REVISED PROPOSALS FOR A NEW ORGANISATION FOR THE LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSION:

Background to the motion on the unification to be put to
the AGM of the Institute of information Scientists
on 16 September 1999
and to the AGM of the Library Association
on 14 October 1999.

Issued to the memberships of the IIS and the LA
August 1999

Please note:  green text indicates revised text from October 1998 document.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The new body would be poised to play a major role in the developing information society and would support its members’ aspirations to be key players in society’s economic, social, cultural and technological activity and development.

The new organisation would be primarily a personal membership organisation.

It would seek a Royal Charter and charitable status.

It would offer Chartered status to those of its members who demonstrated competence to practise at a professional level.

It would be democratic; governed by an elected Council.

It would have a regional and special interest group structure.

The assets of the two existing organisations would be transferred to the new one.

Subscriptions would be income-related.

Services broadly equivalent to those offered by the IIS and the LA combined would be provided by the new organisation.

The staff of the existing organisations would be assimilated into the new one.

Implementation would be as fast as possible consistent with due process.

CONTENTS

• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND
• THE VISION
• MISSION
• FEATURES OF THE NEW ORGANIZATION
• MEMBERSHIP
• REGIONS
• SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS
• TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
• GOVERNANCE
• FINANCE
• STAFFING
• TITLE
• IMPLEMENTATION
• CONCLUSION

APPENDICES

• Appendix A - Membership of the UPG and its task forces
• Appendix B - Branches and special interest groups
• Appendix C - Finances
• Appendix D - Subscription Rates

RESPONSES TO:

Closing date: 15th March 1999

INTRODUCTION