Open Access Kent State (OAKS)

Professional library associations can help to integrate theory and practice in librarianship. Though the associations do much in the way of supporting these as independent endeavors, they do not always take the lead in merging them. There is a need and an opportunity for associations to reach out with new ideas for bringing together theory and practice to a wider set of stakeholders, including library school students, newly minted as well as more seasoned professionals, academics, and consultants. This essay looks at the theory/practice divide in LIS and particularly in library management, describes some examples where integration of theory and practice can occur, and suggests some specific ideas that library associations can implement to strengthen their role in bringing together theory and practice.