The American Library Association and International Relations: Accomplishments, Current Activities, Observations, Strategies, and Plan of Action

Abstract

This report on the international relations activities of the American Library Association (ALA) briefly reviews ALA's policies and accomplishments in the international arena; describes ALA's current international activities and interests; outlines principles and values, which when correlated with current developments and past experience, provide the best foundation for an enlightened approach to ALA's international relations and the formulation of ALA's international relations policies and actions for the future; provides a system of policies and programs designed to facilitate the fullest and most integrated developments in ALA's resources and relate these activities to ALA's established mission statement, priority areas, and goals; and identifies ways to demonstrate to ALA members and their leaders ALA's need and responsibility to be involved in the international arena and the benefits of such involvements to individual groups and members. Appendixes include a chronology of international relations projects since 1941 and a historical outline of funding and budgets; the ALA international relations policy statement adopted in 1978; a list of participants in the 1988 meeting; a description of strategies for the implementation of international relations goals; and an analysis of weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and strengths related to these goals.