Re: Foreign MLS? Valerie Hawkins 06 Apr 2004 16:58 UTC
The ALA web site also has the following information: **************************************************************************************** Foreign Credentials Evaluation Assistance Employer Information <http://www.ala.org/ala/hrdr/educprofdev/foreigncredentials.htm> Dear Employer, Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding evaluation of an international degree for your job applicant in library and information science. The policy of the American Library Association (ALA) states: "The master's degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association (or from a master's level program in library and information studies accredited or recognized by the appropriate national body of another country) is the appropriate professional degree for librarians." The following countries have been identified as having "formal" accreditation processes and an individual who has received his/her degree from an institution in one of these countries is considered acceptable for employment in the United States. A list of the specific institutions can be found at: * United Kingdom Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) http://www.cilip.org.uk/qualifications/qualif.html * Australia Australian Library and Information Association http://www.alia.org.au/education * New Zealand Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa http://www.lianza.org.nz/publications/employers.shtml If an individual has attended an institution of higher learning in regions of the world other than those mentioned above, the following website may be of service in identifying programs throughout the world: http://informationr.net/wl/ Additionally, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has created Guidelines for Professional Library/Information Educational Programs which can be accessed at: http://www.ifla.org/VII/s23/bulletin/guidelines.htm If you require additional assistance please contact: Lorelle R. Swader, Director, ALA/HRDR, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611 or lswader@ala.org **************************************************************************************** Also see: Foreign Credentials Evaluation Assistance Job Seeker Information <http://www.ala.org/ala/hrdr/educprofdev/foreigncredentialsevaluation.htm> Valerie Hawkins Library Technical Assistant ALA Library American Library Association 50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611-2795 Phone: (800) 545-2433, ext. 2154 vhawkins@ala.org http://www.ala.org/library Find the answers "@ your library" >>> shorej@CABLESPEED.COM 4/5/2004 12:46:18 PM >>> Jenifer, Most locales say they require an ALA-accredited MLS or its equivalent. The ALA's web site (www.ala.org) includes a section on Education and Careers that includes this on Foreign degrees: "Q: I have a degree from a foreign institution. How can I find out if it is equivalent to an ALA-accredited master's? What courses or tests can I take to be "accredited?" A: Ultimately, it is up to the employer to determine whether or not to accept a foreign degree as equivalent to an ALA-accredited master's. There is no set of courses or tests to take to be "accredited." The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment has identified agencies that, for a fee, will evaluate foreign credentials." I suggest your policy should allow for equivalent degrees and point to these services with some requirement for the candidate to prove their degree is equivalent. J. J. Shore Systems Librarian - MEDLINE Quality Assurance National Library of Medicine Bethesda, MD, USA shorej@cablespeed.com