Throughout the world professional associations in librarianship place considerable emphasis on the professional credentialing of their members. This normally means that educational and training courses of study offering a first professional qualification take up much of this activity. Since this first professional qualification does not normally require emphasis on the research process, but rather in obtaining the required skills and knowledge in order to practice librarianship, it is little wonder that the role of research in the pro-fession has not always been openly encouraged by its associations. Nevertheless, there is evidence that some associations are realizing that research and the research process needs to be better recognized, particularly as library professionals are increasingly undertaking higher level qualifications which include a research com-ponent. Yet if a research qualification is not always necessary for recognition as a professional librarian, the question needs to be asked: why should librarians bother to undertake the rigours of study to achieve it? The paper will discuss the importance or otherwise of research and its processes in the profession of librarianship and consider the role of the professional association in recognizing, enabling and promoting a research cul-ture amongst qualified professionals. The paper will particularly address the Australian context.

This article aims to highlight important aspects of environmental scanning (ES). As a managerial tool of high utility, ES may assist library professionals – at all levels – proactively assess and respond to change in the technological, demographic, economic and social environments that may have a future impact on the library profession and stakeholder services.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the new set of skills needed by information associations to face the change in the global community they are to represent.

Describes the origins and development of the Advancement of Development through Libraries (ALP), launched as a core programme of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) in 1984 and funded mainly from sources in the Nordic countries. Outlines the ALP philosophy, based on a belief in grassroots development, and its grassroots framework, expressed in terms of its Strategic Plan. Since 1991, 181 projects, including inservice trainings, training in ICT and information literacy, and travel grants, have been carried out at a total cost of more than USD 3 million. Projects are initiated from within the developing regions and carried out by professionals in the regions. These activities support the three pillars of IFLA: The Profession; Society; and the Membership. Identifies the characteristics of a good project and briefly describes examples of good training workshop projects on the Preservation of African Photographic Collections, Managing Digital Libraries and Information Literacy. Concludes that ALP is very important to library development and the visibility of IFLA in developing countries, but that the financial support base needs to be broadened.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of library associations in Finland, which is unique in that there are four library associations within a common infrastructure established by the National Library.

Focuses on an initiative of the Association of Research Library’s Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition in giving leadership for providing open access to scholarly information, determining this as the most effective means of advancing scholarly research. Addresses some of the reasons for opening up access to library literature, issues and challenges, and gives some examples of library associations that are already providing open access to their publications.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a flavour of the content of the first IFLA Presidential Meeting 2007-2009 held in Berlin, Germany in January 2007.