American Library Association facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
American Library Association

ALA Logo
Abbreviation	ALA
Formation	October 6, 1876; 148 years ago (1876-10-06)
Type	Non-profit NGO
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Location	Chicago and Washington, D.C., U.S.
Region served	United States
Membership (2022)	49,705
Executive Director	Leslie Burger
President	Emily Drabinski
Budget	$55 million
Staff	approx. 300

The American Library Association (ALA) is a non-profit group in the United States. It works to support libraries and library education around the world. It is the oldest and largest library association globally.

History of the American Library Association

How the ALA Started in the 1800s

The ALA began during the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876. A group of 103 librarians met from October 4–6, 1876. They gathered at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

On October 6, 1876, many signed up to become founding members. This date is now known as the ALA's official start. Important founders included Justin Winsor, William Frederick Poole, and Melvil Dewey. Librarians came from places as far as Chicago and England. The ALA officially became a chartered organization in Massachusetts in 1879. Its main office is in Chicago.

Justin Winsor was the first president of the ALA. He served from 1876 to 1885.

Key Moments in the 1900s

In 1911, Theresa Elmendorf became the first woman president of the ALA. This showed how women's roles in the association were growing.

American Library Association conference at New Monterey Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, June 25, 1919

During World War I, the ALA helped provide books and magazines to military members. This effort was called the Library War Service. The American Library in Paris was also started as part of this work.

In the 1930s, librarians pushed the ALA to address important issues. These included peace, fairness, and intellectual freedom. The Junior Members Round Table (JMRT) was formed in 1931. It gave younger ALA members a voice.

The first Library Bill of Rights (LBR) was created in 1939. It set rules against censorship and was adopted by the ALA. This was a big step for librarianship. It showed a commitment to intellectual freedom and the right to read. The ALA later made changes to strengthen the Library Bill of Rights in 1948.

The ALA has always worked to ensure everyone has fair access to information. In 1945, the ALA opened an office in Washington, D.C. This office helped with national relations.

In 1961, the ALA took a stand for equal library service for all people. They added an amendment to the Library Bill of Rights. It stated that no one should be denied library use because of their background or beliefs. Some communities chose to close libraries rather than desegregate them. A 1963 study found unfair treatment in American libraries.

In 1967, some librarians protested a speech about the Vietnam War. This led to discussions about librarians' social responsibilities. A group formed the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in 1969. This group pushed the ALA to address issues like working conditions and intellectual freedom.

The Freedom to Read Foundation was started in 1969 by ALA's executive board. The Black Caucus of the American Library Association and the Office for Literacy and Outreach were also created in 1970.

In 1971, Barbara Gittings helped start the Rainbow Round Table. This group supports the information needs of diverse groups.

ALA's 100th Birthday

The American Library Association celebrated its 100th birthday in 1976. To mark the event, they published a book called Libraries and the Life of the Mind in America.

The ALA Archives were also set up around this time. They keep historical documents and records. Clara Stanton Jones was the first African American president of the ALA. She served from 1976 to 1977.

From 1976 to 2000

In 1979 and 1991, the ALA worked with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. They collaborated on two White House Conferences.

In 1983, the ALA launched "Libraries and the Learning Society." This project looked at how libraries could help people learn. It was a response to a national report about education.

In 1990, the ALA approved a policy on library services for people in need. A task force was formed in 1996 to promote these guidelines. The Office for Information Technology Policy was created in 1995. It helps libraries with technology issues.

In 1999, the "Congress on Professional Education" brought together over 100 people. They worked to agree on the main values and skills for the library profession.

The ALA in the 21st Century

Panelist Dr.Cora Dunkley speaking at Association for Library Service to Children 2022 President's Program, Lucia Gonzalez, President

At the start of the 21st century, the ALA decided to create a set of "Core Values." These values guide the association's work.

In 2007, Loriene Roy became the first Native American President of the ALA. In 2009, Camila Alire became the first Hispanic president.

In 2014, ALA President Courtney Young spoke about the need for more diversity in publishing. This happened after a comment made by an author. Young said the ALA hopes the incident would start a conversation about diversity in books for young people.

In 2020, Wanda Kay Brown was the first president from a historically black college or university. She led the ALA during the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual conference was held online that year.

In 2021, Patty Wong became the first Asian-American president. In 2022, Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada was the first Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander American president.

In 2023, the Public Library Association published a report. It showed how libraries help their communities. The ALA also worked on new standards for library services for people who are incarcerated.

The ALA published the Digital Public Library Ecosystem in 2023. This report looks at how authors, publishers, libraries, and others work together in the digital world.

In 2024, the ALA responded to proposed legislation in Georgia. The ALA stated that the legislation was based on "false narratives" and that the ALA "does not promote any 'ideology'".

The ALA received the Toni Morrison Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle. The association is planning to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026.

The Library History Round Table created a database of library history. It has over 7,000 entries for books and articles.

ALA's Historical Records

The ALA's historical documents and records are kept at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign archives. The American Library Association Institutional Repository (ALAIR) also provides digital access to the association's publications.

