I've made a big deal about how news stories can "cook" the information to make something look a certain way without actually lying, and this story is kind of worded that way.

While I am certainly sympathetic to the Cuban independent librarians' cause, the story is based largely on their accusations. It is possible that a simple rule, upon which a grant depends, requiring panel members to be certificated in some way, is being blown out of proportion.

That being said, that the ALA has leftist tendencies is an open secret, and it is galling that Cuban state-controlled librarians have a place at the table. One would think that some kind of arrangements could be made apart from the grant (separate meetings?) to accommodate the anti-totalitarian librarians, if there was a real desire to promote literary freedom in Cuba. The resolution mentioned at the end is pretty weak, all by itself.

I would be willing to hear more of the ALA side on this, but they'd better make it good.