From the President

Superpowers

by Timothy D. Lincoln

Newly inaugurated American president Donald J. Trump has wasted no time in issuing a salvo of executive orders. He has, among other actions, ordered that two federal regulations be retired for each new one issued, re-instituted a ban on the use of foreign aid to international agencies that talk about or provide access to abortions, and imposed a hiring freeze on some jobs in the federal government. Regardless of whether or not you or I think that any of these actions may be good policy, the president’s ability to define how many laws are implemented gives the sitting incumbent a great deal of power to effect change in the world. The power of office is real.

Association News, From the President

New Year’s Resolutions and A Sense Of Urgency

by Timothy D. Lincoln

Thomas Keller’s restaurant, The French Laundry, in Yountville, California, has been widely hailed as one of the country’s best. The restaurant serves elegant nine-course meals in a building that is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The staff of The French Laundry meets an exacting standard of excellence. In the kitchen hangs this sign: Sense of Urgency. The ability to generate a sense of urgency is a key factor (along with access to high quality locally sourced food) that enables the restaurant to produce high-quality meals for patrons day after day.

Association News, From the President

ATLA Has Just Gotten Bolder

by Timothy D. Lincoln

It’s not boring to be a librarian in 2016. There are always new opportunities and challenges. In fact, one such challenge is the need to justify why your library (and perhaps your institution) should exist at all.  What difference would it make if your school or your library went out of business? The Organizational Ends of ATLA answer the question: Why does our organization exist? The answer to this question changes over time because the needs of librarians, the tools used to discover information, pedagogy, and the missions of institutional members, all change over time.

Association News, From the President

Do You Value Innovation? Then Value Diversity

by Timothy D. Lincoln

One of the core values of ATLA is “creativity, innovation, and transformation.”  Another core value is “hospitality, inclusion, and diversity.”  (ATLA is the kind of association where sometimes one word just won’t do.) On the surface, these two sets of values are not necessarily related to each other.  Innovation seems to be about smart, persistent people who are willing to take risks.  Diversity and hospitality seems to be primarily about how I treat someone else whom I perceive as different from me. I may be very welcoming but not creative; I may be creative and still be a horrible person to be around.

Association News, From the President