted
that the following committee be named: W. S. Merrill, J. C. Bay, W. S.
Biscoe, W. P. Cutter, J. C. M. Hanson, Charles Martel and P. L. Windsor.
* * * * *
On motion of Dr. Andrews it was voted that the secretary secure data
relating to the library careers of the members of the association, this
information either to be incorporated in the annual Handbook or filed
at the headquarters office for use of the membership.
On motion of Dr. Andrews it was voted that the president suggest to the
members of the Executive board any changes he deems desirable in the
membership of the standing committees and to ask for such suggestions
and that the secretary inform the members of any changes suggested by
the committees themselves.
On motion of Miss Eastman it was voted that C. W. Andrews and A. E.
Bostwick be re-elected members of the Publishing board for terms of
three years each.
Voted, that at its January meeting the Council be requested to define
the policy of the association as to the number of general sessions
advisable at the annual conference.
On motion of Dr. Andrews it was voted that the program committee be
asked to consult the wishes of the affiliated organizations regarding
the closer grouping of their respective sessions at the annual
conference.
Voted, that at future conferences of the association the ensign of the
United States and the British union jack be placed side by side to
signify the international nature of the association.
Adjourned.
Note: The standing committees for the year 1912-13 were later
appointed as follows and although these appointments were not a
part of the Ottawa conference business, the list is here given for
convenience of reference.