Fonzie: yes, Cuban librarians: no

The ALA refused a request by NYC librarian Robert Kent to invite Ramon Coles and Berta Mexidor, the co-founders of Cuba's independent library movement, to speak at the ALA's Annual Conference, which starts today in Chicago.

The ALA balked at Kent's challenge. "It's way too late to schedule something," explains [John] Berry, now chair of the ALA's international relations committee.

"Nonsense," Kent replies. He says the ALA president has the authority to invite the Cubans.

Kent may have lost this latest battle, but his group is preparing to release a scathing analysis of the ALA's position on Cuba. He believes that the vast majority of the ALA's 64,000 members have no idea about the ongoing Cuba flap. Because of low turnout in ALA elections, he says, "a small group of extremists can dominate the organization."

In the meantime, the world's largest and oldest library association works in silent complicity with the Western hemisphere's most brutal dictator.

Via Babalu Blog.