ACRL

College & Research Libraries News

ALA and affiliates issue agenda

By Patricia A. Wand Chair, ACRL Task Force on WHCLIS

The White House Conference On Library And Information Services 1991

As various constituents prepare for the White House Conference on Library and Information Service, the American Library Association and affiliate organizations have released an issues agenda to highlight the common concerns of the profession. The agenda to which they have agreed:

1. National commitments of financial resources for library services are indispensable investments in the nation’s productivity.

2. Democracy is at risk when our libraries are at risk.

3. Diversity of library collections and staff is essential to serve U.S. citizens of diverse backgrounds.

4. Culturally diverse people must be recruited to the library and information services professions and must be educated to provide quality library and information services.

5. Open and equitable access to information in all formats is a linchpin of our democratic society.

6. Public access to government information, including legal information, is vital to a just society.

7. An effective marketing and public relations campaign must be mounted to promote services, increase awareness, and provide feedback to shape new library and information services programs.

8. Libraries are educational institutions which have a fundamental role in promoting literacy.

9. Materials in all types of libraries are in danger of destruction or disintegration. That must not happen. They must be preserved.

The agenda is being widely distributed in the states and territories where pre-conference activities are scheduled. The organizations that have discussed and agreed to it form an impressive list.

American Association of Law Libraries

American Indian Library Association

American Library Association

American Society for Information Science

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association

Association for Library and Information Science Education

Association of Research Libraries

Canadian Library Association

Chinese-American Librarians Association Council on Library/Media Technical Assistants

Friends of Libraries

Laubach Literacy International, Laubach Literacy Action

Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc.

Medical Library Association

Oral History Association

REFORMA

Sociedad de Bibliotecarios de Puerto Rico

Theatre Library Association

Ukrainian Library Association of America

Urban Libraries Council

Copyright © American Library Association

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