Office for Accreditation
The ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âOffice for Accreditation provides external review and validation of master's level library and information studies programs.
Our Mission
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
The ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âOffice for Accreditation (OA) serves the general public, students, employers, and library and information studies Master's programs through the promotion and advancement of education in library and information studies.
The ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âOffice for Accreditation:
- Ensures fair and equitable accreditation reviews of library and information studies programs,
- Provides external review and validation of master's level library and information studies programs,
- Promotes diversity and inclusiveness in library and information studies education,
- Consults and assists in the development and advancement of library and information studies education,
- Communicates with constituencies regarding activities,
- Anticipates and prepares for the changing environment and the future needs of constituencies,
- Manages our operations and resources to be effective, responsive and relevant.
Featured
Accreditation Resources
More Resources & Credentials
(.pdf, 796.42 KB)
(.pdf, 729.94 KB)
Oversight Group and Meeting Schedule
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
- Please contact the Office rather than any member of the Committee on Accreditation directly at accred@ala.org.
Responsibilities
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
Responsibilities of the Office for Accreditation include:
- Coordinating and supporting activities that are directly related to the accreditation of master’s programs of education for LIS,
- Active engagement with the accrediting community through recognition by the and volunteer service with the ,
- Maintaining contact with LIS programs,
- Providing information about the ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âaccreditation process, policies, and procedures, as well as the accreditation status (both historical and current) of specific graduate LIS programs,
- Providing programs, publications, and other activities to promote the awareness and enhance knowledge about the ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âaccreditation process, trends in library and information studies education and trends in higher education accreditation,
- Maintaining a schedule of evaluation reviews
- Maintaining the Directory of Institutions Offering ALA-Accredited Master’s Programs,
- OA shares responsibility with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) for administering the review of school librarianship education programs under the , formerly the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE),
- OA shares responsibility with the ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âOffice for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) for providing information on LIS careers, foreign credentials, and ¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿âscholarships.
Contact
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300
Chicago, IL 60601
Toll free 800-545-2433 accred@ala.org
Staff
¸Û°Ą̈ͼ¿â
Linda Lysoby, Interim Director through 30 Jun 2024 llysoby@ala.org
312-280-2436
Susana Stoll, Associate Director sstoll@ala.org
312-280-2435