Professional organizations and associations overview

Professional Organizations

The Public Library Association (PLA) vs. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)

Both the Public Library Association and the International Society for Technology in Education were founded with the goals of knowledge sharing and community enhancement in mind. The PLA was founded primarily as a member's only organization for librarians and similar personnel who were interested in promoting the goals of national library services, which includes the aspiration to disseminate information to the public. Much like the PLA, the ISTE was founded to promote education and knowledge in the field of information technology. Both organizations focus their efforts on the community. Spreading diversity among the community has become a priority for both the PLA and ISTE. The primary difference between the two organizations is their focus; while the PLA focuses on spreading knowledge through library services as a whole, the ISTE concentrates their efforts on promoting knowledge about technology, which is particularly important in a society of advancing technological times.

The Public Library Association is part of the American Library Association, an organization providing library services to communities across the nation.

This organization, founded in 1944 is based in Chicago, and serves as an advocacy agent, continuing education establishment and communication outlet for members and individuals who are interested in advancing the goals of library service (PLA, 2003). Among the core values of the PLA are the desire to promote lifelong learning, provide leadership, enhance the exchange of information across many avenues of media and promote diversity within the community (PLA, 2003).

The original mission of the PLA was stated as a desire to "advance public library interests and to cooperate in the promotion of library service in general" (PLA, 2003 & ALA, 1944). The PLA was founded as a membership organization for librarians and library workers, trusties, independent vendors and anyone else that supported the interests and promotion of libraries (PLA, 2003). Part of the organizations purpose is to provide information to prospective librarian's in pursuit of their master's degree in library science.

The PLA also holds a national conference where members from across the country and world gather to discuss excellence in library services.

The PLA is currently partnered with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to offer resources on early childhood and promote early literacy (PLA, 2003). The organization is dedicated to advocacy issues such as providing easily accessible literary research to parents and caregivers; as such the PLA works with many community groups and families to offer events such as children's story time (PLA, 2003).

Like the PLA, the International Society for Education in Technology is committed to educating the communicating and spreading literacy in the field of technology. The goal of the ISTE is to provide leadership and service "to improve teaching and learning by advancing the effective use of technology in education" (ISTE, 2004). ISTE is a worldwide organization that seeks to identify world leaders in the field of education technology. Just as the PLA focuses on early childhood education, so too does the ISTE seek to provide service to teachers instructing K-12 students. The ISTE provides information resources to teachers and students in an attempt to meet the ever increasing demands and challenges introduced by advancing technology, including computers and the internet. The ISTE is home to many events such as the National Education Computing Conference (NECC) and supports the Center for Applied Research in Education Technology (CARET) (ISTE, 2004).

The ISTE also works to promote diversity in part by continually developing technology related programs and educational books geared toward researching, evaluating and "disseminating findings regarding educational technology on an international level" (ISTE, 2004). ISTE offers professional organizations the opportunity to learn more about technological advances by holding half or full day forums in the organizations state per request (ISTE, 2004). The organization also holds a national conference, much like the PLA, targeted toward exchanging information in the field of education technology. The conference acts as a forum presenting professionals and students the opportunity to learn and survey new and exciting technologies.