The American Library Association has declined a request from the Polish American Librarians Association to support Poland’s inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program, which would allow Poles to travel to the United States without a visa. Poland is the only country in the European Union that is excluded from the program, and the visa requirement makes professional travel more difficult for Polish librarians.
During the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, January 8-12, the International Relations Committee discussed a resolution presented by PALA and consulted with the ALA Committee on Legislation, but both committees agreed that the potential for ALA to be approached by many other countries with a similar request was the primary factor in the decision.
Included in Council Document #18, the response from the IRC, reads in total: “The IRC received a request to bring forward to Council a proposal from the Polish American Librarians Association to affirm and support the rights of Polish librarians and library workers to travel to the United States without a visa by encouraging Congress to support the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act, which has been introduced to Congress a number of times by Mike Quigley (D-Ill) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). Poland currently is the only European Union country where their citizens still need to apply for a visa to visit the United States. After consultation with the Office for Government Relations and the Chair of the Committee on Legislation, the IRC agreed that the generality of the Act and potential for ALA to be approached by many other countries with a similar request precludes support from ALA.”
“It’s disappointing that we could not win the support of the American Library Association for this important legislation,” said PALA Director Leonard Kniffel, “but it should strengthen our resolve to become more deeply involved in ALA, which has a very active and influential Washington Office that is frequently approached for support by library organizations. If more Polish-American librarians were active on these committees, the outcome might have been different.” He also noted that it would be helpful if individual PALA members were more proactive with their legislators.
For the record, here is the resolution in full, which still stands as PALA’s official position as established by the Board of Directors:
Resolution of Support for Poland’s Entry into the Visa Waiver Program
Whereas,
Poland is the only remaining European Union country whose citizens are required to obtain a visa for travel to the United States, and it is important that Poland’s strong and growing educational community have the flexibility to travel easily for tourist reasons and for a limited period of time without having to endure the cumbersome and limiting process of visa approval, and
Whereas,
American Library Association Policy 58.1 International Relations Policy Objectives “encourage involvement of librarians, information specialists, and other library personnel in international library activities and in the development of solutions to library service problems that span national boundaries,” and
Whereas,
The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is scheduled to hold its 2016 World Library and Information Congress, August 13-19 in Columbus, Ohio, and its 2017 WLIC in Wroclaw, Poland, and
Whereas,
“Refusing visa-free travel for Poles, despite Poland’s strong and reliable support of the United States is unfair to the millions of Americans of Polish descent, since Poland is the only major democratic United States ally and European Union member to be excluded from the Visa Waiver Program, and
Whereas,
As part of the Visa Waiver Program, Polish citizens would join the citizens of 36 countries and be able to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without having to apply for a visa, and
Whereas,
Poland has been excluded from the Visa Waiver Program in spite of being one of the most faithful allies, and a productive member of NATO and the European Union, and concerns about its citizens overstaying their visas and finding work in the United States are now largely irrelevant because as part of “Schengen Area” Poles are allowed passport-free travel across the borders of 25 European countries and citizens of Poland can also legally work in other EU member countries, and
Whereas,
Lifting the visa requirement for citizens of Poland to travel to the United States enjoys nearly universal support in the Polish-American community, including Illinois governor Bruce Rauner and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the Polish American Librarians Association, therefore be it
Resolved,
That ALA affirm and support the rights of Polish librarians and library workers to travel to the United States in order to attend and participate in conferences, to purchase books and other library materials, to meet and develop working relationships with librarians, to develop gift and exchange programs, to pursue and establish ties with library and other professional associations and libraries, and to conduct educational and professional library-related activities and therefore be it further
Resolved,
That the American Library Association urges Congress to support the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act (s.223) sponsored by Representative Mike Quigley (D-Ill), Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), which would open the path for Poland’s entry in the Visa Waiver Program, and therefore be it further
Resolved,
That copies of this resolution be submitted to members of Congress, the President of the United States, the United States Department of State, the President of the European Council, the Polish Embassy in Washington D.C., the President of Poland, and the Polish Library Association in Warsaw.