1. Introduction:
The
existence of a profession rests on the bonds among the practitioners and these
bonds can take the shape of a formal association. So the professional
associations are by and for the professionals in the concerned field. It serves
as a forum for coordinate efforts for the concerned profession.
In
the context of libraries, the association means the organization of the library
staff members, persons or institutions related to the library matter and
profession. The library associations are those professional organizations of
learned people which foster a spirit of public service among the members,
promote the library services, and protect the interest of their members and
builds up the image of the library profession in the society.
2. Historical
Account: In
1852 a group of librarians, scholars, teachers and clergymen met in New York
for the foundation and management of a collection of books or knowledge for
public use. In May, 1876 a few library devotees, by taking the hint from the
meeting of 1852, proposed a like gathering in connection with the great
exhibition in Philadelphia. The announcement of the meeting that would be held
in October 4, 1876 was sent to the leading libraries and to the leading
librarians abroad. As a result of this gathering, the American Library
Association (ALA) was formally inaugurated on October 4, 1876 and this was
followed only a year later i.e. 1877 by the Library Association (LA) in the
United Kingdom which later on in 2002 merge with Institute of Information
Scientists (founded in 1958) to form the Chartered Institute of Library &
Information Professionals (CILIP).
3. Functions and
Activities of Library Associations: The functions of a library association depend
upon the particular pursuit for which the association is formed. Generally, a
library association performs the following functions
a) Act as a Common Forum: Library
association acts as a common forum for library professionals for exchange of
information, ideas, experience and expertise.
b) Library Movement: Library
association works as the backbone of library movement in a country. It spreads
knowledge and information.
c) Planning: The library
association puts a behavioral future planning of the present position of
libraries, library staff and library services after proper evaluation of its
present state of affairs.
d) Put Pressure on Authority: The association
forces the government to accept their demand by the right movement for the
welfare of the library staff, like enacting the library legislation.
e) Development of the Profession: The association
works for the betterment of salaries, grades, service and working conditions
for the library professionals and also for improving their status in the society.
f) Problem Solving: Library
association works hand in hand to find out solution for the adhoc professional
problem.
g) Conduct Survey and Research: Library
association conducts surveys and research of library facilities and services to
ascertain the existing conditions so as to take necessary steps for
improvement.
h) Code of Conduct: Library
association prepares the code of conduct for the librarians and other library
staff to maintain the professional standard.
i) Resource Sharing: Library associations works for the sharing of resources to avoid
duplication of efforts.
j) Make General Public Conscious: Library
association makes the general public conscious towards the utility of the
library and information centers.
k) Holds Conferences, Seminars, Meeting, and
Lectures:
To
discuss and exchange ideas and experiences library associations hold
conferences, seminars, meeting, lectures, etc.
l) Training Courses: Library associations also conduct training programmes for self
improvement of the professionals.
m) Standardization: A library
association establishes and encourages the adoption of standards to improve the
quality of library services.
n) Institute Prizes, Rewards, and Fellowship: Library
association institutes prizes, rewards for library science students, research
scholars and professionals in recognition of their contribution to the
profession.
o) Publication: A library
association creates and publishes professional literature in the subject areas.
p) Cooperation: Library associations maintain cooperation and healthy relation with other
professional associations of various levels within and outside the country.
4. Types of
Library Associations: Library associations can
be grouped into the following categories-
4.1 Based on Geographic Area Covered: Based on the
geographic area covered by a library association, it can be grouped into International,
National, State and Local.
a) International Library Associations: Several
professional organizations and private foundations around the world work to
promote international cooperation in establishing new libraries and in
improving services of the existing libraries. These organizations provide the platform
for the librarians in which they can exchange ideas, develop networks for
sharing resources and create compatible standards and protocols for various
library procedures. Some of the most prominent international library associations
are- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
founded in 1927; American Library Association (ALA) founded in 1876; The
Special Libraries Association (SLA) founded in 1909; International Association
of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML) founded in 1951; International
Association of Scientific and Technological University Libraries (IATUL)
previously known as International Association of Technological University
Libraries (IATUL) founded in 1955; International Association of School
Librarianship (IASL) founded in 1971; International Association of Law
Libraries (IALL) founded in 1959; Commonwealth Library Association (COMLA)
founded in 1972; Association for Information Science and Technology
(ASIS&T) founded in 1937 (It was first established as American
Documentation Institute (ADI) in 1937, became the American Society for
Information Science (ASIS) in 1968 and American Society for Information Science
and Technology (ASIS&T) in 2000 and to Association for Information Science
and Technology (ASIS&T) in 2013); Association for Library and Information
Science Education (ALISE) founded in 1900 (successor to the Association of
American Library Schools (AALS) founded in 1900) and International Council on Archives
(ICA) founded in 1948.
