Home > About Us > Governance > Code of Practice > Part Five

LIANZA Code of Practice - Part Five

Professional Registration

1. Overview
2. Registration Board
3. Membership and Fees
4. Registered Members
5. Application Procedure
6. The Register
7. Mentoring Scheme
8. Criteria for Revalidation

1. OVERVIEW

The purpose of this document is to outline the Library and Information Profession Registration Scheme as approved at the LIANZA Annual General Meeting in October 2006.

2. LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSION REGISTRATION BOARD (See Rule 27(ii))

2.1 The Council shall appoint a Library and Information Profession Registration Board under Rule 27(ii) to:

· grant registration and revalidation in accordance with Part Five of this Code of Practice.

· assess all applications for professional registration

· recognise New Zealand qualifications in library and information management

· provide a representative on request to the advisory boards of the providers of library and information management qualifications in New Zealand

· recognise overseas qualifications and ensure international equivalency

· maintain the record of registered library and information professionals

· approve mentors

· advise on continuing professional development programmes for both initial professional training and registered member revalidation.

2.2 The Library and Information Profession Registration Board shall consist of eight members who will be members of the participating associations of at least five years standing, or other leaders in the profession. Five members are required for a quorum. Board membership will reflect capability in teaching, scholarship, knowledge of Matauranga Maori, and professional practice.

2.3 The initial term of office will be for three years. Council shall review the membership annually and may extend this term by a further three years. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. Replacement of members shall be staggered to ensure continuity of experience.

2.4 The Council shall appoint the Chair of the Library and Information Profession Registration Board annually.

2.5 The Library and Information Profession Registration Board will meet in person at least twice a year. Meeting dates will be published on the LIANZA website. Teleconference or videoconference meetings will be held between these meetings as necessary.

2.6 The Library and Information Profession Registration Board shall have the power to seek specialist expertise if needed to do justice to an applicant. The Library and Information Profession Registration Board shall have power to co-opt members to its Board for specific purposes.

2.7 Subject to legal requirements and the approved appeal process the deliberations of the Library and Information Profession Registration Board on applications for registration shall be confidential to the Board.

3. MEMBERSHIP AND FEES

3.1 The Library and Information Profession Registration Scheme has three classes of registered professional membership. The classes of membership are:

(a) Registered member

(i) A registered member has met the academic and professional requirements of the governing body—New Zealand Library Association (operating as LIANZA)—and has been registered by the Library and Information Professional Registration Board.

(ii) Registered members may use the letters RLIANZA (registered member of the New Zealand library and information profession)

(b) Associate

(i) A registered Associate is a registered member who is also an Associate of the New Zealand Library Association.

(ii) The Associateship is the highest professional award a member of the profession can attain by application.

(iii) Registered Associates may use the letters RLIANZA and/or ALIANZA (Associate of the New Zealand Library Association (LIANZA)).

(i) A registered Fellow is a registered member who is also a Fellow of the New Zealand Library Association (LIANZA).A registered Associate is a registered member who is also an Associate of the New Zealand Library Association.

(ii) Registered fellows may use the letters FLIANZA (Fellow of the New Zealand Library Association (LIANZA)) and/or RLIANZA.

3.2 Both the LIANZA Associateship and Fellowship are awarded by the LIANZA Council on the recommendation of the LIANZA Credentials Committee. The criteria for these awards are available at Code of Practice, Part Three, Section 2- 4.

3.3 Registration fees are set by the Council who will review them regularly. Council may amend them and will notify changes to the membership as required.

4. REGISTERED MEMBER OF THE NEW ZEALAND LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSION (RLIANZA)

4.1 General

4.1.1 The Library and Information Profession Registration Board, under powers delegated to it by the New Zealand Library Association (LIANZA) has instituted a process of registration for the New Zealand library and information profession.

4.1.2 No person may advertise and promote themselves as , registered members of the profession, or use the letters RLIANZA (registered member of the New Zealand library and information profession) until they have received formal notification in writing.

