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The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world.[3][4]

Key Information

History

[edit]

19th century

[edit]
American Library Association 1876 Organizing Committee: Melvil Dewey, Justin Winsor, William F. Poole, and Lloyd P. Smith

During the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, 103 librarians (90 men and 13 women) responded to a call for a "Convention of Librarians" to be held October 4–6, 1876, at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.[5]

In his seminal essay "ALA at 100", Edward G. Holley describes how "the register was passed around for all to sign who wished to become charter members" at the end of the meeting, which is why the date of the founding of the ALA is considered to be October 6, 1876 (149 years ago) (1876-10-06).[6]

Among the 103 librarians in attendance were:[7]

Attendees came from as far west as Chicago and from England.[7][9][10]

In 1879, the ALA was chartered in Massachusetts.[11]

The ALA's headquarters office is in Chicago.[12]

Another important founder was Frederick Leypoldt, publisher of Library Journal, who published the conference proceedings.[13]

From 1876 until 1885, Justin Winsor served as the first president of the ALA.[14]

Many early presidents were also officers in the Bibliographical Society of America.[15]

20th century

[edit]

In 1911, Theresa Elmendorf became ALA's first woman president.[16][17] An analysis of the writings of the first fifteen women presidents gives more insight into the expanded role of women in the association.[18]

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

During World War I the ALA Executive Board initiated by Walter Lewis Brown established the Library War Service Committee to supply books and periodicals to military personnel at home and overseas.[19] The American Library in Paris was founded as part of this effort.

In the 1930s, library activists pressured the American Library Association to be more responsive to issues such as peace, segregation, library unions, and intellectual freedom. In 1931, the Junior Members Round Table (JMRT) was formed to provide a voice for the younger members of the ALA.[20]

The first Library Bill of Rights (LBR) was drafted by Forrest Spaulding to set a standard against censorship and was adopted by the ALA in 1939. This has been recognized as the moment defining modern librarianship as a profession committed to intellectual freedom and the right to read.[21] ALA appointed a committee to study censorship and recommend policy after the banning of the novel The Grapes of Wrath in Kern County, California and the implementation of the Library Bill of Rights. The committee reported in 1940 that intellectual freedom and professionalism were linked and recommended a permanent committee – Committee on Intellectual Freedom.[22] The ALA made revisions to strengthen the Library Bill of Rights in June 1948, approved the Statement on Labeling in 1951 to discourage labeling material as subversive, and adopted the Freedom to Read Statement and the Overseas Library Statement in 1953.[22]

The ALA has worked throughout its history to define, extend, protect and advocate for equity of access to information.[23]

In 1945 the ALA established an Office in Washington, D.C. named the National Relations Office under the direction of Paul Howard.[24]

In 1961, the ALA took a stand regarding service to African Americans and others, advocating for equal library service for all. An amendment to the Library Bill of Rights was passed in 1961 that made clear that an individual's library use should not be denied or abridged because of race, religion, national origin, or political views. Some communities decided to close their doors rather than desegregate.[25] In 1963, the ALA commissioned a study, Access to Public Libraries, which found direct and indirect discrimination in American libraries.[26]

In 1967, some librarians protested against a pro-Vietnam War speech given by General Maxwell D. Taylor at the annual ALA conference in San Francisco; the former president of Sarah Lawrence College, Harold Taylor, spoke to the Middle-Atlantic Regional Library Conference about socially responsible professionalism; and less than one year later a group of librarians proposed that the ALA schedule a new round table program discussion on the social responsibilities of librarians at its annual conference in Kansas City. This group called themselves the Organizing Committee for the ALA Round Table on Social Responsibilities of Libraries. This group drew in many other under-represented groups in the ALA who lacked power, including the Congress for Change in 1969.[27] This formation of the committee was approved in 1969 and would change its name to the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in 1971. After its inception, the Round Table of Social Responsibilities began to press ALA leadership to address issues such as library unions, working conditions, wages, and intellectual freedom.

The Freedom to Read Foundation was founded by Judith Krug, Alexander Allain, and Carrie C Robinson and established by ALA's executive board in 1969.[28]

The Black Caucus of the ALA and the Office for Literacy and Outreach were established in 1970.[29]

In 1971, Barbara Gittings staffed a kissing booth at the ALA Conference underneath the banner, "Hug a Homosexual."[30][31][32] This was the precipitating event that evolved into the Rainbow Round Table dedicated to supporting the information needs of LGBTQIA+ people.

