ALA defines core competences of librarianship

The American Library Association has issued a press release summarizing their recently defined core competences of librarianship. In a nutshell it states:

Everyone graduating from an ALA-accredited master’s program in library and information studies should know and, where appropriate, be able to employ:

• Foundations of the Profession.
  
• Information resources.
  
• Organization of recorded knowledge and information.
  
• Technological knowledge and skills.
  
• Reference and user services.
  
• Research.
  
• Continuing education and lifelong learning.
  
• Administration and management.

The core competency requirements stress the role of library and information professionals in promoting democratic principles and intellectual freedom, knowing and applying the legal framework guiding libraries and information agencies – including laws relating to copyright, privacy, freedom of expression, equal rights and intellectual property – and attaining competency in identifying and analyzing emerging technologies and innovations.

Emphasis mine.