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American Library Association

Standards and Guidelines (updates to page in progress)

Note: This list includes documents entitled “standards” and “guidelines” as well as other documents of a similar nature entitled “statements,” “rules,” and “criteria.” Only those documents entitled “standards” and “guidelines” have been reviewed by the ALA Standards Review Committee for consistency with ALA policy. The intent of this list is to present ALA's official standards and guidelines and to also include additional documents prepared and endorsed by various ALA units for the purpose of helping others improve library service. Please see ALA Acronyms, as necessary.

Some documents are publications that are only available from the ALA Online Store. ALA members receive a 10% discount on these purchases.

If an item is available on the ALA web site, the link is provided.

Academic Libraries

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for University Library Services to Undergraduate Students. June 2005.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Standards for Libraries in Higher Education. June 2004.

Access

Association of College & Research Libraries/Society of American Archivists. ALA/SAA Joint Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections Libraries. July 2009.
Also available at the website of the Society of American Archivists: ALA/SAA Joint Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections Libraries.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for the Development and Implementation of Policies, Regulations and Procedures Affecting Access to Library Materials, Services and Facilities. January 2005.

Note: Many access issues are covered by the work of the Intellectual Freedom Committee. They are not listed on this page, but may be found at Office of Intellectual Freedom Intellectual freedom statements and policies.

Accreditation

Committee on Accreditation. Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies (PDF). Adopted by ALA Council, January 2008. Chicago: ALA Office for Accreditation, 2008.

See all Accreditation standards, policies, and procedures from the ALA Office for Accreditation.

Audiovisual Materials

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for Media Resources in Academic Libraries. January 2006.

Blind and Physically Handicapped

Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 2005. Chicago: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, 2005.

Buildings

ALA Library Fact Sheet 11: Building Libraries and Library Additions: A Selected Annotated Bibliography.

Bryan, Cheryl. Managing Facilities for Results: Optimizing Space for Services. Chicago: American Library Association, 2007. NOTE: See the Managing Facilities for Results Workforms that are freely available online via E-Learn Libraries.

Buildings and Equipment Section, Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA). Building Blocks for Planning Functional Library Space. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2001.

Erikson, Rolf and Carolyn Markuson. Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future, 2^nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2007.

Leighton, Philip D. and David C. Weber. Planning Academic and Research Library Buildings, 3^rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 1999.

Sannwald, William W. Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations, Fifth Edition. Chicago: American Library Association, 2009.

Cataloging

Intner, Sheila S., Joanna F. Fountain, and Jean R. Weihs. Cataloging Correctly for Kids: An Introduction to the Tools. Chicago: American Library Association, 2010.

Joint Steering Committee for Revision of Anglo-American Cataloging Rules; American Library Association; Canadian Library Association; Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Great Britain); et al. Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition, 2002 Revision, 2005 Update (Kit) (Complete text with annual updates from 2003 through 2005, plus tabs). Chicago: ALA, 2005.

Resources and Technical Services Division Filing Committee. ALA Filing Rules. Chicago: ALA, 1980.

Seely, Paulina A., ed. ALA Rules For Filing Catalog Cards, 2nd ed. Chicago: ALA, 1968.

Children's Library Services

Association for Library Service to Children. Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries, revised edition, 2009.

Cerny, R., Markey, P., & Williams, A. Outstanding Library Service to Children: Putting the Core Competencies to Work. Chicago: Association for Library Service to Children, ALA, 2006.

Walter, Virginia A. Children & Libraries: Getting it Right. Chicago: ALA, 2001.

Collection Development and Management

Anderson, Joanne S., ed., Guide for Written Collection Policy Statements. 2nd ed. Collection Management and Development Guides, no. 7. Chicago: ALA, 1996. 40 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3455-2, available from Book Order Fulfillment)

Association for Library Collections & Technical Services. Guide to the Management of the Information Resources Budget (Scarecrow Press). Collection Management and Development Guides, no. 9.

Association for Library Collections & Technical Services. Guide to Collection Development and Management Administration, Organization and Staffing (Scarecrow Press). Collection Management and Development Guides, no. 10.

Association for Library Collections & Technical Services. Guide to Library User Needs Assessment for Integrated Information Resource Management and Collection Development (Scarecrow Press). Management and Development Guides, no. 11.

