Membership in Library Associations

RSLYA is a member of the following national and international professional associations:

• Russian Library Association (RLA, founded in1994). The RLA coordinates the librarian community’s activities, develops library services in Russia, promotes libraries’ prestige and the librarian’s social status. The RLA is governed by a Council that consists of the President, vice-presidents and Council members. Irina Mikhnova, director of RSLYA, has been elected vice-president of the RLA for 2012 — 2015. Over 40 sections and groups function within the RLA, formed around different types of libraries and different areas of library work; in total the Association has over 500 members. RSLYA is the headquarters of two sections: Young Adults Library Services (chair — Irina Mikhnova), and Young Professionals in Library Services (chair — Marina Zakharenko).
• International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA, founded in 1927). The IFLA is a non-governmental international organization whose members are libraries, national library associations and information services. IFLA’s aims are to encourage international library cooperation and to promote high standards of library and information services around the world, to support research in the field of library and information science. IFLA has over 1600 members from 150 countries, grouped into committees. RSLYA’s director Irina Mikhnova is a member of the Section Libraries for Children and Young Adults Standing Committee.
• American Library Association (ALA). The ALA supports libraries and professional library science education in the USA and the world. Founded in 1876, it is the oldest, and the largest, library association in the world. The ALA has approximately 66 000 members (mostly individuals), grouped into a number of divisions. Over 2 000 ALA members come from a hundred countries around the world, but only two Russian libraries have an ALA membership. RSLYA is a member of YALSA, ALA’s young adult services division.
• Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP, founded in 1877). The Institute represents library and information professionals, stimulates professional discussions and popularizes librarianship. The Institute has 26 000 members, including members from over 100 countries.
• Ukrainian Library Association (ULA, founded in 1995). The ULA is an independent national non-governmental organization for individuals and institutions that are professionally connected with libraries or concerned with the development of library services. The Association’s mission is to support libraries and advocate citizens’ right to strong and up-to-date library and information services. The ULA also supports the social and other common interests of its members.