International Relations Committee (IRC)

To have full responsibility for the association's international relations programs and initiatives; to work with the international relations round table, division international relations committees, and other units of the association in promoting the exchange of professional information, techniques and knowledge, as well as personnel and literature between and among libraries and individuals throughout the world; to advocate the recognition of the international aspects of the library profession and its priority within ALA; to recommend international relations policy for council approval and to take the necessary steps for implementation; to make recommendations to the ALA executive board for appointments or nominations to international organizations (IFLA, etc.) And other agencies concerned with international library and information services (IREX, etc.); to administer programs of the association focused on international relations (awards, recognition, exchanges); to promote program and publication activities on international relations by the association and its divisions and committees; to maintain communication, when appropriate, with other library and information service organizations concerned with international relations; to represent the association's view to organizations and agencies outside the ALA that are concerned with international relations of libraries; to encourage active participation by U.S. librarians in the work of international organizations.