4.2 Definition

4.2.1 A Registered library and information professional is a personal member of one of the following professional library and information management associations (LIANZA, School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA), Te Roopu Whakahau, New Zealand Law Librarians’ Association, Special Libraries Association (SLA), International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML(NZ), Australian NZ Theological Library Association (ANZTLA)) who has shown a theoretical understanding of the body of knowledge at graduate level and can practically apply the body of knowledge in a library or information management environment

4.3 Requirements

4.3.1 A person who wishes to be considered for Registration may apply, provided the following initial requirements are met:

(a) the applicant holds an acceptable qualification in library and information management or library and information studies, at the level of a bachelor’s degree

(b) The applicant is an individual member of one of the following organisations: *

· LIANZA

· School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa (SLANZA)

· Te Roopu Whakahau

· New Zealand Law Librarians’ Association (NZLLA)

· Special Libraries Association (SLA)

· International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML(NZ))

· Australian NZ Theological Library Association (ANZTLA)

*The candidate does not need to have been a member of one of these organisations for any specified time before applying for professional registration.

4.4 Qualifications

4.4.1 The applicant for Registration may pursue one of the following qualification routes as appropriate:

4.4.2 Route A: New Zealand qualifications currently approved by the Registration Board are:

· Bachelor of Applied Science with Information and Library Studies (ILS) major (Open Polytechnic of New Zealand)

· Bachelor of Arts with ILS major or double major with ILS/Humanities or ILS/Communication (Open Polytechnic of New Zealand)

· Master of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) (Victoria University of Wellington)

· Master of Information Management (MIM) (Victoria University of Wellington).

4.4.3 The Registration Board may also approve any other New Zealand graduate qualification in ILS or a similar discipline (information technology (IT), information studies (IS), archives, records management or Maori information management) that can be mapped against the body of knowledge.

4.4.4 The Registration Board may also approve combinations of qualifications that can be mapped against the body of knowledge at graduate level.

4.4.5 Route B: Recognition of prior learning (RPL) or assessment of prior learning (APL)

The Registration Board may approve statements showing recognition of prior learning (RPL) or assessment of prior learning (APL). The assessment of prior learning must be:

· carried out by a New Zealand recognised tertiary provider for the profession

· mapped against the agreed body of knowledge

4.4.6 Route C: Recognised overseas qualifications

(a) Reciprocal agreements

(i) The organisations with whom LIANZA has current reciprocal agreements are

· Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals in the United Kingdom (CILIP)

· Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA)

· American Library Association (ALA)

· Canadian Library Association (CLA)

(b) Other overseas qualifications

(i) Library and information practitioners with other overseas qualifications at bachelor’s degree level or above will need to send:

· a curriculum vitae

· evidence of current employment or practice in the library profession

· an international qualification evaluation from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)

· detailed information about the course content.

(ii) The Registration Board will have the power to grant provisional professional registration to candidates with overseas qualifications who have applied to NZQA, but not yet received an evaluation.

4.5 Initial Professional Training

4.5.1 All applicants for professional registration will need to complete a specified period (normally 12 months) of initial professional training under the supervision of an approved mentor.

4.5.2 Applicants will make a pre-registration application to the Registration Board using the official form and pay the appropriate fee. New graduates will normally apply within 6 months of graduation.

4.5.3 The Administration Officer will confirm receipt of the application and advise of the process for initial professional training which is:

(a) Applicants must choose and gain agreement from an approved mentor (from the list of approved mentors posted on the LIANZA website).

(b) A professional training plan as approved by the mentor must be submitted to the Registration Board within 2 months of starting the period of initial professional training.

(c) The professional training plan sets out the proposed training and development activities, and professional experience that will help the applicant to meet the Registration assessment criteria and to address, in particular, gaps in current professional skills and knowledge of the applicant.

(d) The normal period of supervised initial professional training is 12 months. The Registration Board can shorten or extend this time.

(e) As a general guide, the following periods of initial professional training normally apply:

· New graduates - 12 months

· Other graduates - 12 months if they have less than one year of professional practice in a library

· Up to 12 months as determined by the Board depending on the time spent in professional practice and the continuing professional development experience since graduation

· Overseas graduates - no initial professional training required if there is a reciprocal arrangement in place that applies;

· As for New and Other graduates above in cases without a reciprocal arrangement.

4.6 The Criteria

4.6.1 The following criteria will be used by the Library and Information Profession Registration Board in assessing the applicant’s suitability for the granting of Registration:

· theoretical understanding of the body of knowledge at graduate level

· practical application of the body of knowledge in a library or information management environment including teaching library and information management science

· critical reflection on personal performance and evaluation of service performance

· active commitment to continuing professional development

· analysis of their own personal and professional development and progression with reference to work experience and training

· a wide knowledge and understanding of the library and information profession

· understanding of New Zealand’s bicultural heritage and how to apply this understanding to the library and information profession.

5. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

5.1 Application

5.1.1 Applicants for professional registration must apply to the Registration Board.

5.1.2 The applicant’s suitability will be assessed by the Library and Information Profession Registration Board in terms of the criteria on the basis of the following:

(a) Graduates with New Zealand qualifications will submit:

(i) a confidential written application on the official form, including a statement of qualifications, professional association membership, and career history, and details of mentor(s) where necessary.

(ii) certified photocopies of all academic and professional qualifications.

(iii) the completed Professional Training Plan and the portfolio of learning signed by the mentor

(iv) a written personal record of around 500-1000 words as a statement of self reflection on the learning undertaken and an indication of continuing professional development to be undertaken over the next 3 years (the revalidation period).

(v) a statement from a support group or employer – (optional).

(b) For applicants with overseas qualifications recognized through reciprocal agreements

(i) a confidential written application on the official form, including a statement of qualifications, professional association membership in New Zealand and overseas, a curriculum vitae.

(ii) certified photocopies of all academic and professional qualifications.

(iii) a written personal record of around 500-1000 words as a statement of self reflection on the learning undertaken and an indication of continuing professional development to be undertaken over the next 3 years (the revalidation period).

(iv) a statement from a support group or employer – (optional)

(i) a confidential written application on the official form, including a statement of qualifications, professional association membership in New Zealand and overseas, an international qualification evaluation from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), detailed information about course content, a curriculum vitae, and details of mentor(s) where necessary.

(ii) certified photocopies of all academic and professional qualifications.

(iii) the completed Professional Training Plan and the portfolio of learning signed by the mentor

(v) a statement from a support group or employer – (optional)

5.1.3 Applications should be accompanied by the required fee.

5.1.4 Applications for registration will be considered by the Registration Board at its meetings, which may be in person or by teleconference or videoconference.

5.1.5 Registration Board members will not assess an application for registration if the applicant is personally known to them or if they have knowledge of the applicant’s workplace such that it will prevent an impartial assessment.

5.1.6 The Registration Board may request comment from mentors.

5.1.7 As soon as possible after the Registration Board has made its decision the Chairperson shall notify all applicants in writing whether their application has met the criteria for professional registration, and the Registrar will add the successful names to the Professional Registration Register.

5.1.8 Where the Registration Board believes the criteria have not been met, it may:

(a) Ask the applicant to:

(i) resubmit an application at a later date, and/or, do further training, and/or, take part in a professional interview with two members of the Registration Board or their appointees.

(ii) The Registration Board will tell the applicant in writing about the additional requirements and the time limit within which they must resubmit their application or attend an interview. The applicant will be told the topics to be discussed at an interview.

(b) Decline the application

(ii) An applicant whose application is declined will be sent the following documents by recorded delivery:

· a letter telling the applicant about the decision and the date of the Board meeting at which the decision was made

· copies of the written reports of Board members setting out the reasons why the application was declined

· a copy of the appeals procedure.

5.2 Appeal Process

5.2.1 An applicant may appeal against a decision by the Library and Information Profession Registration Board to decline their application for Registration.

5.2.2 An applicant who wishes to appeal against the Board decision must do so within 6 weeks of the date of receipt of the recorded delivery letter. The appeal must be made in writing to the LIANZA President and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee which is currently set at $200.

5.2.3 The grounds for appealing a Board decision are that:

· all or part of the information used by the Board was biased or incorrect due to no fault of the applicant and that the Board did not know this at the time it made its decision

· the Board failed to follow its own published procedures and that this significantly affected its decision.

5.2.4 The LIANZA President will decide whether a case exists for an appeal. Where no case exists the President will tell the applicant reason for the ruling. In such cases no further appeal is possible.

5.2.5 Where a case exists for an appeal, the LIANZA President will select a panel of three LIANZA Fellows or Associates, who are not members of the Registration Board, one of whom will act as Chair.

5.2.6 The LIANZA President will set a date for the appeal hearing that is within 3 months of the date of receipt of the applicant’s written appeal.

5.2.7 The LIANZA President will send the following documents to each member of the appeal panel:

· a copy of the applicant’s submission on their professional training

· the papers sent to the applicant by the Registration Board

· any papers sent by the applicant to support their appeal.

