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International Responsibilities Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table

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Resolution on the Iraq Crisis

 

NOTE: The following resolution was adopted unanimously by the elected representatives of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) on January 27, 2003. SRRT is a body within the American Library Association but does not and should not be taken to speak for the Association as a whole. In this resolution SRRT speaks only on its own behalf.

Social Responsibilities Round Table Newlsetter, Issue 142/143, June 2003, p. 15.

 

WHEREAS the President of the United States is considering whether or not to go to war to disarm the nation of Iraq of its weapons of mass destructions; and

WHEREAS the citizens of a democracy need libraries as a key source of the information they require to formulate and express their views on this, and other important issues of our times; and

WHEREAS the Congressional Budget Office estimates a military action against Iraq will cost our nation between nine and eleven billion dollars a month, resulting in cutbacks in, among others, federally funded programs that benefit libraries; and

WHEREAS any major military action in Iraq is likely to destroy many libraries and other cultural facilities as well as kill many innocent people; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges the President of the United States to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict with Iraq and avoid a costly war; and be it further

RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association urges all libraries to conscientiously build collections of information presenting all points of view on this critical issue, including points of view opposing war and promoting peaceful alternatives; and be it further

RESOLVED that this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the Secretary General of the United Nations, theSecretary of State of the United States, members of the United States Congress, IFLA and the library press.

Relevant ALA policies:
50.10 Disarmament and Conflict Solving Information in Libraries
50.11 Nuclear Freeze, the Arms Race and National Security
53.1(2) Library Bill of Rights
53.7 Destruction of Libraries
53.8 Libraries: An American Value

Page last modified July 26, 2004.