No. 123 Journal of East Asian Libraries

              March 1,200l
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Members and Friends of CEAL:
This issue of the Journal of East Asian Libraries ( JEAL) is being sent out just before our exciting
2001 Annual Conference in Chicago. I hope you will receive this and have a chance to read it
before then. Included are the annual CEAL statistical report, reports on collections and services
of our member libraries, and information on activities of CEAL committees. Soon we will have
the opportunity to meet and exchange information face- to- face. I would encourage those of you
fortunate enough to be able to attend the Annual Conference, especially those of you making
presentations there, to write up your experiences or your presentations for the Journal so they
may be shared with our colleagues who may not be able to attend.
I am writing these remarks the day after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake here in Seattle and will
necessarily make my comments brief. This morning, there are many, many books on the floor
waiting to be shelved, but this afternoon will see a happier event. The University of Washington
School of Law is sponsoring a ceremony in our state   s capital to posthumously induct a 1902
graduate of our Law School into membership in the Washington State Bar. Takuji Yamashita
was a native of Yawatahama, Japan. Like many Asians in America at that time, discrimination
( and discriminatory laws) refused him membership in the state bar as well as the opportunity to
participate fully in our society, through no fault of his own. This small attempt on our part is
symbolic of our intent to rectify those wrongs and to recognize the importance of the
contributions of those whom our society has marginalized.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Bill McCloy, President
Council on East Asian Libraries ( CEAL )
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