Statement before the Glenn
A. Walsh
Library
Association:
Lack
of Publicity for Telephone:
412-561-7876
ACLA Public Hearing Electronic
Mail: < gawalsh@andrewcarnegie.cc >
On RAD Formula 2007
July 16
Good evening. I am Glenn A.
Walsh of
This evening, ACLA will
hold its first official public hearing. And, barely anyone even knows this hearing
is going to happen! However-many people show-up for this hearing tonight, there
should be three or four times that many, because people in
I understand that a flyer,
publicizing the public hearing, was distributed to libraries. But, little other
publicity occurred. At a previous Board meeting the President said that this
public hearing would be advertised on the ACLA web site and in the press. Neither happened!!!
Oh yes, it was noted on the
ACLA web site’s calendar. This is not
advertising! Why did you not simply publicize the Summer Reading Program on the
calendar? No, you prominently advertised the Summer Reading Program on the
cover page of the web site, while there was not one mention of the public hearing on the web site cover page! How
was a member of the public, looking at your web site cover page, supposed to
know to look on your calendar page for the date of a public hearing—particularly
considering that ACLA has never before held a public hearing!!!
What was your media
advertising budget for this public hearing? Did you even distribute a news
release? I found no actual news release on your web site. And, apparently none
of the media saw a news release either because there was no mention of the public hearing in either
The lack of publicity for
this public hearing clearly shows the ACLA management’s continual disinterest
in public input, or anything else that is seen as an impediment to management’s
empire-building agenda.
A second, well-publicized public hearing should
be held in September, following the release of the consultant’s draft report,
to allow the public the ability to comment on the findings and recommendations
of the consultant.
Thank you.
gaw
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