Fales, Susan L., ed., Guide for Training Collection Management and Development Librarians (ALA Online Store). Collection Management and Development Guides, no.8. Chicago: ALA, 1996. 61 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3463-3)

Harloe, Bart, ed. Guide to Cooperative Collection Development (ALA Online Store). Collection Management and Development Guides, no.6. Chicago: ALA, 1994. 48 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3444-7)

Helmer, Dona J., comp. And ed. Selecting Materials for School Library Media Centers. 2nd ed. Chicago: American Association of School Librarians, 1993. (ISBN 0-8389-7693-X, 111 p., available from Book Order Fulfillment)

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Developing Beginning Genealogical Collection and Services. RUSQ Fall 1999. 2 p.

Reference and Adult Services Division. Guidelines for Establishing Local History Collections. RQ Fall 1993. 2 p.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Liaison Work in Managing Collections and Services. RUSQ Winter 2001.

Reference and Adult Services Division. Guidelines for Preservation, Conservation, and Restoration of Local History and Local Genealogical Materials. RQ Spring 1993. 4 p.

Curriculum Materials Centers

Association of College and Research Libraries. Guidelines for Curriculum Materials Centers. January 2009.

Deaf

Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Guidelines for Library and Information Services for the Deaf Community (ALA Online Store). (Note: These guidelines are based upon Guidelines for Library Services to Deaf People, a 1991 publication of the International Federation of Library Association.) Chicago: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, 1996. 20 p. (ISBN 0-8389-7807-X, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Distance Learning

Association of College & Research Libraries. Standards for Distance Learning Library Services. July 2008.

Editing and Publishing

Association for Library Collection & Technical Services. What’s in a Name? Presentation Guidelines for Serial Publication. Chicago: Association for Library Collection & Technical Services, 1995. 4 p.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for the Preparation of a Bibliography. RUSQ Winter 2001. 3 p.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Editors of Historical and Genealogical Bulletins and Family Newsletters. RUSQ Winter 1997. 2 p.

Richardson, John V., Jr, Steve Fisher, Betty Hanson, and Holley R. Lange. Guidelines for Writing Local Library Histories. Chicago: Library History Round Table, 1994. 2 p.

Education for Library Service

American Association of School Librarians/National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Committee. Curriculum Folio Guidelines for the NCATE Review Process: School Library Media Specialists Basic Preparation. 2nd ed. Chicago: American Association of School Librarians, 1994. 47 p. (ISBN 0-8389-7749-9, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Committee on Accreditation. Standards for Accreditation of Master’s Programs in Library and Information Studies. (Adopted by ALA Council, January 1992.) Chicago: ALA Office for Accreditation, 1992. (ISBN 0-8389-7628-X, 29 p., available from OA.)

Library History Round Table. Statement on History in Education for Library and Information Science. Library History Round Table, 1989. 1 p.

Reference and Adult Services Division. Guidelines for a Unit or Course Of Instruction in Genealogical Research at Schools of Library and Information Science. RQ, Fall 1996. 5 p.

Standing Committee on Library Education. "Education for Library and Information Studies in Colleges and Universities. (Adopted by ALA Council, June 29, 1993.) Chicago: ALA Office for Library Personnel Resources, 1993. 2 p. (Available from HRDR.)

Handicapped

See Blind And Physically Handicapped
See Deaf
See Institutional Library Services

Human Resources Issues

Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment. ALA's Core Competences of Librarianship (PDF). Approved and adopted as policy by the ALA Council, January 27th 2009.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Competencies for special collections professionals. July 2008.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guideline on Collective Bargaining. June 2008.

Association of College & Research Libraries. A Guideline for the Screening and Appointment of Academic Librarians. July 2009.

Association of College & Research Libraries. A Guideline for the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure of Academic Librarians. June 2005.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for Academic Status for College and University Librarians. January 2007.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Statement of the Certification and Licensing of Academic Librarians. June 2007.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Statement on the Terminal Professional Degree for Academic Librarians. June 2007.

Association of College & Research Libraries/American Association of University Professors/ Association of American Colleges. Joint Statement on Faculty Status of College and University Librarians. February 1974, reaffirmed June 2001 and June 2007.

Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment. Library and Information Studies Education and Human Resource Utilization. A Statement of Policy Adopted by the Council of the American Library Association, January 23, 2002 (originally adopted by ALA Council June 30, 1970).

Information Literacy, Academic Libraries

Association of College & Research Libraries. Characteristics of Programs of Information Literacy that Illustrate Best Practices: A Guideline. Approved by the ACRL Board, June 2003.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for Instruction Programs in Academic Libraries. Approved by the ACRL Board, June 2003.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Approved by the ACRL Board, January 2000.

