Editing Librarian (section)

=== United States ===
The two largest library associations in the United States are the [[American Library Association]] (ALA) and the [[Special Libraries Association]].<ref name="sla" />  YALSA,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/yalsa|title=Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)|work=ala.org|access-date=2011-09-01|archive-date=2011-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119031202/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Young Adult Library Services Association, serves Young Adult librarians, and is part of the American Library Association. Many U.S. states have their own library association as well.  Librarians may also join such organizations as the [[Association of College and Research Libraries]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acrl.org/ |title=ACRL |publisher=ACRL |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2008-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122033111/http://www.acrl.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Public Library Association]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ala.org/pla/ |title=Homepage |website=Public Library Association |access-date=May 4, 2022 |archive-date=April 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429115406/https://www.ala.org/pla/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Art Libraries Society of North America]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arlisna.org/ |title=Art Libraries Society of North America |publisher=Arlisna.org |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2010-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418192514/http://www.arlisna.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Canadian Library Association]] serves Canada and there are provincial associations as well, such as the [[Ontario Library Association]].  In the United Kingdom, the professional body for Librarians is the [[Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cilip.org.uk/ |title=The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals |publisher=CILIP |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2019-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715022801/https://www.cilip.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (formerly known as the Library Association). The [[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions]] (IFLA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ifla.org/ |title=The official website of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions |publisher=IFLA |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2015-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706164140/http://conference.ifla.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> represents the interests of libraries and librarians internationally. (See also the [[List of Library Associations]].) IFLA hosts the annual [[IFLA World Library and Information Congress]].

Recent issues of concern for U.S. libraries include implementation of the [[Patriot Act]] and the [[Children's Internet Protection Act]]. Many librarians around the world share American librarians' concern over ethical issues surrounding [[censorship]] and [[privacy]].

Some librarians join activist organizations like the UK-based [[Information for Social Change]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.libr.org/isc |title=Information for Social Change Journal (ISC) |publisher=Libr.org |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2017-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316121032/http://libr.org/isc/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the North American-based [[Progressive Librarians Guild]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://progressivelibrariansguild.org/|title=Progressive Librarians Guild - Home|author=Sarah Henriksson|work=progressivelibrariansguild.org|access-date=2012-07-23|archive-date=2012-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808220213/http://www.progressivelibrariansguild.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Progressive Librarians Guild covers the actions of union library workers in its journal and blog, ''Union Library Workers''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unionlibraryworkers.blogspot.com/|title=Union Library Workers|website=unionlibraryworkers.blogspot.com|access-date=2012-07-23|archive-date=2012-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426081227/http://unionlibraryworkers.blogspot.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>See also, the series, "There is Power in a Union: Union Activism 2006 Timeline" beginning in 2006 {{cite web |title=Progressive Librarian {{!}} Archive |website=Progressive Librarians Guild |url=http://progressivelibrariansguild.org/PL_Jnl/jnl_contents.shtml |access-date=2012-07-23 |archive-date=2012-08-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809225310/http://www.progressivelibrariansguild.org/PL_Jnl/jnl_contents.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Within the American Library Association (ALA), some also join the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.libr.org/srrt |title=Welcome to SRRT |publisher=libr.org |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2017-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320141905/http://libr.org/srrt/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> SRRT came into being amid the social ferment of the 1960s and is often critical of the American Library Association for not living up to its professed ideals. Another important activist organization is the Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/ |title=AALL, Social Responsibilities SIS Home Page |publisher=Aallnet.org |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2017-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011024454/https://www.aallnet.org/sis/srsis/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> of the [[American Association of Law Libraries]] (AALL).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aallnet.org/ |title=The American Association of Law Libraries |publisher=Aallnet.org |date=2010-04-06 |access-date=2010-04-24 |archive-date=2010-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423134209/http://www.aallnet.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> These activist organizations are viewed as controversial by some librarians, while others view them as a natural extension and outgrowth of their own deeply held library ethics. Librarians in the United States who as political actors in our times provide examples of a commitment to equality, the right to know or social justice include Peter Chase, George Christian, Janet Nocek, and Barbara Bailey. In the Doe v. Gonzales case, these librarians challenged the constitutionality of the nondisclosure provisions of the National Security Letters issued by the government under the USA Patriot Act in terrorist or other investigations. The four received the Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty from the American Civil Liberties Union in June 2007.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Phenix |first1=Katharine |last2=McCook |first2=Kathleen |title=A Commitment to Human Rights Let's Honor the Qualities Required of a Librarian Dedicated to Human Rights |journal=Information for Social Change |date=1 July 2007 |volume=25 |pages=39–48 |url=https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/si_facpub/109/ |access-date=29 April 2021 |archive-date=29 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429171042/https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/si_facpub/109/ |url-status=live }}</ref>