ALIA Education policy statements

The library and information sector in Australia serves the information needs of a democratic, progressive, technologically sophisticated and culturally diverse nation. Those who work in the sector must understand the importance of their contribution to the knowledge-base of Australian and globalised society. Their professional education must equip them with:

• an understanding of the lifelong learning and information needs of their clients and the characteristics of the dynamic environment in which they and their clients operate;
• the generic and core knowledge and skills to deliver the highest achievable standards of library and information service;
• the skills to promote and defend the ethics and importance of library and information service to the community, especially the values of access, equity, objectivity and privacy; and
• the ability to contribute to the improvement of the profession and a commitment to continuing professional development.

ALIA's education policy statements support these aims. The statements are regularly reviewed in collaboration with educators, students, employers and others to ensure their relevance.

Role of ALIA in education for the library and information sector

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is the professional body for the library and information sector. Through leadership, advocacy and co-operation, ALIA seeks to promote and improve the services of libraries and other information agencies to a culturally diverse community responding to global social, technological, legislative and economic change.

The education of ALIA members is a key factor in the development of excellence in library and information services, to the benefit of the nation and individual citizens. The need for a professional education structure in librarianship was fundamental to the establishment of the Association in 1937. The development of formal education courses from the 1960s has been the result of a collaboration between the Association, education and training providers and employers. Within this collaboration, ALIA promotes continuous improvement in educational standards, to produce graduates with:

• generic and core skills and traditional ethical values, (outlined in the Association's Library and information sector: core knowledge, skills and attitudes statement);
• commitment to lifelong learning; and
• a vision of the development of the sector, its contribution to the nation, and of their career opportunities within it.

ALIA expects that educational institutions will be responsible for providing appropriate levels of support and resources for course design, content, delivery, evaluation and assessment and that teaching staff will be responsible for continuous improvement in teaching standards and for contributing, through their research and links to industry, to expertise within the library and information sector.

The activities of ALIA's Board of Education aim to support educational institutions in the continuous improvement of the quality of the courses they offer and the graduates they produce, and to encourage quality students to undertake the courses and enter sector employment.

Educational outcomes: core knowledge, skills and attitudes

ALIA's Library and information sector: core knowledge skills and attitudes statement provides a framework for course recognition and for course outcomes. Entry level courses should provide an examination and analysis of all core knowledge areas and, within this context, develop generic knowledge, skills and attitudes. After graduation, this knowledge base will be extended by professional practice and continuing professional development.

Continuing professional development

Continuing professional development is an essential part of ALIA's education policy, outlined in a separate Board of Education statement. As part of this strategy, ALIA is providing formal recognition for members choosing to participate in the Association's professional development certification scheme.