5.2.8 The applicant will be invited to attend the appeal hearing and may bring a supporter. The Chairperson of the Registration Board, or his/her nominee, will represent the Board and be prepared to speak about the Board’s processes.

5.2.9 Appeal Panel members may question both the applicant and the Board representative.

5.2.10 The applicant may ask their supporter to speak about the grounds for the appeal. However, the supporter may not help (or speak for) the applicant by answering professional questions put by the panel.

5.2.11 The Appeal Panel will reject the appeal if there is not enough evidence to support the applicant’s claim of bias and/or failure to follow correct procedure.

5.2.12 The Appeal Panel may accept the appeal and will then instruct the Board to review the application. The panel will give precise instructions to the Board as to the evidence that must be considered. The Chair of the panel (with assistance from the LIANZA President) will detail the evidence accepted by the panel. The evidence and decision cannot be challenged by the Board.

5.2.13 The Board will review the case at its first meeting after the appeal hearing. The Board will give written details of its decision to the LIANZA President.

5.2.14 The LIANZA President will write to the applicant to tell them about the Board’s final decision.

5.2.15 All applicants are eligible to reapply for professional registration within a year of the date of the Board’s original decision.

6. THE REGISTER

6.1 The Register

6.1.1 There shall be a Register of library and information professionals who have been approved for registration by the Library and Information Profession Registration Board.

6.2.2 The Registration Board shall appoint a Registrar who will be responsible for maintaining the Register and receipt of any fees payable.

6.2.3 The Register shall be open to inspection and the Registration Board may authorise publication of the Register or changes to it.

6.2 Amendment of the Register

6.2.1 The Register shall be amended when the registration of a library and information professional is cancelled.

6.3 Cancellation of Registration

6.3.1 Registration of a library and information professional shall be cancelled upon death, or upon failure to pay the annual registration fee, or on failure to maintain membership of their professional association, or on failure to revalidate their professional registration, or for a breach of the code of professional conduct.

6.3.2 Registration will also be cancelled for any of the reasons that pertain to cancellation of Registration of Fellows and Associates as set out in the LIANZA Code of Practice – Part Three).

6.3.3 The Library and Information Profession Registration Board will take disciplinary action against a registered member who is guilty of professional misconduct by acting against the aims and interests of LIANZA and its registration scheme, or in a manner unbecoming or prejudicial to the profession.

6.4 Certificates of Registration

6.4.1 Registered Members shall receive a Certificate in the form decided by the Registration Board. Certificates will be signed by the Chair of the Registration Board and will include a statement that the Certificate shall remain in force as long as the entry authorising its issue remains on the Register.

7. MENTORING SCHEME

7.1 The Registration Board will invite all registered professionals with over 5 years professional experience to apply to register as approved mentors.

7.2 Mentors will supervise applicants by giving them professional guidance during the initial training period.

7.3 LIANZA will provide a self paced learning manual and a list of relevant training providers for mentor training should a mentor wish to pursue additional training.

7.4 LANZA will publish a list of approved mentors on its website.

8. CRITERIA FOR REVALIDATION

8.1. All registered library and information professionals who are practising must revalidate their registration every three years, in order to continue to be registered.

8.2 All registered members will be informed by the Registration Board, with 3 months notice in writing, when their revalidation is due (the “notification date”).

8.3 A confidential written application for revalidation, including a Journal and Planner, countersigned by a peer (another registered member, Fellow, or Associate), or the applicant’s employer, must be submitted within 3 months after the notification date.

8.4 Registered library and information professionals who are retired, not in employment, or working in a different profession can suspend Registration and revalidate on their return to the profession. If their return to the profession is within the cycle of their 3 yearly revalidation, revalidation to be completed within the dates originally specified. Those who have suspended their registration for an extended period of time i.e. outside their revalidation period, shall submit to the revalidation process within the next three months of their return to the profession.

8.5 Revalidation of registration will take place every 3 years. The first revalidations will be spread over 3 to 5 years (2010-2015) to reduce the administrative load.

8.6 If the registered member does not submit the journal to the Registration Board within 3 months after the notification date, the Board has the power to suspend membership. No appeals procedure exists in this case.

8.7 The Registration Board may reject a submitted journal as insufficient and has the power to recommend a course of training and development so that the registered member can keep their registration.

Accessibility | Disclaimer