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This issue highlights ACRL’s Standards for Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators,* approved by the ACRL board in June 2007:

As stated in the introduction, “This document is intended to help instruction librarians define and gain the skills needed to be excellent teachers in library instruction programs and to foster collaborations necessary to create and improve information literacy programs.”

The document was written for all librarians with instruction responsibilities and focuses on proficiencies that can be applied as appropriate in different professional environments. The proficiencies can inform professional development or assessment opportunities and can assist administrators and managers in defining instruction-related positions.

The proficiencies are organized into twelve categories:

1. Administrative skills
2. Assessment and evaluation skills
3. Communication skills
4. Curriculum knowledge
5. Information literacy integration skills
6. Instructional design skills
7. Leadership skills
8. Planning skills
9. Presentation skills
10. Promotion skills
11. Subject expertise
12. Teaching skills

Each category includes a set of skills. Some of the skills are intended for all instruction librarians (e.g., “Maintains awareness of communication needs of different learning styles, and adjusts own communication style and methods accordingly”). A smaller number of skills are intended specifically for coordinators of instruction programs (e.g., “Ensures that all library instructors are aware of the desired learning outcomes and goals and objectives of the overall instruction program.”)

ACRL hopes that the document, along with other ACRL standards and guidelines, will promote discussion within institutions regarding the staffing and skills necessary for the development of instructional programs.