The current accreditation handbook contains several pages of information regarding the role of libraries and information resources. The Commission on Colleges is the representative body of the College Delegate Assembly and is charged with carrying out the accreditation process. The U.S. Secretary of Education recognizes accreditation by the Commission on Colleges in establishing eligibility of higher education institutions to participate in programs authorized under Title IV of the 1998 Higher Education Amendments and other federal programs. Library supporters should ask the Commission to reinstate language that specifies that libraries and other learning resources must be adequately staffed by professionals who hold graduate degrees in library science or related fields. Libraries are the primary mechanism in colleges and universities to administer, organize, and disseminate those learning resources.
Librarians are professionals who hold graduate degrees in library science or related fields.
They are uniquely qualified to administer the complexity of information resources and provide needed instruction on the effective use of those resources. A librarian, knowledgeable in the identification, location, and evaluation of information resources, must be available to guide students in the use of the library, whether it is in print or in digital formats. Given the rise of distance education programs and the availability of electronic resources, it is more important than ever to insure that students can rely on the professional guidance of librarians in the use and evaluation of information. Maintaining quality libraries and helping meet the needs of students requires adherence to professionally established standards for service. In the area of information resources and training, the library profession has a long tradition of setting and meeting meaningful benchmarks for institutions of higher education.