Who Can Join the ALA?

Anyone can join the ALA, whether they are a person or an organization. Most members are libraries or librarians. Most members live and work in the United States. About 3.5% of members are from other countries.

How the ALA is Organized

The ALA is led by an elected council and an executive board. Its policies and programs are managed by committees and special interest groups called "round tables." One important job of the ALA is to review and approve academic programs. These programs offer degrees in library and information science in the U.S. and Canada.

ALA Leaders: Presidents and Executive Directors

The ALA's President for 2023–2024 is Emily Drabinski. Cindy Hohl will be the president in 2024-2025. You can find a full list of past presidents in the List of presidents of the American Library Association.

American Library Association Executive Directors

The Executive Director of the ALA manages the daily operations of the association. They work with department heads to carry out ALA's programs and activities.

Before Carl Milam, the association had secretaries. These included George Burwell Utley, Chalmers Hadley, and Melvil Dewey.

What the ALA Does

The main goal of the ALA is to "promote library service and librarianship." Members can join different groups based on their interests. There are eight main divisions for specialized topics. These include academic, school, or public libraries. There are also nineteen "round tables" for more specific interests.

ALA Divisions

• American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
• Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
• Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures - helps librarians with leadership, managing collections, and technology.
• Public Library Association (PLA)
• Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) - helps all types of libraries with reference, user services, and collection development. It also selects "Notable Books" each year.
• United for Libraries - supports those who lead, promote, and fund libraries.
• Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

ALA Offices

• ALA Editions (publishes books)
• Office for Accreditation (OA)
• Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS)
• Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF)
• Public Programs Office
• Public Policy and Advocacy (started in 1945)

ALA Round Tables

• Coretta Scott King Book Award Round Table
• Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange RT (EMIERT) - focuses on Multicultural education.
• Exhibits Round Table (ERT)
• Film and Media Round Table (FMRT)
• Games and Gaming (GAMERT)
• Government Documents (GODORT)
• Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table (GNCRT)
• Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT)
• International Relations (IRRT)
• Learning RT (LearnRT)
• Library History Round Table (LHRT) - manages a database of library history.
• Library Instruction Round Table (LIRT)
• Library Research (LRRT)
• Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT)
• Map and Geospatial Information (MAGIRT)
• New Members Round Table (NMRT)
• Rainbow Round Table (RRT) - supports the information needs of diverse groups.
• Retired Members Round Table (RMRT)
• Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) - started in 1969. It has task forces on topics like feminism, hunger, and the environment.
• Staff Organization (SORT)
• Sustainability (SustainRT)
• Round Table Coordinating Assembly (RTCA)

Important Committees

The Committee on Literacy helps create ALA's policies about promoting different types of literacy. The Chapter Relations Committee works with ALA's state and regional chapters.

In 1970, the ALA formed the "Task Force on Gay Liberation." This group later became the Rainbow Round Table. In 1976, the Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) was created.

Reaching Out to the Nation

The ALA works with state and student chapters across the country. It organizes conferences and helps develop library standards. It also publishes books and magazines. The ALA publishes American Libraries, Booklist, and Choice.

The Graphics Program creates materials to promote libraries, literacy, and reading. The ALA also sponsors Banned Books Week each September. The Young Adult Library Services Association sponsors Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week. The ALA also helps promote diversity in the library field. It offers scholarships to minority library students through the Spectrum Scholarship program.

The ALA's Office for Library Advocacy has an initiative called I Love Libraries. This program aims to share the value of libraries today. It promotes librarians and libraries and encourages people to support them.

The ALA offers many scholarships, totaling over $300,000 each year. You can find a list on their website.

National Library Week is held every April. The ALA has sponsored this national event since 1958. Libraries across the country celebrate library resources and champions.

Awards Given by the ALA

ALA Youth Media Awards in January 2014; Pura Belpré Committee with Henrietta M. Smith

The American Library Association gives many awards to recognize professionals. Some major awards include American Library Association Honorary Membership and the ALA Medal of Excellence.

The ALA also gives many book and media awards each year. Many of these are for children's and young adult books.

The Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) gives out awards like:

• Caldecott Medal
• Newbery Medal
• Batchelder Award
• Belpré Awards
• Geisel Award
• Sibert Medal

They also give the Odyssey Award for best audiobook (with YALSA). The Carnegie Medal is for best video. There are also two ALSC lifetime awards: the Children's Literature Legacy Award and the Arbuthnot Lecture.

The Coretta Scott King Award is given by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table.

The young adult division, YALSA, gives the Margaret Edwards Award. This award recognizes an author's lasting contribution to YA literature. They also give annual awards for specific books. These include the Michael L. Printz Award for literary merit and the William C. Morris Award for a first YA book. Other awards are the "YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults" and the "Alex Award" list for adult books appealing to teens.

The Reference and User Services Association awards include annual lists of "Notable" and "Best" books and other media. They also give the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction and the Dartmouth Medal.

The Library History Round Table gives the Justin Winsor Prize for the best essay on library history. The Rainbow RoundTable gives the Stonewall Book Award each year.

