ALA Core Competency Number 1: Foundations of the Profession
1A. The ethics, values, and foundational principles of the library and information profession.
1B. The role of library and information professionals in the promotion of democratic principles and intellectual freedom (including freedom of expression, thought, and conscience).
1C. The history of libraries and librarianship.
1D. The history of human communication and its impact on libraries.
1E. Current types of library (school, public, academic, special, etc.) and closely related information agencies.
1F. National and international social, public, information, economic, and cultural policies and trends of significance to the library and information profession.
1G. The legal framework within which libraries and information agencies operate. That framework includes laws relating to copyright, privacy, freedom of expression, equal rights (e.g., the Americans with Disabilities Act), and intellectual property.
1H. The importance of effective advocacy for libraries, librarians, other library workers, and library services.
1I. The techniques used to analyze complex problems and create appropriate solutions.
1J. Effective communication techniques (verbal and written).
1K. Certification and/or licensure requirements of specialized areas of the profession.
1) INFO 5000: Information and Knowledge Professions
Final Term Paper, August 1, 2020
The purpose of this Literature Review is to gain an in-depth understanding of a specific area related to the information and knowledge
professions. This deep dive involved extensive research through analyzing, reviewing, and synthesizing the literature germane to my topic. For my review, I chose the topic of criminalization of the homeless in libraries. In my study and research, I learned many of the ethical foundations of librarianship dovetail nicely with ALA Core Competency Number 1. The thesis touches on equity of access to resources (1A, 1B), advocacy for all patrons (1H), and using resources to solve complex problems (1I). The first competency, "Foundations of the Profession," speaks to the fact that librarians should understand the ethical foundations, history, and overarching philosophy of the library profession. Librarians should be familiar with major issues such as intellectual freedom, equitable access to information, professional standards, and the broader context in which libraries operate.
2) INFO 5208: Organization and Media
December 4, 2022
The final paper below explores the life and work of a pioneer in the world of library and cataloging, Henriette D. Avram. Avram was spearheaded library automation and bibliographic control with an illustrious career (1C) spanning over three decades. Although she was not a librarian by training, her impact on the global library community was extensive and distinguished primarily by her contributions to the development of the Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) format (1D). Her work in developing MARC has had long-reaching implications for libraries all over the world and is used in libraries even today. This paper meets the standards ofALA Core Competency Number 1: Foundations of the Profession in that it addresses the history of librarianship (1C) as well as the historical impact of human communication in libraries (1D). Henriette Avram's pioneering work and vision reflect many of the foundational principles and values emphasized in ALA's Core Competency Number 1. Her contributions have become integral to the modern library profession, embodying the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and user-focused service that are all central to librarianship.