| Editorial:
A mark of excellence One of the paragraphs in the draft Corporate Plan for the Library Association proposes the introduction of 'a process of periodic revalidation in order to re-establish the Charter as a benchmark of current professional competence'. There has already been debate on the lis-la-charter mailing list on this subject. I personally welcome this proposal. Professional development is an ongoing process. The environment we work in constantly changes and shifts, as can be seen in very real terms with the Library and Information Commission being superseded by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. A formal requirement for revalidation as a Chartered Associate provides a space to reflect on individual experience and to map out the landscape of where we've been and where we're going at realistic points over a career.
As Bob McKee says 'Revalidation also aims to re-establish the Charter with employers as the benchmark of current professional competence'. Other professions are addressing the need to establish standards of professional competence and in the higher education (HE) sector the Institute of Learning and Teaching (ILT) has been established to officially recognise and validate the skills of the HE community. New teaching staff will need to undergo a period of work-based training with application to become a member of the ILT via portfolio. Librarians can become members of the ILT if they fit the criteria. Such validation via portfolio will hold no fears for them as we as a profession have been involved with a similar process for a number of years.
The Library Association, just like the newly founded ILT, relies heavily on the input of its membership (mostly on a voluntary basis). Those scrutineers and members of The Registration Board, who already give up their time while holding down demanding day jobs, will need to have realistic workloads in managing the increase in submissions resulting from revalidation.
Overall, I think a process of periodic validation will stand us in good stead as a profession. Some people think of the Career Development Group as the Group to join until you complete your Route to Associateship and that it can offer little after this point. Revalidation would demonstrate that there is never a fixed point that is reached in establishing professional competence and that we must continually learn, reflect and move on.
Andrew Hampson
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