Learning, community give library and information associations a bright future
| Date | 01 January 2006 |
| Pages | 6-13 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120610647901 |
| Published date | 01 January 2006 |
| Author | Janice R. Lachance |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Learning, community give library
and information associations a
bright future
Janice R. Lachance
Special Libraries Association (SLA), Alexandria, Virginia, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the new set of skills needed by information
associations to face the change in the global community they are to represent.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at the strategies of the Special Library
Association whose benefits and services are aimed at three key areas: learning, networking and
advocacy.
Findings – The paper finds that for library and information associations to create a healthy future
they must devise flexible and forward-looking strategies that connect the individual member with
goals of the organization.
Originality/value – The paper provides a useful perspective on the future path of library and
information associations in the global community.
Keywords Libraries, Information organizations,Learning, Change management
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
As the twenty-first century unfolds, library and information associations are
witnessing a sea change in the global community they represent. Students of library
science are learning completely new sets of skills for application in the workplace in a
diverse range of ways. The information industry is developing meaningful
advancements in content development and high-tech delivery methods. Around the
world, practitioners, libraries and information centers, and organizations are wrestling
with such challenges as information literacy, access (and the costs associated with it),
intellectual property rights, and determining the right way to deliver quality
information for users.
What does all this mean for library and information associations? Just as
governments, companies, and academia are dealing with massive change and
disruptions in business models, library and information associations are facing a
future that is uncertain but optimistic – if the right strategies are implemented to meet
the needs of the global community of librarians and information professionals.
Associations entering a new age
Historically, associations of all kinds have served as focal points for human
engagement, democratic sharing, and social interaction. They are a by-product of the
growth of democracy around the world, to be sure. Associations are grounded in the
roots of old world practices, such as trade guilds, and sprang up from the need for
people to bond to one another to serve mutual purposes, be they personal, professional,
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
LM
27,1/2
6
Received 1 July 2005
Accepted 3 October 2005
Library Management
Vol. 27 No. 1/2, 2006
pp. 6-13
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120610647901
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