Professional practice: priorities for publication, professional development and other activities

Discussion paper for National Policy Congress 2004

Introduction

Under ALIA's objects, the Association has a clear role in supporting professional practice and disseminating information. Objects 2 and 3 state:

2. To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies;
3. To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations;

In considering the future directions for ALIA in supporting professional practice, the Board of Directors is seeking ideas and advice from members through the 2004 National Policy Congress.

The challenges

There is a concern that there are core areas of professional practice where in-depth tools, information and resources are lacking.

There are gaps to be filled. The Board of Directors believes that the sector and ALIA need to develop strategies for identifying these gaps and on how best to fill them to meet professional practice needs. The possibilities are immense, but our capacities are smaller. Therefore, we need to set priorities.

We need to understand better what are those core areas of professional practice and the approaches that could be taken to fill the gaps.

For example, there is now less communication of research than in the past. Action research is not being captured and communication of research results is not built into the profession's and the sector's ways of working. Because of time pressures on organisations and professionals, important and useful research is not being published.

Questions for discussion

What are the critical areas of professional practice where there would be great benefit in increased publication, dissemination of information and opportunities for in-depth discussion and professional development? (We suggest that the meeting nominates its top three priority areas)

How can we ensure that substantial information addressing issues of professional practice arising from ALIA symposiums and the work and priorities of ALIA self-nominated and advisory groups is better captured and disseminated?

How can ALIA groups help to:

• identify areas of professional practice where resources and published information are lacking?
• undertake and/or propose approaches for addressing the gaps?