Information Literacy, School Libraries

American Association of School Librarians. Standards for the 21st-Century Learner. 2009.

American Association of School Librarians. Standards for the 21st-Century Learner in Action. Chicago: ALA, 2009.

Information Services

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, June 2004.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Cooperative Reference Services. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, June 2006.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Developing Beginning Genealogical Collections and Services. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors June 1999.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services (PDF). Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, March 2010.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Information Services. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, July 2000.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Liaison Work in Managing Collections and Services (PDF). Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, March 2010.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for the Introduction of Electronic Information Resources to Users. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, June 2006.

Reference and Adult Services Division. Guidelines for Medical, Legal, and Business Responses. Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, June 2001.

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for the Preparation of a Bibliography (PDF). Approved by the RUSA Board of Directors, March 2010.

See all Reference and User Services Association standards and guidelines at RUSA Guidelines.

Institutional Library Services

Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Guidelines for Library Services for People with Mental Retardation. 24 p. (ISBN 0-8389-8000-7, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Instruction

See Information Literacy

Interlibrary Loan

Sharing and Transforming Access to Resources Section of the Reference and User Services Association. Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States. May 2008. See May 2008 Explanatory Supplement of the U.S. Interlibrary Loan Code.

Additional interlibrary loan resources appear on ALA Library Fact Sheet 8 - Interlibrary Loans.

Mental Illness, Patrons with

ASCLA Standards Review Subcommittee to Prepare Guidelines for Library Services for People with Mental Illnesses, Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies. Guidelines for Library Services for People with Mental Illnesses. Chicago: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, 2007.

Physically Handicapped

See Blind And Physically Handicapped

Planning

American Association of School Librarians. A Planning Guide for Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: AASL, 1999. 56 p. (ISBN 0-8389-8073-2, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Public Library Association. The New Planning for Results: A Streamlined Approach. Chicago: ALA 2001. 316 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3504-4, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Public Library Association. Wired for the Future: Developing Your Library Technology Plan. Chicago: ALA, 1999. 280 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3491-9, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Preservation

Association for Library Collections & Technical Services. ALA Preservation Policy 2008 (originally adopted by ALA Council June 30, 1991).

Public Libraries

Mayo, Diane and Jeanne Goodrich. Staffing for Results: A Guide to Working Smarter. Public Library Association, May 2002. 192 p. (ISBN 0-8389-0826-8).

Nelson, Sandra. The NEW Planning for Results: A Streamlined Approach. Chicago: ALA 2001. 316 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3504-4, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Nelson, Sandra, Ellen Altman, and Diane Mayo. Managing for Results: Effective Resource Allocation for Public Libraries. Public Library Association, 2000. 362 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3498-6).

Walter, Virginia A. Output Measures for Public Library Service to Children: A Manual of Standardized Procedures. 117 pages. (ISBN: 0-8389-3404-8, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Publishing

See Editing And Publishing

Reference Services

Reference and User Services Association. Definitions of Reference. Approved by RUSA Board of Directors, January 14, 2008.

See Information Services

School Libraries

American Association of School Librarians. Empowering Learners: Guidelines for School Library Media Programs. Chicago: American Association of School Librarians, ALA, 2009.

Erikson, Rolf and Carolyn Markuson. Designing a School Library Media Center for the Future, 2^nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2007.

Services to Older Adults

Reference and User Services Association. Guidelines for Library and Information Services to Older Adults. 2008.

Special Collections

Association of College & Research Libraries/Society of American Archivists. ALA/SAA Joint Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections Libraries. July 2009. Also available at the website of the Society of American Archivists: ALA/SAA Joint Statement on Access to Research Materials in Archives and Special Collections Libraries.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Competencies for special collections professionals. July 2008.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Exhibition. January 2005.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines on the Selection and Transfer of Materials from General Collections to Special Collections. July 2008.

Association of College & Research Libraries. Guidelines Regarding Security and Theft in Special Collections. September 2009.

Teen, Tween, and Young Adult Library Services

Young Adult Library Services Association. YALSA’s Competencies for Librarians Serving Youth: Young Adults Deserve the Best. Updated 2010.

Young Adult Library Services Association. Guidelines for Library Services to Teens, Ages 12-18. Codeveloped with Reference and User Services Association, adopted 2008.

Trustees

Rubin, Renee. Avoiding Liability Risk: An Attorney’s Advice to Library Trustees and Others. Chicago: ALA, 1994. 30 p. (ISBN 0-8389-3448-X, available from Book Order Fulfillment.)

Last Updated: July 19 2010

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