Librarians join professional associations at the regional, national, and international levels to address common issues, advance the profession, and influence legislation affecting libraries. The largest associations include the American Library Association, founded in 1876, and other organizations focused on specific library types or regions. Similar associations also exist in other countries and work to promote international cooperation among libraries.
4. They also attempt to
influence legislation that
affects libraries, establish
policies and standards
relating to libraries and
librarians, and support
continuing education for
librarians.
9. American Association of Law
Librarians (AALL)
It was founded in 1966 to promote
and enhance the value law libraries
to the legal and public communities,
to foster the profession of law
librarianship, and to provide
leadership in the field of legal
information.
10. American of College and
Research Libraries (ACRL)
It is for academic
and research
librarians.
11. Association for Library Collections &
and Technical Services (ALCTS)
It is a resource for information
specialists in collection
development, preservation, and
technical services.
12. Canadian Library Association
(CLA)
Founded in 1946, is the national
library association of Canada.
It holds an annual conference
featuring workshops, exhibits, and
awards ceremonies to present
research grants and scholarships.
13. Library Association
Founded in 1877, the Library
Association consists of members
throughout the United Kingdom and
in more than 100 countries around
the world.
It maintains headquarters in
London, England.
14. Special Libraries Association
(SLA)
Founded in 1909, has a large
membership drawn from various types
of special libraries.
It offers continuing education
courses and publishes a range of
professional materials for special
librarians.
15. Association for Library and
Information Science Education
(ALISE)
Founded in 1915, is the professional
association for faculty members in schools
of library and information science.
Its purpose is to promote
excellence in education for library
and information science.
16. American Society for
Information Science (ASIS)
It was founded in 1937 as the American
Documentation Institute, and changed its
name to its present one in 1967.
Its members work to develop new
and better theories, techniques, and
technologies to improve access to
information.
17. Association of Research Libraries
(ARL)
Founded in 1932, represents the
libraries of North American research
institutions.
The organization addresses issues
common to research libraries, such as
teaching, research, community
service, and scholarship.
18. Society of American Archivists
(SAA)
It begun in 1936, is an association of
archivists, librarians, record managers,
historians, and manuscript curators.
It provides leadership to help ensure
the identification, preservation, and use
of the nation’s historical records.
19. Library Leadership and
Management Association (LLAMA)
It helps individuals
acquire the skills and
knowledge needed to be
leaders in their
profession.
20. Library and Information Technology
Association (LITA)
It is for anyone interested
in leading edge technology
and applications for librarians
and information providers.
22. Reference & and User
Services Association (RUSA)
It supports the delivery of general library
services and materials, and the provision of
reference and information services,
collection’s development, reader’s
advisory, and resource sharing for all ages,
in every type of library.
23. Young Adult Library Services
Association (YALSA)
It advocates, promotes, and
strengthens library service to teens,
ages 12-18, as part of the
continuum of total library services,
and supports those who provide
library service to this population.
24. Kentucky Department for
Libraries and Archives (KDLA)
An agency of the Education and Workforce
Development Cabinet.
It assures equitable access to library and
information resources and services and by helps
public agencies ensure that documentation of
government programs is created, efficiently
maintained and made readily accessible.
25. Kentucky Library Association
(KLA)
Provides leadership for the
development, promotion and
improvement of library and
information services and the
profession of librarianship in order to
enhance and ensure access to
information for all.
26. Medical Association Library
(MLA)
Educates health information
professionals, supports health
information research, promotes access
to the world’s health’s sciences
information, and works to ensure that
the best health information is available
to all.
27. International Library Programs
Several professional organizations and private
foundations around the world work to promote
international cooperation in establishing new
libraries and in improving service at existing
libraries. These organizations also provide
librarians with international forums in which they
can exchange ideas, develop networks for
sharing resources, and create compatible
standards and protocols for various library
procedures.
28. International Federation of Library
Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
It is an independent association that
represents libraries and library associations
around the world.
It advises libraries on matters such as
interlibrary loan practices, copyright laws, library
building design, and development of legal deposit
regulations that entitle national libraries to receive
copies of every work registered for copyright in
their respective countries.
29. United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)
It promotes international
cooperation in the areas
of education, science,
culture, and
communication.
30. International Federation for
Documentation and Information
It is one of the world’s oldest and most
influential international library
organizations.
Founded in 1895 in Brussels, Belgium, by
bibliographers Henri LaFontaine and Paul
Otlet, who first developed the Universal
Decimal Classification system.
31. International Council on Archives (ICA)
It is an alliance of archival institutions,
professional associations, and
individual professional archivists.
Founded in 1948, the ICA is
concerned with the management of
records and archives in all media and
formats throughout their life cycle.
32. British Council
It is the United Kingdom’s international
network for education, culture, and
development services.
It has established libraries in many
countries of Latin America, Eastern
Europe, Asia, and Africa, all managed by
local staff.
33. It has also developed
an online library based
in Helsinki, Finland, that
is available to other
libraries around the
world.
34. U.S. Department of State
Programs, maintains about 150
information resource centers in more
than 110 countries
The centers feature electronic equipment
that can rapidly deliver information
promoting U.S. interests to foreign
governments, media, and educational
institutions.
35. International Association of
School Librarianship (IASL)
Founded in 1971, the IASL also
promotes collaboration among libraries
in all countries, including the lending
and exchanging of library materials.
It encourages the development of
school libraries and library programs
throughout the world.
36. Professional Organization in the
Philippines
Academic Libraries Book
Acquisition Systems Association
(ALBASA)
Academic Libraries Information
Network (ALINET)
Agricultural Librarians Association
of the Philippines (ALAP)
38. Inter-Institutional Consortium
(I-IC) (now known as South
Manila Consortium)
Library and Information
Science Students' Network
Medical & Health Librarians
Association of the Philippines,
Inc. (MAHLAP)
39. National Committee on
Libraries and Information
Philippine Association of
Academic/Research
Librarians (PAARL)
Philippine Association of
School Librarians
40. Philippine Association of
Teachers of Library and
Information Science (PATLS)
Philippine Group of Law
Librarians (PGLL)
Philippine Librarians
Association (PLAI)
41. Philippine Library Materials
Project Foundation
Philippine Public Librarians
League (formerly the Public
Librarians Association of the
Philippines)
Philippine Society of Librarians
and Information Specialist (PSLIS)