Mission
The Instruction Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries enhances the ability of academic and research librarians to advance learning, teaching and research with respect to information literacy in higher education.
Plan for Excellence
Read about the Plan for Excellence, the ACRL’s strategic planning document.
Section History
The Section was founded as the Bibliographic Instruction Section in 1977, and renamed the Instruction Section in 1995. Interested in learning more? Visit the ACRL and Choice History page to learn more about ACRL History and the Instruction Section.
Section Structure
The Instruction Section is composed of an Executive Committee, an Advisory Council, and various standing committees and task forces.
The Executive Committee has authority over the affairs of the Section and is responsible to the ACRL Board. Its members are the elected officers of the Section: Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, Past Chair, Secretary, Archivist, and six Members-at-Large. The entire IS membership has the opportunity to vote for the officers as part of the general ALA election each spring. Executive Committee terms begin July 1.
The Advisory Council is composed of the Executive Committee, plus all the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the standing committees and task forces, and ex-officio members, which include the IS Publication Editor, IS Newsletter Editors, IS Web Administrators, IS Social Media Coordinator, the IS Liaison to the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), and the LOEX Director. Advisory Council meetings provide a forum for communication and coordination, with committees and task forces reporting on activities and making recommendations for Executive Committee consideration.
All standing committee and task force chairs and members are appointed for the coming year by the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of the Section. Most appointments are made in February/March, and begin July 1. Terms are staggered to provide overlap and continuity. The IS committee and task force rosters list the term of appointment for each member.
In 1984 the Instruction Section began the practice of appointing one-year Secretaries for each standing committee in order to provide an opportunity for new members to become acquainted with the work of the Section. The Secretaries are responsible for taking minutes at committee meetings and maintaining the committee web page to involve them more fully in the work of the committee.
Updated by the IS Executive Committee 2025.
