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Unit 11: Library Associations: India, UK and USA

It is appropriate to library and information professionals across the sector as a whole. As such it Notes
has a degree of overlap with the knowledge base of other professions.
The framework consists of four levels – certification, chartership, revalidation and fellowship.
Certification provides recognition from the association for library and information work by
para-professionals. Those who gain admittance to the Register of Certified Members are entitled
to work towards Chartered Membership. There are two categories of applicant for Chartership:
firstly para-professionals with over five years’ experience; secondly those who have some
evidence of training and have been working for two years.
Chartership is CILIP’s standard for information professionals. Chartered members are entitled
to use post nominal letters and describe themselves as qualified library and information
professionals. All candidates for Chartership must work with a Mentor and demonstrate through
their portfolio that they meet the required criteria. Chartership is not an academic qualification
but recognition of the highest standards of professional practice. The individual makes a
commitment to continued professional development. Normally applicants will have completed
a degree in LIS and have been working for at least one year.

11.3.2 Special Libraries Association (SLA)

Special Libraries Association is an international professional association for library and
information professionals working in business, government, law, finance, non-profit, and
academic organizations and institutions. While special libraries include law libraries, news
libraries, corporate libraries, museum libraries, and medical libraries, and transportation
libraries, many information professionals today do not actually work in a library setting. They
actively apply their specialized skills to support the information needs of their organizations.
SLA was founded in 1909 in the United States. It is now an international organization with over
9,000 members in over 75 countries. SLA is organized by Chapters (geographic) and Divisions
(topical) and special interest groups. The association has a CEO (employee of the association)
and an elected President (mandate of one year). Janice Lachance has served as CEO since 2003.

Members of SLA typically possess a master’s degree in library or information science. Given the
rapid adoption of information technologies for selecting, analysing, managing, storing, and
delivering information and knowledge, the average SLA member might be performing a range
of services and employing a diverse mix of skills related to, but not exclusive of, library science.
Association activities include conferences, professional education, networking and advocacy.

11.3.3 American Library Association (ALA)

The American Library Association has the uniqueness of being the oldest and largest library
association in the world. It was founded in 1876 with its headquarters at Chicago. A group of 103
library activists, at a meeting held in Philadelphia in the fall of 1876 to coincide with the nation’s
centennial celebrations, resolved on a motion moved by Melvile Dewey, the father of
librarianship; to form the American Library Association. ALA, thus born, has been a success
story by dedicated efforts of eminent librarians who steered the Association in its formative
periods, the ALA grew in strength steadily and became even in the early part of this century the
national voice for library interests. Today, with a solid foundation, wide base, expanding
programmes and activities and social impact, ALA plays a dynamic role to foster American
library interests with great success.

Objectives

ALA is an organization for librarians and libraries with the overall objective of promoting and
improving library services and librarianship and providing life-long services to all. It stands for

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