LIRT Mission

Library Instruction Round Table mission
(Approved by LIRT Steering Committee, June 2015)

Founding Purpose and Mission

The Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT) was founded in 1977. LIRT empowers librarians, from all types of libraries, to become better teachers through sharing best practices, leadership and professional development, and networking.

Our goals:

  • To increase professional and public awareness of the need for library instruction and information literacy.
  • To encourage the development of American Library Association policy promoting library instruction and information literacy.
  • To assist library practitioners in the development, improvement, and promotion of library instruction and information literacy activities.
  • To broaden the base of LIRT membership by attracting members from all types of libraries, and to encourage active involvement of LIRT members in the organization.
  • To create programming that appeals to instruction librarians from all types of libraries.
  • To provide opportunities in which librarians from all types of libraries can share ideas about library instruction and information literacy.
  • To encourage the networking of professional library instruction and information literacy groups.
  • To encourage library schools to include education for library instruction and information literacy in their curricular.
  • To maintain an organizational structure that enables the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Library Instruction Round Table.

Vision:

The Library Instruction Round Table will be an inclusive, energetic and diverse multi-type library organization that is recognized as the first stop for practical methods related to library pedagogy, information literacy and point-of-need service. Our organization will utilize technology to its best capacity to enhance communication, outreach to other organizations, build community and recruit new librarians for active engagement. (This vision statement was developed from ideas generated at the LIRT retreat held at Midwinter 2004. Short-term goals and objectives were developed in 2005.)

Key Action Areas:

  • Mentoring
  • Development of practical tools and methods
  • Networking
  • Streamlining of organizational processes
  • Recruitment

Organizational Values:

  • Commitment to member service
  • Commitment to all types of libraries and librarians
  • Open, inclusive and collaborative environment
  • Professionalism
  • Excellence and innovation
  • Transparency and integrity
  • Commitment to improving the everyday practice of library instruction

Desired Future:

The Library

  • All types of libraries will consider library instruction a vital and valuable part of what they do.
  • Library patrons of all ages and educational levels will be information literate according to the professional standards and definitions developed by ALA and its divisions.

The Profession

  • Library instruction will be a standard part of the curriculum at library schools.

The Organization

  • LIRT will be recognized within ALA as a key player in discussions about information literacy.
  • LIRT will be recognized among all librarians as a source of practical information about teaching methods and library instruction.
  • LIRT will be an efficiently run organization that maximizes the time of volunteers and communicates well internally.