North Carolina Governor's Conference on Library and Information Services : conference report

              State Representative A. Neal Smith at Banquet.
At the conclusion of the discussion groups all re-corders
were asked to bring all recommendations to
me so that we could go over them and try to under-stand
the background as we pulled the recommenda-tions
together. Twelve recorders attended the meet-ing
and advised me on the issues to which their re-spective
groups gave highest priority. Three recorders
worked with me in summarizing recommendations
for consideration on Saturday. They were Elizabeth
Laney, Richard Hinson, and Ainsley Whitman.
Several themes emerged from the recommendations
and six major resolutions were voted on. However, a
technological failure (the photocopy machine broke
down) resulted in a decision by the delegates not to
rubber stamp what they had received, but to entrust
the delegates and alternates who had been selected to
go to Washington with the task of framing resolu-tions
for the group as a whole. These delegates met on
November 21, and drafted resolutions which were
subsequently approved through a mail ballot.
In conclusion, this reporter would note that the
North Carolina Governor's Conference represented
democracy Bt work. At no point was there any at-tempt
tn force an issue or to stampede delegates. The
North Carolina delegates were a strong-minded
group with their own ideas of what is needed in North
Carolina. The lay delegates tended to come out
strongly for more books and other library materials
and more local Bervices; their attention seemed more
focused on state than national issues, though a mul-tiplicity
of issues with broader implications received
their attention. Clearly there is strong support for
better libraries in North Carolina and this support
can be mobilized when citizens are convinced that
their actions will result in improved resources and
services in localities from Manteo to Morganton and
Murphy.
Edward G. Holley, Dean
School of Library Science
University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill
Dr. Edward G. Holley, Presiding. Saturday morning session.
William A. Roberts, upper right, discusses planning and policy
from a trustee's point of view.
ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS
ISSUES:
Twenty discussion groups on ten topics (Access,
Advocacy, Finance, Legislation, Library Facilities,
Library Personnel, Planning and Policy, Resource
Sharing and Networks, Service to Special Groups,
and Technology) were scheduled to meet for a total of
7' j hours each during the Conference. Leaders with
experience in group dynamics and people with exper-tise
in the ten topic areas were identified from the lay
and library sectors. These people met before the Con-
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