The Dutch Association for Library, Information and Knowledge Professionals (NVB) was founded in 1912 and has approximately 3.000 members.

Aims

The association aims at:
promotion of the profession in its many forms
stimulation of activities aimed at improvement of the level of professionalism of its members
promotion and lobby for the interests of the profession

Activities

Promoting contacts and networking among its members is the primary means of achieving these aims. To this end workshops, seminars, conferences, training courses and study trips are organised. The NVB participates in the organization of the biennial Netherlands Online Conference and is one of 4 members of FOBID, Federation for the Organisations in the field of Library, Information and Documentation Services. The NVB promotes professional publications , both within the association itself and commercially and publishes a monthly newsletter.

Formal contact is maintained with the various organizations and institutions who provide training for information professionals , e.g. Library schools, Universities and GO opleidingen, a private foundation for the training of librarians , documentalists, library managers and archivists

Organization

The NVB is organized in chapters some reflecting the type of library (Research Libraries, College School Libraries, Special Libraries, Public Libraries) others reflecting a particular interest (Juridical Information, Biomedical Information, Serials Group, Users of Online Information. Literature Researchers). Each chapter has its own elected chapter committee and operates with a high degree of autonomy. The chapters have their owbn sections and working groups to meet their own policy requirements and activities.
The chapters are organized in 4 clusters

Cluster 1: Literature Researchers, VOGIN and the Corporate Intelligence Society (CIS)
Cluster 2: Research, College and School Libraries
Cluster 3: Public Libraries
Cluster 4: Biomedical Information, Juridical Information and Special Libraries

The Association has an Executive Committee, which is elected by the Association's members at the General Assembly. This Executive Committee meets 4 times a year. Each of the four clusters is represented through a chair in the Executive Committee.

At the annual General Assembly meeting the Association's members decide on policy and budget items. The General Assembly is the highest organ of the Association. The Association has a small secretariat (three part time employees) and a policy officer. All other functions are executed on a voluntary basis. The Association is self-supporting and receives no governmental subsidy.

Policy development

The Executive Committee is supported by permanent or ad hoc advisory committees, for example the Advisory Committee for Education and Training. External advocacy and lobbying on behalf of the profession is largely channelled through umbrella organizations such as FOBID, EBLIDA and IFLA.

Membership
The NVB has individual and institutional members as well as donators. The membership fee is dependant on the service package.The basic fee for individuals is EUR 35,00, membership per chapter is EUR 7,50. For institutions the fee varies dependant on the mumber of staff employed in the information section.

NVB members are entitled to a 50% reduction on a subscription to the professional journal "Informatie Professional". Members receive the electronic Newsletter, decide on policy at the General Assembly Meetings and take part in workshops, seminars, conferences and training courses organised by the association and its chapters free of charge or at much reduced rates.

Head Quarters

Managing Director: Drs. J. van der Burg (Jan)
Office: F.T. Hendriks (Frank)
Hardware 4, 3821 BM Amersfoort
The Netherlands
Tel.  033-4546 653  Fax: 033-4546 666.
e-mail: info@nvbonline.nl

Editor Newsletter
Drs. J. van der Burg
e-mail: burg@nvbonline.nl