Office for Accreditation

Staff

Karen O'Brien, Director
312-280-2434; 800-545-2433, x2434
kobrien@ala.org

Kerri Price, Associate Director
312-280-2435; 800-545-2433, x2435
kprice@ala.org

Accreditation Resources

• Directory of ALA-accredited programs
• Frequently asked questions about ALA accreditation
• Sample Self-Studies (previously called Program Presentations)
• Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies
• Accreditation Process, Policies, and Procedures (AP3)
• Schedule of comprehensive reviews
• Become a reviewer for LIS accreditation
• Resources for External Review Panelists
• Resources for LIS program administrators
• Historical list of accredited programs
• Glossary of accreditation terminology
• Knowledge and competencies statements

Oversight Group and Meeting Schedule

• Memorandum of Understanding Between ALA and COA (pdf)
• Committee on Accreditation (COA) roster and resources
• COA meeting schedule

News and Reports

• Prism: the semi-annual newsletter from the Office for Accreditation
• Reports and publications, including accreditation decisions and program data such as student-to-faculty ratios 

Mission

The ALA Office for Accreditation (OA) serves the general public, students, employers, and library and information studies Master's programs through the promotion and advancement of education in library and information studies.

The ALA Office for Accreditation:

• Ensures fair and equitable accreditation reviews of library and information studies programs,
• Provides external review and validation of master's level library and information studies programs,
• Promotes diversity and inclusiveness in library and information studies education,
• Consults and assists in the development and advancement of library and information studies education,
• Communicates with constituencies regarding activities,
• Anticipates and prepares for the changing environment and the future needs of constituencies,
• Manages our operations and resources to be effective, responsive and relevant.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Office for Accreditation include:

• Coordinating and supporting activities that are directly related to the accreditation of master’s programs of education for LIS,
• Active engagement with the accrediting community through recognition by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and volunteer service with the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA),
• Maintaining contact with LIS programs,
• Providing information about the ALA accreditation process, policies, and procedures, as well as the accreditation status (both historical and current) of specific graduate LIS programs,
• Providing programs, publications, and other activities to promote the awareness and enhance knowledge about the ALA accreditation process, trends in library and information studies education and trends in higher education accreditation,
• Maintaining a schedule of evaluation reviews
• Maintaining the Directory of Institutions Offering ALA-Accredited Master’s Programs,
• OA shares responsibility with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) for administering the review of school librarianship education programs under the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE),
• OA shares responsibility with the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) for providing information on LIS careers, foreign credentials, and ALA scholarships.