This is going to be politically charged - because the issue is politically charged.

The ALA in its attitude towards the independent libraries is almost identical to that of the teacher's unions towards school vouchers. Competition is a bad thing as it threatens their own secure positions.

If the US started to have private home libraries pop up all over town and become all the rage and offer materials unavailable at public libraries, the ALA and its membership would be impacted.

It doesn't help the matter that many librarians think Bush is a devil and "Castro and the Cuban people are the victims of decades of unnecessary persecution." (Yes this is an actual quote from a librarian and not MA) Librarians are nice folks, generally left-leaning and sometimes extremely left-leaning. Their membership fits in just nicely slightly to the right of most teacher's unions.

To expect them to take a stance against Cuba and Castro in support of a few independent (private) libraries is like expecting the teachers to come out in support of vouchers - it is unrealistic.

That is why the glorified no comment stance. It puts them in an awkward position. Their personal beliefs and opposition to sanctions and embargos against Cuba can't help but make them feel it is our own fault for the Cuban people's suffering - and not so much Castro who is simply a misguided revolutionary - but whose faults are forgiven because basically he sees that Marxism and collectivism is the answer.

In some extreme corners of the libraries folks rejoice that Castro is the southernmost thorn in the US posterior and that he has prevailed through the evil CIA's attempt to eliminate him. To these folks Elian's return to his father was perfectly fine.

Again, not all librarians or ALA members fit this description - but you would not be surprised at how many do.

That is why the big conflict. Once teachers support vouchers and school choice - we will see the ALA come out in favor of private Cuban libraries.

SDAI-Tech1