American Library Association facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | ALA |
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| Formation | October 6, 1876 |
| Type | Nonprofit NGO |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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Region served
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United States |
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Membership (2024)
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47,247 |
| Leslie Burger (interim) | |
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President
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Cindy Hohl |
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Staff
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approx. 300 |
The American Library Association (ALA) is a group in the United States that helps libraries and teaches people about libraries around the world. It's the oldest and biggest group of its kind. The ALA works to make sure everyone has fair access to information.
Contents
History of the ALA
How the ALA Started
The ALA began in Philadelphia in 1876. About 103 librarians, including 13 women, met to talk about libraries. This meeting happened during a big event called the Centennial Exposition. On October 6, 1876, they decided to form the ALA.
Important people like Melvil Dewey, who created the Dewey Decimal System, were there. Justin Winsor became the first president of the ALA. The group officially became a non-profit in Massachusetts in 1879. Its main office is in Chicago.
The 1900s: Growth and Change
In 1911, Theresa Elmendorf became the first woman president of the ALA. This showed how women were taking on bigger roles in the group.
During World War I, the ALA helped provide books to soldiers. They even helped start the American Library in Paris.
In the 1930s, librarians wanted the ALA to focus on important issues. These included peace, fairness, and the freedom to read.
Protecting the Freedom to Read
The first Library Bill of Rights was created in 1939. It set rules against censorship, which means stopping people from reading certain books. This was a big step for libraries, showing they believe everyone should have the right to read.
The ALA later made changes to this bill to make it stronger. They also created a permanent group called the Committee on Intellectual Freedom. This committee works to protect the right to read and access information.
Fighting for Equal Access
In 1945, the ALA opened an office in Washington, D.C. This helped them work with the government.
In 1961, the ALA took a strong stand against unfair treatment. They said that library services should be equal for everyone, no matter their race, religion, or background. Some libraries chose to close rather than allow everyone to use them. In 1963, a study found that libraries in America still had unfair practices.
Librarians also started speaking up about social issues. In 1969, the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) was formed. This group pushed the ALA to address things like fair wages and working conditions for librarians.
The Freedom to Read Foundation was also started in 1969 to protect intellectual freedom. In 1970, the Black Caucus of the ALA was formed to support Black librarians and library users.
In 1971, Barbara Gittings helped start the Rainbow Round Table. This group supports the information needs of LGBTQIA+ people.
ALA's 100th Birthday
The ALA celebrated its 100th birthday in 1976. Clara Stanton Jones became the first African American president of the ALA that year.
Working with the Government
The ALA worked with the government on library issues in 1979 and 1991. They also looked at how libraries could help people learn better after a report called A Nation at Risk came out in 1983.
In 1990, the ALA approved a policy to help libraries serve people experiencing poverty. They also created an office in 1995 to focus on how technology affects libraries.
The 2000s: New Challenges and Leaders
At the start of the 2000s, the ALA decided to create a set of "Core Values" for librarians.
The ALA has had many diverse leaders:
- In 2007, Loriene Roy was the first Native American President.
- In 2009, Camila Alire was the first Hispanic President.
- In 2021, Patty Wong was the first Asian-American President.
- In 2022, Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada was the first Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander American President.
- In 2024, Cindy Hohl, the first SPECTRUM Scholar, became president.
In 2018, the ALA said sorry for not doing enough to fight library segregation during the time of Jim Crow laws. They honored African American librarians who did fight for fairness. In 2020, they promised to build a more fair group for all people of color.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the ALA's annual conference was held online for the first time.
In 2023, the ALA published a report about how public libraries help their communities. They also published a guide about how digital books and libraries work together.
The ALA received the Toni Morrison Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle.
ALA Archives
The ALA keeps its historical documents and records at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign archives. They also have an online collection of their publications.
Who Can Join the ALA?
Anyone can join the ALA, but most members are libraries or librarians. Most members are from the United States, but about 3.5% are from other countries.
How the ALA is Organized
The ALA is run by an elected council and an executive board. Different committees and groups called "round tables" help with policies and programs. The ALA also checks and approves library and information science degree programs at colleges in the U.S. and Canada.
Leaders of the ALA
The ALA's President for 2024–2025 is Cindy Hohl. The President-elect, Sam Helmick, will be president in 2025-2026.
The executive director manages the ALA's daily work and staff.
| List of Executive Directors of the American Library Association | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What the ALA Does
The ALA's main goal is to "promote library service and librarianship." Members can join different groups that focus on specific types of libraries, like school or public libraries. There are also "round tables" for more specific interests.
ALA Divisions
- American Association of School Librarians (AASL): For school libraries.
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC): For children's library services.
- Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL): For college and research libraries.
- Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures: Helps librarians with leadership, managing collections, and technology.
- Public Library Association (PLA): For public libraries.
- Reference and User Services Association (RUSA): Helps libraries with reference, helping users, and finding good books for adults. They also pick notable books each year.
- United for Libraries: Supports people who help run, promote, and raise money for libraries.
- Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA): For young adult library services.
ALA Offices
- ALA Editions: Publishes books.
- Office for Accreditation: Checks library school programs.
- Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services: Helps libraries reach all kinds of people.
- Office for Intellectual Freedom: Protects the freedom to read.
- Public Programs Office: Creates library programs.
- Public Policy and Advocacy: Works with the government on library issues.
ALA Round Tables
These groups focus on specific interests within the library world.
| List of ALA Round Tables |
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ALA Committees
The Committee on Literacy helps the ALA promote different types of reading and learning. The Chapter Relations Committee works with local ALA groups across the country.
National Outreach and Events
The ALA works with local and state library groups. It holds conferences and helps set library standards. It also publishes magazines like American Libraries and Booklist.
