American Library Association (ALA) By: American Library Association (ALA) The American Library Association (ALA) is the oldest and largest library association in the world, providing association information, news, events, and advocacy resources for members, librarians, and library users. Founded on October 6, 1876 during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the mission of ALA is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession: The association actively works to increase public awareness of the crucial value of libraries and librarians, to promote state and national legislation beneficial to libraries and library users, and to supply the resources, training and support networks needed by local advocates seeking to increase support for libraries of all types. Diversity Diversity is a fundamental value of the association and its members, and is reflected in its commitment to recruiting people of color and people with disabilities to the profession and to the promotion and development of library collections and services for all people. Education and Lifelong Learning: The association provides opportunities for the professional development and education of all library staff members and trustees; it promotes continuous, lifelong learning for all people through library and information services of every type. Equitable Access to Information and Library Services The Association advocates funding and policies that support libraries as great democratic institutions, serving people of every age, income level, location, ethnicity, or physical ability, and providing the full range of information resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work. Intellectual Freedom Intellectual freedom is a basic right in a democratic society and a core value of the library profession. The American Library Association actively defends the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Literacy The American Library Association assists and promotes libraries in helping children and adults develop the skills they need-the ability to read and use computers-understanding that the ability to seek and effectively utilize information resources is essential in a global information society... Organizational Excellence The association is inclusive, effective and responsive to the needs of ALA members Transforming Libraries ALA provides leadership in the transformation of libraries and library services in a dynamic and increasingly global digital information environment. By: The Free Encyclopedia The American Library Association (ALA) is a non- profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members. Membership ALA membership is open to any person or organization, though most of its members are libraries or librarians. Most members live and work in the United States, with international members comprising 3.5% of total membership Governing structure The ALA is governed by an elected council and an executive board. Since 2002, Keith Michael Fiels has been the ALA executive director (CEO). Policies and programs are administered by various committees and round tables. One of the organization's most visible tasks is overseen by the Office for Accreditation, which formally reviews and authorizes American and Canadian academic institutions that offer degree programs in library and information science. The ALA's current President is Courtney Young (2014-2015). Notable past presidents of the ALA include Theresa Elmendorf, its first female president (1911– 1912), Clara Stanton Jones, its first African-American president (1976–1977), Loriene Roy, its first Native American president (2007–2008), Michael Gorman (2005-6), and Roberta Stevens Activities The official purpose of the association is "to promote library service and librarianship." Members may join one or more of eleven membership divisions that deal with specialized topics such as academic, school, or public libraries, technical or reference services, and library administration. Members may also join any of seventeen round tables that are grouped around more specific interests and issues than the broader set of ALA divisions. American Association of School Librarians The American Association of School Librarians (AASL), established in 1951, is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Prior to 1951, school librarians were served by the School Library Section of ALA founded in 1914 which itself emerged from the Roundtable of Normal and High School Librarians which met first in 1913. The mission of the American Association of School Librarians is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, and develop leaders in the school library field. Important Publications AASL released the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in 2007 to guide instructional programs in school libraries. In 2009, AASL released the Standards for the 21st Century Learner in Action, which provides benchmarks and an in-depth look at the indicators for each standard. Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Programs, published in 2009, helps school librarians establish effective library programs that meet the needs of the changing school library environment. Canadian Library Association By: The Free Encyclopedia The Canadian Library Association (CLA) is a national, predominantly English-language association which represents 57,000 library workers across the country. It also speaks for the interests of the 21 million Canadians who are members of libraries. CLA members work in all four types of libraries: academic (college and university), public, special (corporate, non-profit and government) and school libraries. Others sit on boards of public libraries, work for companies that provide goods and services to libraries, or are students in graduate level or community college programs. CLA's Mission Statement is: "CLA is my advocate and public voice, educator and network. We build the Canadian library and information community and advance its information professionals." The statement reflects the Association's role as the national voice for the Canadian library and information community. History The Canadian Library Association (CLA) was founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1946, and was incorporated under the Companies Act on November 26, 1947. CLA is a non-profit voluntary organization, governed by an elected Executive Council, which is advised by over forty interest groups and committees. Committees The CLA is supported by two types of committees: advisory committees and standing committees. As the need arises, new committees are formed by the Executive Council. Existing CLA members are primarily considered in the member selection process. Advisory committees The Executive Council creates advisory committees to address topics of strategic professional interest to the CLA. These committees can be either long-term or short-term. The CLA currently is supported by these advisory committees: • Copyright Advisory Committee • Information Policy Advisory Committee • Intellectual Freedom Advisory Committee • School Libraries Advisory Committee • Royal Society of Canada: Brief Development Team for CLA Submission Standing committees The Executive Council creates long-term standing committees to actively govern the CLA. These committees contribute to the continuing operation of the CLA, and include: • Conference Standing Committee • Elections Standing Committee • Finance Standing Committee • Member Communications Standing Committee • Monograph Publications Standing Committee • Nominations Standing Committee • Participation Standing Committee • Resolutions Standing Committee Student chapters Recognizing that there is a need for close association between the Canadian Library Association and students in library school, the Canadian Library Association has always encouraged students to join CLA, network and become involved active members of the library community. In March 1999, CLA's first Student Chapter was officially launched at the University of Western Ontario. Since that time, Student Chapters have been launched at the University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Alberta, McGill University and Dalhousie University and in 2006 at the Nova Scotia Community College Institute of Technology Campus. Student chapters of the Canadian Library Association allow for professional development and networking opportunities for students enrolled in library and information science programs. By: CLA The Canadian Library Association / Association Canadian des bibliothèques was founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 1946, and was incorporated under the Companies Act on November 26, 1947. CLA is a non-profit voluntary organization, governed by an elected Executive Council, which is advised by over forty networks and committees. CLA members work in college, university, public, special (corporate, non-profit and government) and school libraries. Others sit on boards of public libraries, work for companies that provide goods and services to libraries, or are students in graduate level or community college programs. CLA Membership The CLA membership consists of a diverse group of individuals and organizations involved or interested in library