ALA Core Competency Number 2: Information Resources
2A. Concepts and issues related to the lifecycle of recorded knowledge and
information, from creation through various stages of use to disposition.
2B. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the acquisition and disposition of
resources, including evaluation, selection, purchasing, processing, storing, and deselection.
2C. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the management of various collections.
2D. Concepts, issues, and methods related to the maintenance of collections,
including preservation and conservation.
1) Info 5200: Information Organization Project
The American Library Association (ALA) Core Competency Number 2, "Information Resources," pertains to the knowledge and understanding of the creation, production, publication, dissemination, preservation, maintenance, and use of information resources. It emphasizes the librarian's role in managing, maintaining, and evaluating these resources to effectively serve the needs of the user community. An Information Organization Project (IOP), involves tasks like cataloging, classification, indexing, or the creation of taxonomies which directly aligns with the aforementioned competency. A significant part of the "Information Resources" competency involves evaluating resources' quality and relevance (2C, 2D). Organizing information ensures that resources are easily accessible and retrievable when needed (2B). During an IOP, librarians would assess the value, currency, and accuracy of resources, deciding on their placement, representation, or potential removal.
2) INFO 5600: Evaluations of Databases, Indexes, Abstracts, Search Engines, Directories, and Serials
March 16, 2023
The evaluations below contains original appraisals of each resource, which include detailed descriptions of the authority, scope, and arrangement. One of the primary objectives of evaluating information resources is to ensure their quality (2B). This aligns directly with the competency's emphasis on understanding the production and publication of information. By evaluating resources, librarians can ascertain their accuracy, reliability, and credibility. Through evaluations like the one below, librarians ensure that the collection is comprehensive and well-rounded, addressing various subjects, viewpoints, and cultures, thereby supporting the competency's focus on diverse information resources (2B). Additionally, as the information landscape rapidly changes, libraries must offer contemporary resources. Evaluating the currency of materials is in line with the competency's emphasis on the lifecycle of information from creation to dissemination (2A).
Evaluations of information resources are inherent to the principles and practices emphasized in ALA's Core Competency Number 2: "Information Resources." These evaluations ensure that libraries maintain collections that are of high quality, relevant, diverse, and responsive to the needs of their communities.