Alaftf v2 50th 01

ALA SRRT Feminist Task Force

  • Task Force on the Status of Women in Librarianship established

    At the ALA annual conference in Detroit
  • Equal Opportunity Resolution

    At the 1971 ALA Midwinter meeting in Los Angeles, ALA adopted the Task Force's resolution demanding equal opportunity for women in librarianship. The task force polled candidates for ALA Council - only Thomas L. Hart opposed the resolution & vowed to oppose measures to implement it.
  • Children's Books Meeting

    At the Dallas annual conference, the task force organized an alternative Newbery-Caldecott event (later referred to as the Newcott-Caldeberry luncheon) and a meeting of all librarians interested in reviewing children's books with a plan to send librarians to the exhibits to judge whether publishers "provide us with the materials we need and want."
  • Preconference: Women in a Women's Profession: Strategy for Change

    The Task Force held a preconference with a focus on the concerns of women in librarianship and formulated recommendations for action. Planners included Elizabeth Futas, Pat Schuman, and Kathleen Weibel. Three resolutions that came out of the pre-conference (including ALA support for the Equal Rights Amendment) passed; two (ALA support for government funded child care & eliminating sexist language in ALA publications) failed to gain passage.
  • Non-Sexist Subject Heading Committee

    ALA Subject Analysis Committee endorsed and recommended that the Library of Congress adopt principles for the establishment of subject headings relating to people and peoples.
  • Non-sexist Language

    Resolution requiring the establishment of guidelines for non-sexist terminology in ALA publications & advertising passed by Council.
  • Library School Accreditation & Affirmative Action

    Committee on Accreditation required to make an annual report to Council on affirmative action within library schools.
  • Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship

    An ad hoc committee was charged with drafting guidelines for establishing a standing ALA committee.
  • Women Administrators Discussion Group

    The first meeting of a discussion group specifically for women administrators. At midwinter 1977 the group resolved to petition for official status within the Library Administrators Division (now LLAMA).
  • Statement of Purpose: Acting to Implement Change

    The Task Force on Women adopted a new statement of purpose & goals, including acting to implement change within ALA & the profession to improve the status & role of women and promoting library resources reflecting a feminist viewpoint.
  • Library Bill of Rights Amended

    COSWL's resolution to add "sex" to the Library Bill of Rights was passed by Council at annual 1977.
  • Equal Terms: A Non-Sexist Thesaurus for Indexing & Cataloging published.

    Joan Marshall's years of work with the TFW Committee on Non-Sexist Subject Headings culminated in this definitive publication.
  • Equal Rights Amendment

    At annual 1977, COSWL's resolution committing ALA to holding conferences only in states that had passed the ERA was adopted by Council. In 1978, after ratification failed in Illinois, Council voted to move the 1979 midwinter meeting.
  • Resolution on Gay Rights

    At annual 1977 Council reaffirmed support for equal employment opportunity for gay librarians & recommended that libraries affirm their obligation under the Library Bill of Rights to disseminate information "representing all points of view on this controversial topic."
  • Pay Equity & Salary Information Requirement

    Council adopted a COSWL resolutions to support pay equity and to require salary ranges in job ads in ALA publications.
  • LAMA/PAS Sexism & Racism Awareness Training Committee workshop

    At annual 1979, a 2-day workshop on sexism & sex role stereotyping.
  • Role of Women in Librarianship 1876-1976 published

    Kathleen Weibel & Heim published this definitive bibliography, subtitled "The Entry, Advancement, and Struggle for Equalization in One Profession."
  • Free Child Care

    Council referred a TFW-sponsored resolution that ALA provide free child care at conferences to the executive director for implementation.
  • New Name - Feminist Task Force

    TFW members voted unanimously to a new name, the Feminist Task Force.
  • Equality Award

    The ALA Awards Committee approved COSWL's recommendation to establish an Equality Award.