Publisher's Synopsis
Professional recognition has an immediate impact on salary, status, self-image and funding. What have other professional bodies who have felt themselves to be undervalued done to change their public image? Why is continuing education a matter of fierce debate among teachers, architects, engineers and solicitors? Is continuing professional development one of the cornerstones of the new definition of professionalism?;The strivings of the library professions in the USA and the UK for professional recognition are examined against the wider social trends and technological developments. These developments have made the information worker's job more complex and specialized, imposing severe demands upon practitioners and creating a more competitive information environment.;The first half of the book surveys the ways in which the drive for professional recognition has been found to be linked with training and continuing education issues by other professions. The second half of the book examines the case of academic librarians, charts their evolving status and its connection with professional development.
