Examines the view taken of the importance of information and information technology by the government in the new democratic South Africa. Highlights include the relationship between new principles of governance and citizenship of transparency and accountability and information provision; the Reconstruction and Development Program; and the role of…

This section includes reports from the American Library Association, Association of American Publishers, American Booksellers Association, Association of Research Libraries, Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), and Council on Library and Information Resources. (LRW)

Discusses the need for better recruitment and education of librarians to fill anticipated retirement patterns and describes a survey of professional associations that investigated best practices. Includes the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL); Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP); American Library Association…

Lists 211 titles designed to support the development of school libraries and school library programs. Most titles are noncommercial publications produced by ministries of education and school library associations. Availability information is included, the International Association of School Librarianship Statement on School Libraries is appended,…

Report on the 1992 Canadian Library Association (CLA) conference discusses plans for a national summit on information policy, the current situation of public libraries, updating of policy statements, and strengthening CLA. CLA officers and awards are listed. (MES)

Examines the issue of sexual harassment in the library workplace and library profession. Laws relating to sexual harassment in the library are explored, and the immediate and long-term preventive solutions at the individual, institutional, and association levels are discussed. (KRN)

Explores ALA (American Library Association) membership among directors at small liberal arts colleges. Results show that they are less likely to be members of ALA and ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) than directors at larger colleges. Suggests ways to increase membership among directors at smaller colleges. (Author/LRW)

The American Library Association's "National Directory: Library Paraprofessional Associations" (1996 edition) lists 46 active library paraprofessional associations or subsidiary groups in the United States. Reviews reasons why paraprofessionals began forming associations, compares selected associations, and examines their place within…

Explores seven ethnic professional library associations to understand their origins and roles among the professional associations in library and information science. The ALA Ethnic Materials and Information Exchange Round Table and the ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services are considered in connection with the ethnic American library…

Provides reports from the following national associations and organizations: American Library Association (ALA); Association of American Publishers (AAP); Association of Research Libraries (ARL); and Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). (AEF)

Discusses whether the American Library Association (ALA) should adopt a set of core values for the profession, and if so, what these core values would be. Includes background, charge, and membership; process, content, format, and explication; the draft statement; dissemination/response to input; and objections to the draft core values statement.…

The American Library Association's (ALA's) divisions for academic and public libraries--the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the Public Library Association (PLA)--have long collected and reported annual statistics about the types of libraries they represent. This year, 2007, the American Association of School Librarians…

As America entered the information age, libraries were no longer being pictured as a vital part of family life. Instead, technology became the critical resource for a middle-class family. In addition, state and national accountability and assessment initiatives forced school library media specialists (SLMSs) to demonstrate that the school library…

Throughout the hundred years history of education for librarianship some issues have been discussed again and again without agreement being reached. A number of these are quite central to the problem of education for a profession: the desirability (or otherwise) of professional schools; the control of education by professional bodies; theory vs.…

The Urban Libraries Council's (ULC) Fast Facts Surveys are not intended to be scientific studies of the library community; rather, they are "snapshots" on topics of current interest. The topic of this survey is fees for library services. A total of 64 surveys were mailed to 1993 ULC member libraries in February 1993; 49 surveys were…