ALA Midwinter 2011: ALA Issues "White Paper" on Future of Midwinter Meeting
No policy change foreseen, but there may be a need to "reinvent" gathering By John N. Berry III Jan 7, 2011The American Library Association's (ALA) executive director, Keith Michael Fiels, and Mary W. Ghikas, ALA's senior associate executive director, "do not believe that policy changes are required" regarding the annual ALA Midwinter Meeting.
The two expressed this opinion in a "White Paper" written for discussion by ALA's Executive Board at the upcoming Midwinter Meeting in San Diego (January 7–11). Nevertheless, they asserted that Midwinter must be "repositioned" in order "to reflect current, not past, practice and a new understanding of the ‘business of the Association.' "
The document says new communication technologies and the economic downturn have raised questions about "the role and value of face-to-face meetings," and the recession has "made it much more difficult for those involved in the association to travel."
Midwinter's increasing appeal
After a long review of the numerous activities that now take place at Midwinter, many of which obviously have eroded ALA policy, which states the meeting should be reserved for the business of governing ALA, the document adds what may be the true driving force behind it: "The ALA Midwinter...Exhibits have grown.... For many exhibitors the somewhat smaller exhibit floor, the smaller number of competing attractions, and an attendance that includes many experienced, active members make the Midwinter Meeting particularly attractive."
The two executives assert that ALA's Midwinter Meeting is valued for reaching out and engaging members, because it can be held in smaller cities and because it attracts many regional attendees who are nonmembers and who join ALA.
"The ALA Midwinter Meeting is deeply integrated into and integral to the life of the Association. It is a critical meeting time for the ALA Council and Executive Board, for Division Boards and for key committees...," the document adds.
According to the paper, Midwinter provides opportunities for professional development, networking, and discussion of emerging issues, and it is "a key component of the Book/Media Award Cycle." Midwinter does sustain member interest, and attendance "has held up remarkably well," steadily increasing for two decades.
Midwinter also provides opportunities for members to interact with leaders in the field, to be mentored, and to gain leadership experience in a more distraction-free environment than the ALA annual summer conference.
A call for reinvention
The 2011 Midwinter is noticeably down in terms of numbers of "separately scheduled events," with only 1000 this year compared to 2000 in 2008.
"Members are quietly creating a Midwinter that works for them," says the report.
Changes that would make Midwinter more effective and that are already being aggressively pursued are: 1) more "hybrid" meetings combining in-person and virtual participation; 2) greater visibility for informal discussion groups; 3) greater emphasis on regional continuing education programs; 4) more leadership and career development opportunities; and 5) more participatory and interactive sessions.
"A Midwinter Meeting ‘transformed' is in the best interest of the Association and the libraries we serve...." Although Midwinter might be smaller, the report adds that "sheer growth is not necessarily always desirable, and Midwinter would lose many of the advantages cited if it were to grow into another conference with 25,000 attendees.... With prudent planning and an understanding that we will need to ‘reinvent' Midwinter,' " the White Paper concludes, "it can continue to be of value for many years to come."
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