Professional organisations and professional development

Professional Associations are instrumental in getting people started on a career in librarianship and information science. Their major roles are in initial and continuing education. Academic libraries in higher education have received a timely input from the Funding Councils to improve the standards of post-qualification education and professional bodies are well placed to support forthcoming initiatives. They must grasp these opportunities to support the continuing professional development of their members. Situations in America and Australia are similar but in European countries, particularly those emerging into a post-communist era, a basic infrastructure has to be built before they can enjoy the professional freedom those of us in long established democracies may depend upon