In 1995, Illinois public library referenda had a 90% success rate. In 2005, the rate had dropped to one of it's lowest success rates, 38%, since these data were kept in the mid-seventies ((Adams and Bradley) Why the unprecedented slide? Many parents no longer trust libraries with their children. The homeschooling movement is another example of this mistrust. But who has changed? The parents or the libraries? I say the libraries.

Getting back to the basics with my three R's.

Return to apolitical tradition

Public pronouncements on various and sundry non-library issues as economic rights, Cuba and the environment are a surefire way to alienate at least half on any given public library constituency. The advice given of a very successful person I know in garnering public support, "Never show your politics". Stakeholders today are more politically engaged. Public libraries are now feeling the affect of ALA's move from stewardship to liberal advocacy. My advice for a good start for change. Cease this Patriot Act hysteria and dissolve the SRRT and GLBT roundtables ASAP. Reasonability with concerns of parental constituency Without parental support, public libraries will have a very bleak future. It's obviously heading that way in Illinois. ALA must be seen as a partner to parents, not an accomplice for children. Parents, most that is, want two things; the right to know what their children are reading and viewing, and something to address Internet smut. It's a public relations disaster to insist now that parents supervise their children, those old enough to read and behave accordingly, at the library. The "open-access" battle is not only a myth, but a sure loser with parents. Seventy percent of Illinois public libraries, at the urging of ALA, do not have internet filters (Library Research Center, U of Illinois). Recall Will Manley quote, "In public we preach full access; in private we censor. We get away with this because we call our censorship 'selection."

Recognize the importance of public perception Election eve Fahrenheit 9/11 screenings and Gay Pride exhibits will always make press and are a recipe for referenda disaster. If ALAWON updates insist its members continue this flavor of "activism", then financial considerations should be in order for lost public support at the polls. (This would also be the right thing to do for libraries taking ALA's recommendation to forego federal Internet access subsidies with CIPA compliance). There is an issue of moral clarity, however painful for ALA, that must be recognized if libraries hope to enjoy public support. Recognize this or fail.