B.E.L. Book containing materials distributed to members of the Board of Education for Librarianship collected by Anita M. Hostetter, Secretary, (1932-55) as the B.E.L. Book, including circulars, memorandums, reports, drafts and correspondence concerning the activities and projects of the board; accrediting, curriculum, facilities and standards of library schools; cooperation with other educational associations; articles on education for librarianship and librarianship as a profession; aid to library students, recruiting, and job opportunities; training of school librarians; elections and membership on the board; annual reports and revisions of reports; budgets; and meeting agendas and dates.
The accreditation functions of the board were transferred to the Accreditation Committee in 1956 and other functions to the Library Administration Division and the Library Education Division.
The Division of Library Education (LED) was established June 21, 1946, by a vote of the Council accepting the petition for divisional status submitted by the Professional Training Round Table. The Round Table thus became the Division of Library Education. Constitution and bylaws were adopted and officers were elected June 21, 1946.
The purpose of the division was to advance the interests of librarianship through the maintenance and improvement of standards in education for librarianship and through the study of personnel problems (1).
The Library Education Division had specific responsibility for:
1. Continuous study and review of changing needs for library education, development of educational programs, and continuing education of library personnel.
2. Conduct of activities and projects within its areas of responsibility.
3. Synthesis of the consideration by library educators and practicing librarians of education for librarianship.
4. Representation and interpretation of library education in contact with other educational groups.
5. Stimulation of the development of librarians engaged in its type of activity, and stimulation of participation by members in appropriate type-of-library divisions.
6. Planning and development of programs of study and research which will improve and extend library education for the whole profession.
In January, 1952, the Council of New Library Schools became the Teachers Section of the Division (2).
The Library Education Division also had specific responsibility for identifying materials needed in library education and prompting their preparation, publication, evaluation, dissemination, and use (3).
In 1977, the Library Education Division was dissolved by the ALA Council and was replaced by the Committee on Education, effective February 1, 1978 (4).