Library and Information Studies and Human Resource Utilization Policy Statement

 

This Statement of Policy was adopted by the Council of the American Library Association, January 23, 2002.


The purpose of this statement is to recommend categories of library personnel, and levels of training and education appropriate to the preparation of personnel for these categories, which will support the highest standards of library service for all kinds of libraries and the most effective use of the variety of skills and qualifications needed to provide it.

The phrase “library and information studies” is understood to be concerned with recordable information and knowledge and the services and technologies to facilitate their management and use.  Library and information studies encompasses information and knowledge creation, communication, identification, selection, acquisition, organization and description, storage and retrieval, preservation, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, synthesis, dissemination, and management.

To meet the goals of library service, both professional and supportive staff are needed in libraries. Thus, the library occupation is much broader than that segment of it which is the library profession, but the library profession has responsibility for defining the training and education required for the preparation of personnel who work in libraries at any level, supportive or professional.


For the full statement and Career Lattice, please click the link below:

Library and Information Studies and Human Resource Utilization Policy (LISHRU) (opens in a new window)

If you have questions about this policy statement, you may contact:

Lorelle R. Swader, MLS, MA, CAE
Director
ALA Office for HR Development and Recruitment (HRDR)
800/545-2433 ext. 4278
lswader@ala.org