The United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) founded in 1945 and the British
Council founded in 1934
though are not library association, however, they did a lot for the growth and
development of library and library professionals at the national and
international level. Again, organizations like the International Council of
Scientific Unions (ICSU), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), World Trade
Organization (WTO), the International Publishers Association (IPA),
the International Council of Museums (ICOM), the International
Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Committee of
the Blue Shield (ICBS) also play important role in library and information
science activities.
b) National Library Associations: The Canadian
Library Association (CLA) founded in 1946; Chartered Institute of Library
and Information Professionals (CILIP) founded in 2002 (it was formed by merging
of Library Association (LA or sometimes
LAUK) founded in 1877 and the Institute of Information Scientists founded in
1958); the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) founded in 1932; the Society
of American Archivists (SAA) established in 1936, etc are some of the most
popular national library associations in the world.
In
India, Indian Library Association (ILA) founded in 1933; Indian Association of
Special Libraries and Information Centers (IASLIC) founded in 1955; Indian
Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (IATLIS) founded in 1969;
Society for Information Science (SIS) established in 1975; Society for the
Advancement of Library and Information Science (SALIS) founded in 2002; Central
Government Library Association (CGLA) founded in 2004; Ranganathan Society for
Social Welfare and Library Development (RSSWLD) founded in 2009; Library &
Information Science Academy (LIS Academy) are some of popular library associations.
The Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) founded in 1972 play a vital role
for the growth and development of public libraries in India.
c) State Library Associations: Andhra Pradesh Library Association (APLA) founded in 1914 (formerly known
as Andhra Desa Grantha Bhandagara Sangham) is the 1st library association in
India. In
case of state level library association, Punjab Library Association (PLA)
founded in 1916 and rejuvenated in 1989; Bengal Library Association (BLA) or Bangiya
Granthagar Parishad (formerly known as All Bengal Library Association) founded in
1925; Assam Library Association (ALA) founded in 1938, Delhi Library
Association (DLA) founded in 1939; Kerala Library Association (KLA) founded in 1972;
Gujarat Library Association [Gujarat Granthalaya-Seva Sangh (GGSS)] established
in 1976; Sadau Asom Gramya Puthibharal Santha (SAGPS); Karnataka State Library Association (KSLA) etc
are functioning properly.
Among
the state level associations, the Andhra Pradesh Library Association’s (APLA’s)
“Granthalaya Sarvaswamu” first published in 1915 is the oldest professional
journal which is still in publication.
d) Local Library Associations: Madras Library
Association (MLA) founded in 1928, Bombay Science Librarian’s Association
(BOSLA) founded in 1975, Guwahati Library Association (GLA), Jorhat Library
Association, etc. are very active local level library associations in India.
4.2 Based on
Functioning Areas: Based on the functioning areas, library associations
can be grouped into two- General Library Association and Special Library
Association.
a) General Library Association: Indian Library Association (ILA), Assam Library Association (ALA) are
general library association where any professional can be a member.
b) Special
Library Association: Indian Association of Special Libraries and
Information Centers (IASLIC), Indian Association of Teachers of Library and
Information Science (IATLIS), etc. are special library association where
membership is allowed only to those professionals that work in that particular
field.
5. Conclusion: The professional
associations address issues like financial support for libraries, censorship,
and cooperative acquisition of library materials. They also attempt to
influence legislation that affect libraries, establishes policies and standards
relating to libraries and librarians, and support continuing education for
librarians. Almost all of these organizations publish journals or monographs
relating to their particular areas of interest. Professional library associations
hold conferences on a regular basis so that librarians may come together in
order to develop policies and share ideas. Most professional librarians belong
to at least one professional organization.
Private
foundations also promote increased and improved library services around the
world. Private philanthropic organizations also provide leadership in the
establishment and maintenance of libraries around the world. In the early 20th
century, the Carnegie Corporation of New York was instrumental in establishing
free public libraries in Africa, Latin America, and the South Pacific, but the
organization stopped this programme in 1917. Today, the Ford Foundation, based
in New York City provides vital financial support for libraries in the
developing nations of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

No comments:
Post a Comment