Other awards include the John Cotton Dana Award for library public relations. There is also the I Love My Librarian award.

Since 2006, the ALA has chosen "Emerging Leaders." These are about 100 new librarians and library school students. They work on projects for ALA divisions.

Conferences and Meetings

The American Library Association Conference in June 2011

The ALA holds many conferences throughout the year. The two largest are the annual conference and the midwinter meeting, now called LibLearnX. The midwinter meeting is usually in January and focuses on new session ideas. The annual conference is usually in June. It features programs, exhibits, and presentations. The ALA annual conference is one of the largest professional conferences. It often draws over 25,000 attendees.

In 2020, Wanda Kay Brown was president when the annual conference was canceled. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference was held online instead. Brown said that ALA's main concern was the health and safety of the library community.

Notable Members of the ALA

ALA's Stances on Important Issues

ALA seal

The ALA takes positions on United States political issues that affect libraries. For court cases, the ALA often provides information to help the court make decisions. The ALA has an office in Washington, D.C.. This office works with Congress on issues related to libraries and information. It also provides resources to libraries on how to get grants and follow laws.

Intellectual Freedom

The ALA strongly supports intellectual freedom. This means everyone has the right to seek and receive information from all viewpoints. The ALA's main statements on this are the Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of Rights. The Library Bill of Rights encourages libraries to "challenge censorship." The ALA Code of Ethics also tells librarians to "uphold the principles of intellectual freedom."

The ALA has an Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). This office works to make sure people understand intellectual freedom in libraries. It collects lists of books that have been challenged or censored.

The first director, Judith Krug, led the office for 40 years. In 1950, the OIF's earlier committee investigated the firing of librarian Ruth W. Brown. She was accused of being a communist. The ALA supported her, and this was the first time the ALA got involved in such a legal case.

Protecting Privacy

1970s Privacy Concerns

In the 1970s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tried to get librarians to share information about library users. This happened during a case involving anti-war activists. The FBI wanted librarians to help them find out about people's reading habits.

Zoia Horn, a librarian at Bucknell University, refused to share information. She believed it went against freedom of thought. She was even jailed for 20 days for refusing to testify. She is known as the first librarian jailed for protecting a professional value. The California Library Association now gives an award in her honor.

Also in the 1970s, government agents tried to get libraries to release records. They wanted to know who checked out books on certain topics. The ALA believed this was a violation of privacy.

Because of these events, the ALA created a "Policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records." This policy stated that all records with patron names should be kept private. The ALA also released a Statement on Professional Ethics in 1975. It supported the private relationship between a library user and the library.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, the FBI tried to use libraries for surveillance again. This was part of their "Library Awareness Program." They wanted libraries to help them track the reading habits of people with certain names. The ALA responded by writing to the FBI director. They also created advice for librarians on how to handle such requests.

In 2003, the ALA passed a resolution against the USA PATRIOT Act. They felt parts of the law threatened the privacy rights of library users. The ALA has worked to change this law. They have also educated communities about its potential impact on privacy.

In 2006, the ALA sold "radical militant librarian" buttons. These buttons supported the ALA's stands on intellectual freedom and privacy. The idea came from FBI emails that complained about "radical, militant librarians."

Changing the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal Name

In 2018, the ALA changed the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. It is now called the Children's Literature Legacy Award. The change was made because of concerns about insensitive portrayals in Wilder's books.

Copyright and Digital Rights

The ALA supports changes to copyright law. They want to make sure people can use "orphan works" (works where the copyright holder is unknown). They also want to protect "fair use" of materials. The ALA is careful about digital rights management (DRM). They successfully sued the Federal Communications Commission to prevent rules that would enforce DRM on digital televisions.

The ALA is part of the Library Copyright Alliance. This group speaks for many information professionals in the United States. The ALA also supports a bill called the "You Own Devices Act." This bill would protect the right of device owners to transfer their devices and software.

ALA-Approved Library Programs

The ALA approves library and information studies programs in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. These programs offer degrees like Master of Library Science (MLS). To be approved, programs must meet specific standards.

Groups Connected to the ALA

• American Association of Law Libraries
• American Indian Library Association
• Association for Information Science and Technology
• American Theological Library Association
• Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
• Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
• Association for Library and Information Science Education
• Association for Rural and Small Libraries
• Association of Bookmobile and Outreach Services
• Association of Jewish Libraries
• Association of Research Libraries
• Beta Phi Mu
• Black Caucus of the American Library Association - formed in 1970 to support African American librarians and library services.
• Catholic Library Association
• Chinese American Librarians Association
• The Joint Council of Librarians of Color
• Latino Literacy Now
• Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa
• Medical Library Association
• Music Library Association
• National Storytelling Network
• Online Audiovisual Catalogers
• Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association
• Polish American Librarians Association
• ProLiteracy Worldwide
• REFORMA - the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking.
• Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials
• Theatre Library Association

See Also

In Spanish: Asociación de Bibliotecas de Estados Unidos para niños