Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)

The mission and goals of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), revolve around educational activities, communication and issues which relate to the selection and evaluation, acquisition, identification, cataloging and classification, and preservation of library materials in all formats.

The more than 50 year old organization has nearly 5,000 members from across the United States and 42 countries around the world. Members include technical services and collection management librarians, library support staff and commercial vendors. ALCTS is a leader in the development of principles, standards, and best practices for creating, collecting, organizing, delivering, and preserving information resources.

ALCTS’ commitment to education, communication and active involvement is carried out in a variety of ways. In addition to a number of programs held at each Annual Conference, ALCTS sponsors preconferences and symposia, workshops, web-based courses and webinars. A list of current educational offerings can be found on the ALCTS Upcoming Events page. The organization publishes not only the highly respected, peer-reviewed quarterly journal Library Resources and Technical Services, but also the ALCTS Newsletter Online (ANO), a series of books – ALCTS Papers on Technical Services and Collections -- and a variety of guides and other resources that are made available in print or online. See the Professional Resources website for further information. ALCTS is also active in developing standards through participation in the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) as well as through extensive involvement in preparation of resources such as the Anglo-American Cataloging Rules (AACR) and RDA: Resource Description and Access (RDA).

ALCTS offers participation in a community that understands the everyday work needs of technical services, preservation, and collection development librarians and support staff, and it engages input from those who provide relevant commercial resources to libraries. The organization supports a variety of committees, hosts a long list of interest groups and is working toward new, Internet-based ways to exchange information on hot topics. The organization also is the home to 14 well respected awards which celebrate and honor the outstanding contributions of library and information professionals in the fields of technical services, preservation and collections.
Consult the ALCTS and ALA websites for further information about ALCTS membership and ALA membership including information about corporate and organizational options.
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Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)

The mission and goals of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), revolve around educational activities, communication and issues which relate to the selection and evaluation, acquisition, identification, cataloging and classification, and preservation of library materials in all formats.

The more than 50 year old organization has nearly 5,000... (read more)