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Library and information services add value to the cultural, educational, economic, social and democratic aspirations of people, communities, business, and governments. The library and information workforce adds value by organising, mediating and packaging knowledge so that it can be accessed and used by everyone.
Access to information, ideas and works of imagination is an essential characteristic of thriving democracies, cultures and economies. This is increasingly so in the global information society. Technological advances have led to a range of new methods of supplying information and organising the knowledge base, and of creating information, disseminating and preserving it.
Information is a cultural, social and economic resource of crucial importance in a huge range of diverse enterprises. The creative, technical and managerial expertise of librarians and information scientists can place them at the heart of this revolution.
We want The Library Association to be the membership association of choice for everyone working in or engaged with the Library and Information sector in the UK. We want the Association to be the authoritative voice of the sector with the government, employers, and others , including the general public. We want The Library Association to play a full part in the international Library and Information community.
This Corporate Plan is a public document, part of the process of making the work of the Association more transparent. It is also a document which helps to make clear to members the range and direction of the work supported by the relatively high levels of membership subscriptions.
It is part of a continuous process of planning, implementing and reviewing the Association's work - a dynamic tool, not a static document.
Bob McKee
Chief Executive
July 2000
The mission of The Library Association is to promote the highest standards of professional practice and the highest quality of service delivery for the benefit of the public.
To deliver this mission the Association seeks:
To set, maintain, monitor and promote standards of excellence in the creation, management, exploitation and sharing of information and knowledge resources.
To support the principle of equality of access to information, ideas and works of the imagination which it affirms is fundamental to a thriving economy, democracy, culture and civilisation.
To enable its members to achieve and maintain the highest professional standards.
To uphold standards of professional and ethical conduct expected of members of the Association , namely -
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the duty to facilitate access to materials and information in order to meet the requirements of the client, irrespective of the member's personal interests and views;
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the responsibility to maintain competence and keep abreast of developments in relevant areas of professional practice;
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the respect for confidentiality in dealings with clients;
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the recognition that the member's primary considerations are duty to the client, the public interest, and the maintenance of professional standards;
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the responsibility, by their conduct, to maintain the good standing and reputation of the profession and the Association.
This Corporate Plan covers the period from mid-2000 to end 2002.
It will be elaborated and implemented by strategies and business plans devised for each of the various areas of the Association's activity and by each of the three offices which the Association supports in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. A training and development plan will also be prepared for Association staff.
The Corporate Plan seeks to secure continuous improvement in seven main areas:
1. Maintaining a sound business infrastructure
2. Building a strong partnership with the membership
3. Working towards integration and inclusion
4. Extending spheres of influence
5. Encouraging innovation
6. Promoting a positive image
7. Developing international relations
In all activities the Association will pursue equal opportunities.
In order to maintain a sound business infrastructure, the Association will:
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Involve the
membership and the staff in the corporate planning process so that the
work of the Association is given transparency, accountability, direction
and focus. |
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Ensure that the
budget, staffing and operational plans are consistent with the corporate
strategy.
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Manage our knowledge so as to make better use of the information assets of the Association.
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Maintain sound finances by prudent financial management.
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Invest in enterprise in order to develop a portfolio of successful businesses which meet clear financial targets as well as relevant professional objectives.
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Review all policies and practices related to the management of the Association's staff to ensure that they are well trained, well informed, well led, and motivated.
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Improve the facilities, environment and hospitality offered to members of the Association, visitors and staff.
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Improve the ICT infrastructure of the Association.
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In order to develop a strong partnership with members, the Association will:
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Ensure that members feel respected and valued by their Association, are informed about its activities and involved in its work.
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Reshape the framework of qualifications and continuing development in association with relevant partner bodies in order to develop a single ladder of opportunity for all Library and Information workers.
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Recognise complementary accreditation across traditional professional boundaries;
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Introduce a process of periodic revalidation in order to re-establish the Charter as a benchmark of current professional competence. This process will take account of a wide range of personal circumstances and will be part of the pursuit of the Association's mission, not an income generating exercise.
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Develop opportunities for continuing training and development offered by or through the Association.
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Articulate a strategy for interactive communication (including electronic communication) between the Association and its members.
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Facilitate the development and networking of members through the activities of Branches and Groups.
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Develop policy through advisory groups supported by staff expertise.
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Encourage members to become more active in the work of the Association and in support of its governance. We will seek to involve members in the work of the Association's Council and Standing Committees, and in giving support to the Presidency. We will ensure that the Association's policies and activities are widely disseminated.
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Review the exclusivity and value of the package of services and benefits offered for members.
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Review our structure in the lights of devolution and regionalism, both in respect of an appropriate presence in the home nations and the English regions, and of our branch arrangements. We will develop performance-related service agreements between the Library Association and the Branches.
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In order to strengthen the Library and Information sector, the Association believes it is important to achieve greater integration and inclusion, and to this end will:
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Work with the Institute of Information Scientists to deliver a single unified membership association for the Library and Information sector.
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Foster joint working where appropriate within the sector to deliver mutual benefit, added value and improved service.
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Identify and develop productive partnerships with Organisations in Liaison, other strategic partners and sectoral bodies.
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Seek to engage the whole workforce in the activities and benefits of the Association.
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Extend the membership base of the Association to reflect these strategies.
