CAPAL/ACBES est une association nationale qui représente les intérêts des bibliothécaires académiques professionnels dans les domaines de l’éducation, les normes, les pratiques professionnelles, l’éthique et les principes fondamentaux. ACBES se différencie des autres associations de bibliothécaires par son attention centrée sur l’individu et la profession. Comme d’autres associations académiques, nous cherchons à travailler en collaboration avec des organisations locales, provinciales et nationales qui défendent les intérêts des bibliothécaires et des bibliothèques.
L’évolution d’ACBES est liée aux défis auxquels sont confrontés les bibliothécaires universitaires ces dernières années. L’évènement déclencheur qui a conduit à la formation de cette association provient de la réaction nationale perçue par les organisateurs à l’occasion de la conférence intitulée: «Bibliothéconomie dans le domaine académique : une crise ou une opportunité» qui s’est tenue à l’Université de Toronto le 18 novembre 2011. Les participants ont généreusement répondu à l’appel et ont clairement exprimés leur message: les préoccupations des bibliothécaires académiques ne sont pas prises en compte.
Un groupe de travail a commencé à examiner le terrain et à étudier ce qui serait nécessaire pour créer une association focalisé sur les questions pertinentes pour les bibliothécaires universitaires. Les discussions se sont poursuivies jusqu’en 2012, et le groupe de travail s’est progressivement élargi pour inclure d’autres participants à travers le Canada. L’article “Academic librarianship : A Crisis or an Opportunity” de Grandfield, Kandiuk, and Sonne de Torrens (2011) publié dans le Partenariat : la Revue canadienne de la pratique et de la recherche en bibliothéconomie et science de l’information passe en revue les développements du symposium.
FAQs
1. Who can be a member of CAPAL?
Anyone can be a member of CAPAL. The focus of CAPAL as a professional association may not, however, appeal to everyone. The focus of CAPAL is on the profession of academic librarianship, the specialized interests of librarians working in post-secondary institutions (colleges, research institutes and universities).
2. Why do we need another association for librarians in Canada?
The reason is simple. There is no existing association for the profession of academic librarianship in Canada.
3. What is the difference between CAPAL and CAUT?
There is more than one way to support a profession. The differences between CAPAL and the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) are much like the differences between the Association of Canadian Archivists and CAUT, or the Canadian Historical Association and CAUT, or the Canadian Mathematical Association and CAUT. Members of these associations are also represented by CAUT. Professional associations represent the specific interests of their members in their respective professions.
CAPAL is focused on professional issues. While it is prepared to take a position on labour issues as necessary, CAPAL is not solely or centrally concerned with addressing such issues at post-secondary institutions or undertaking litigation issues concerning the terms and conditions of employment of our members as CAUT currently does. CAUT states “We fight for fair working conditions, compensation and benefits that foster quality teaching and innovative research. CAUT works for collegial institutional governance that is publicly accountable and gives the academic community its proper voice.”
The committees listed on the CAPAL website serve to demonstrate the ways in which CAPAL differs from CAUT. These areas of interest are NOT within the mandate of CAUT. Several members of CAPAL’s Organizing Committee (and one of CAPAL’s advisors) have extensive union experience and fully appreciate the role that CAUT plays in supporting academic librarians.
CAPAL envisions working with associations like CAUT, as well as other associations, to reinforce and support the academic status of our colleagues at post-secondary institutions through initiatives relating to education, scholarship and mentoring. In fact, it is in the interest of CAPAL members to reinforce and develop a close relationship with CAUT and other associations. By addressing different areas, we can collectively become a strong voice.
CAPAL is intended to be a membership driven organization. In the upcoming months we will be working with its members to further clarify and articulate the mission and purpose of the association.