Employer roles and responsibilities in education and professional development

ALIA Objects addressed

To promote and improve the services provided by all kinds of library and information agencies.

To ensure the high standard of personnel engaged in information provision and foster their professional interests and aspirations.

Principle

Library and information agency employers have a key responsibility to support and assist education providers in producing graduates capable of providing quality information services. They also have a responsibility to provide opportunities for workplace learning so that library and information professionals can continue to enhance their skills throughout their career in order to meet the changing needs of their clients and of society as a whole.

Statement

The Australian Library and Information Association believes that employers’ active involvement contributes positively to initial education and continuing development within the profession. This is achieved by:

1. co-operating with education providers to enable students to access a broad range of library and information resources and professional experiences that effectively introduces them to professional practice;
   
   
2. providing teaching and related support to educational institutions as appropriate, for example, through consultation with course providers, staff exchanges between industry and educators, or teaching and learning activities.
   
   
3. creating trainee positions to provide opportunities for library and information students and graduates to gain industry experience;
   
   
4. implementing an appropriate and comprehensive professional development program through which staff can enhance their professional and general skills and knowledge. This should include both workplace learning and other opportunities outside the workplace.

The Association recognises that many employers attract considerable costs to their organisations in terms of time and effort for these activities. However, the Association believes that such costs represent a critical investment in, and contribution to, the education and continued development of the library and information profession.

Related Documents

ALIA’s role in education of library and information professionals
http://www.alia.org.au/policies/education.role.html

Courses in library and information management
http://www.alia.org.au/policies/courses.html

Professional development for library and information professionals
http://www.alia.org.au/policies/professional.development.html

The library and information sector: core knowledge, skills and attributes
http://www.alia.org.au/policies/core.knowledge.html