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Seek to reflect within the Association the diversity of UK society, for example -
- work with bodies such as African Caribbean Library Association and Asian Librarians and Advisers Group in order to address the issue of institutional
racism and promote the Black contribution to the Library and Information sector;
- work with bodies such as Community Development Foundation to support the "Women connect" programme;
- regularly undertake partnership activities to reflect and celebrate ethnic and cultural diversity.
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Find ways to include user communities constructively in the work of the Library and Information sector.
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Develop closer dialogue and a programme of joint action with the library and information supply industry.
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In order to extend its spheres of influence with government, business and other stakeholders and promote the Library and Information sector the Association will:
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Monitor the continuous changes in policy development and execution at regional, national and European levels.
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Identify and pursue priority areas of policy development, and focus on these in planning the work of the Association.
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Deliver lobbying and advocacy in support of policy objectives.
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Work closely with government and other appropriate agencies.
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Develop strategic alliances with partner organisations.
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Recognise the cross-sectoral dimension of many policy areas.
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Develop a flexible and proactive series of Policy Advisory Groups to address priority areas of policy development. A list of priority areas is appended to this document.
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Extend its influence with employers in order to encourage them to attach proper value to Library and Information work and, while recognising that the Association is not a trade union, to advocate improved pay and status for library and information workers as part of our remit to improve standards of practice in the public interest.
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In its role as a development agency for the Library and Information sector, and working in partnership with others, the Association will :
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Deliver a programme of work across all areas of the library and information sector and also cross-sectorally, designed to foster excellence in professional practice, including the development and dissemination of standards.
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Develop the programme of prizes and awards designed to encourage innovation and good practice.
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Lead a programme of campaigns designed to encourage innovation, promote good practice, and foster a positive image.
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Monitor and evaluate the impact of these programmes on the achievement of the Association's objectives.
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Extend the Association's research and consultancy capability in pursuit of its overall objectives.
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Develop and deliver a portfolio of products and services for the benefit of members and the wider community both nationally and internationally.
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In order to promote the positive contribution made by library and information services to the cultural, educational, economic, social and democratic objectives of society, the Association will:
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Create a marketing and PR strategy and a programme of activity which will meet the Association's corporate plan and strategic objectives.
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Lead and support a programme of prizes, awards, campaigns, events and publications designed to promote a positive image for the Library and Information sector.
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Maintain good relations with the media.
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Evaluate the impact of this programme in terms of its contribution to the Association's plans and objectives
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Demonstrate a professional approach in everything the Association does.
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Recognising the globalisation of the knowledge-access sector, and of library and information work, the Association will:
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Work with the international community through key partnerships to achieve defined outcomes (eg Department for International Development, British Council, UNESCO).
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Organise and support international events and programmes.
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Play a positive role in the international Library and Information community, recognising both the contribution which the UK can make at international level, and the valuable learning and development to be gained by the UK Library and Information sector from involvement in international activity (eg International Federation of Library Associations, European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations, International Federation for Information and Documentation, Commonwealth Library Association).
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This Corporate Plan has been developed by the Management Board of the Association in consultation with staff and members of the Association. The views of members, staff and other interested parties are vital in shaping the development of this Plan. With this in mind, if you have any comments please send them to:
The Chief Executive
The Library Association
7 Ridgmount Street
London WC1E 7AE
Fax: 020-7255 0501
E-mail: Bob.McKee@la-hq.org.uk
Priority areas and strategic partnerships (listed in alphabetical order and not in any order of priority) will include:
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"Better government" at national, regional and local levels (including the modernisation and improvement agenda); work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Local Government Association, The Audit Commission and other bodies.
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Competitiveness (and the knowledge-driven economy); work with Department of Trade and Industry (including e-commerce); work in partnership with the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, the new Small Business Service, and other bodies.
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Cultural policy (including audience development); work with Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Re:Source; work in partnership with Re:Source Forum, with the Arts Councils, with Regional Cultural Consortia, and with other bodies.
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Devolution and regionalism; work with the National Assemblies and with Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, Government Offices of the Regions, the Regional Development Agencies, Regional Library Services, and other bodies.
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Education (including formal agencies and institutions); work with Department for Education and Employment, schools and Local Education Authorities, Further Education and Higher Education institutions; work in partnership with Office for Standards in Education, Higher Education Funding Councils, Further Education Funding Council, the School Library Association, the Standing Conference of National and University Libraries, and other bodies.
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Health (including healthy living, medical education and training, and information management in support of evidence-based practice); work with Department of Health, the NHS, and other bodies.
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Information-related policy issues: freedom of access to information; intellectual property rights; work with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, Re:Source, the British Library, the European Commission and other interested parties.
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Lifelong learning (including employability); work with Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Education and Employment; work in partnership with National Training Organisations, University for Industry Ltd, National Advisory Group on Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning, the BBC, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and other bodies.
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Social policy (including issues of access, equality, regeneration and inclusion); work with Department of Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, Social Exclusion Unit, work in partnership with the Community Development Foundation and with other bodies.
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The information age (and ICT issues in general including the modernisation of services); work with Re:Source (People's Network), Department for Education and Employment, (National Grid for Learning), and Central Information Technology Unit (better government); work in partnership with the ICT industry and with other bodies and initiatives.
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Note: The various partnerships and working relationships listed here are indicative not comprehensive. The list has also been compiled from an English perspective and will clearly need to reflect national arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the work done by the Association in the Home Nations.
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