The ALA's Graphics Program creates items to promote libraries and reading. They help sponsor Banned Books Week every September. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) also sponsors Teen Read Week and Teen Tech Week. The ALA also helps students from diverse backgrounds get scholarships to study library science.
The ALA has an initiative called I Love Libraries (ilovelibraries.org). This program shares how important libraries are today and encourages people to support them.
The ALA offers many scholarships, giving out over $300,000 each year. You can find a list of them on their website.
National Library Week happens every April. It's a time when libraries across the country celebrate their resources and champions.
Awards from the ALA
The ALA gives out many awards to recognize great work in libraries and amazing books. Some top awards include the American Library Association Honorary Membership and the ALA Medal of Excellence.
The ALA also gives out many famous book and media awards, especially for children and young adults.
The Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) gives out:
- Caldecott Medal: For the best picture book.
- Newbery Medal: For the best children's book.
- Batchelder Award: For outstanding translated children's books.
- Belpré Award: For books by Latino/Latina authors and illustrators.
- Geisel Award: For beginning reader books.
- Sibert Medal: For outstanding nonfiction for children.
They also give the Odyssey Award for the best audiobook for young people. The Children's Literature Legacy Award honors authors for their lasting contributions to children's literature.
The Coretta Scott King Award honors African American authors and illustrators.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) gives awards for books for teens:
- Margaret Edwards Award: For an author's lasting contribution to young adult literature.
- Michael L. Printz Award: For a young adult book judged on its literary quality.
- William C. Morris Award: For a first young adult book.
- YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults.
- Alex Award: For adult books that appeal to teens.
The Reference and User Services Association awards include lists of "Notable" and "Best" books. They also give the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.
The Library History Round Table gives the Justin Winsor Prize for the best essay on library history. The Rainbow Round Table gives the Stonewall Book Award for books about LGBTQIA+ experiences.
The "I Love My Librarian" award celebrates librarians who make a difference.
Since 2006, the ALA has chosen "Emerging Leaders." These are new librarians and library students who work on projects for the ALA.
Conferences
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The ALA holds many conferences each year. The two biggest are the annual conference in June and the LibLearnX meeting in January. The annual conference is one of the largest professional conferences, with over 25,000 people attending.
In 2020, the annual conference was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held virtually instead.
ALA's Stance on Important Issues
The ALA speaks out on issues that affect libraries and librarians. They often share information with courts to help them make decisions on cases related to libraries. The ALA has an office in Washington, D.C., that works with the U.S. Congress on library-related laws.
Intellectual Freedom
The ALA strongly believes in intellectual freedom. This means everyone has the right to find and receive information from all points of view without limits. The Library Bill of Rights and the ALA Code of Ethics tell librarians to fight against censorship.
The ALA has an Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). This office teaches librarians and the public about why intellectual freedom is important. The OIF also keeps track of books that people try to remove from libraries.
In 2002, the ALA went to court over a law called the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). This law required libraries to use filters on their computers to block certain content for kids. The Supreme Court said the law was okay, but only if librarians would unblock filtered material for adults when asked.
In 2021, the ALA spoke out against a big increase in attempts to remove books from libraries. They said that some groups were trying to ban books about diverse topics, falsely calling them "subversive" or "immoral."
Privacy
The ALA believes that what people read in libraries should be private.
Protecting Privacy in the 1970s
In the 1970s, the FBI tried to get librarians to share information about library users. They wanted to know who checked out books on certain topics. The ALA believed this was a violation of people's privacy.
Because of this, the ALA created a "Policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records." This policy says that all records with patron names should be kept private. They also said that librarians should protect the "confidential relationship" with library users.
Privacy in the 1980s
In the 1980s, the FBI had a "Library Awareness Program." They tried to get libraries to help them track the reading habits of people with "Russian or Slavic-sounding last names." The ALA told the FBI that this was wrong. They also created advice for librarians on how to protect privacy if faced with FBI requests.
The USA PATRIOT Act
In 2003, the ALA spoke out against parts of the USA PATRIOT Act. They said some parts of the law could harm the privacy rights of library users. The ALA has worked to change this law and educate people about it.
In 2007, four librarians from Connecticut were honored by the ALA. They had challenged a secret request for information about library users and won.
In 2006, the ALA even sold "radical militant librarian" buttons. This was a humorous way to show their support for intellectual freedom and privacy.
Renaming of Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal
In 2018, the ALA changed the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal to the Children's Literature Legacy Award. They did this because some parts of Wilder's books were seen as culturally insensitive.
Copyright
The ALA works to make sure copyright laws are fair for libraries and the public. They support changes that would make it easier for libraries to use certain materials. They also want to make sure people can easily access research. The ALA is part of the Library Copyright Alliance, which speaks for many librarians in the U.S.
Library Schools Accredited by ALA
The ALA checks and approves library and information science programs at schools in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. These programs offer degrees like Master of Library Science. To be approved, a program must meet the ALA's 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
- 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
- Seminar on the Acquisition of Latin American Library Materials
- Theatre Library Association
See also
In Spanish: Asociación de Bibliotecas de Estados Unidos para niños
- American Indian Library Association and American Indian Youth Literature Awards
- Book Links, an ALA magazine for connecting kids with books
- Booklist, an ALA publication with book reviews
- Challenge (literature), an attempt to remove books from a library
- Diversity in librarianship
- International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
- Library Bill of Rights
- Library Hall of Fame
- Library War Service
- List of American Library Association accredited library schools
- List of presidents of the American Library Association
- National Library Symbol
- Neal-Schuman Publishers, an imprint of the ALA
- Public library advocacy
- List of most commonly challenged books in the United States