Centennial

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The American Library Association celebrated its centennial in 1976. In commemoration the association published Libraries and the Life of the Mind in America.[33][6]

The American Library Association Archives, established at the time of the centennial, created an online exhibit which includes a history of the centennial. Clara Stanton Jones, president, Inaugural address was titled, “The First Step into ALA’s Second Century.”[34]

1976–2000

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Clara Stanton Jones was the first African American president of the ALA, serving as its acting president from April 11 to July 22 in 1976 upon the death of Allie Beth Martin and then elected president from July 22, 1976 to 1977.[35][36]

In 1979 and 1991 the ALA collaborated with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science on two White House Conferences.[37]

In 1983 in response to the National Commission on Excellence in Education Report, A Nation at Risk, leaders in library and information science launched the project, "Libraries and the Learning Society."[38] Librarians examined how public libraries, academic libraries, library and information science training institutions, and school library media centers could best respond to A Nation at Risk.

In June 1990, the ALA approved "Policy on Library Services to the Poor" and in 1996 the Task Force on Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty was formed to resurrect and promote the ALA guidelines on library services to the poor.[39]

The Office for Information Technology Policy was established in 1995 to act as a public policy advocate for libraries in the area of information technology.[40]

The "Congress on Professional Education" took place from April 30 to May 1, 1999 in Washington, D.C.[41] Its purpose was to reach consensus among stakeholder groups on the values and core competencies of the profession and on strategies for action to address common issues and concerns.[42][43]

21st century

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

At the beginning of the century The Congress on Professional Education recommended that the Association develop a set of Core Values.[44]

In 2007, Loriene Roy was elected as the first Native American President of the ALA.[45][46][47]

In 2009, Camila Alire became the first Hispanic president of the ALA.[48]

In 2014, Courtney Young, president of the association, commented on the background and implications of a racist joke author Daniel Handler made as African American writer Jacqueline Woodson received a National Book Award for Brown Girl Dreaming. "His comments were inappropriate and fell far short of the association's commitment to diversity," said Young. "Handler's remarks come at a time when the publishing world has little diversity. Works from authors and illustrators of color make up less than 8 percent of children's titles produced in 2013. The ALA hopes this regrettable incident will be used to open a dialogue on the need for diversity in the publishing industry, particularly in regards to books for young people."[49]

In 2018, the ALA Council unanimously adopted a resolution acknowledging ALA's accountability for not participating in the fight against library segregation during the era of Jim Crow laws and honoring African American librarians who did fight, including Clara Stanton Jones, E. J. Josey, Albert P. Marshall, and Virginia Lacy.[50] The day it was signed, ALA President Jim Neal read the resolution at an event where Joan Mattison Daniel of the Greenville Eight, Ethel Adolphe, Ibrahim Mumin, and Teri Moncure Mojgani shared their experiences participating in library protests and sit-ins during the 1960s.[51] Two years later, ALA expanded its accountability to include the organization’s history of "upholding unjust systems of racism and discrimination against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) within the association and the profession" and further resolved "to build a more equitable association" moving forward.[52]

In 2020 Wanda Kay Brown was the first president from a historically black college or university. She also was president during COVID-19 and the live annual conference was cancelled and delivered virtually. Brown characterized her presidency as one of "change, loss, and hope."[53]

In 2021, Patty Wong became the first Asian-American president of the ALA.[54]

In 2022 Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada became the first Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander American president of the ALA.[55]

In 2023 the Public Library Association of ALA published the Public Library Services for Strong Communities Report addressing the myriad ways libraries nationwide serve and sustain their communities.[56] That same year, the Montana State Library Commission withdrew from the ALA, citing comments made by Emily Drabinski, who self-identified as a "Marxist lesbian".[57]

The Digital Public Library Ecosystem was published by ALA in 2023. It is a comprehensive overview of the current state and operations of the relationships and roles of stakeholders including authors, agents, publishers, distributors, the library community, governments, and trade organizations.[58]

In 2024, in response to proposed Georgia legislation that would prohibit public expenditures on the ALA, the ALA responded that the legislation "is based on false narratives", and the ALA "does not promote any 'ideology'".[59]

The Association received the Toni Morrison Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle.[60]

The Library History Round Table published the "Bibliography of Library History" database containing over 7,000 entries for books, articles, and theses in library history and related fields published from 1990 to 2022.[61]

Cindy Hohl, the first SPECTRUM Scholar to be elected president was inaugurated in July 2024. Her presidential theme is “A Good Way for ALA.”[62]

Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained was published in 2024.[63]

Archives

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The ALA Archives, including historical documents, non-current records, and digital records, are held at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign archives.[64] The establishment of the archives and the roles of David Horace Clift, Robert Wedgeworth, Beta Phi Mu, and the Library History Round Table has been documented by the first archivist, Maynard Britchford.[65][66]

Additionally, the American Library Association Institutional Repository (ALAIR) provides digital access to the publications and intellectual work of the Association.[67][68]

Membership

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ALA membership is open to any person or organization, though most of its members are libraries or librarians. Most members live and work in the United States, with international members comprising 3.5% of total membership.[69]

Governing structure

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The ALA is governed by an elected council and an executive board. Policies and programs are administered by committees and round tables. One of the organization's most visible tasks is overseen by the Office for Accreditation, which formally reviews and authorizes American and Canadian academic institutions that offer degree programs in library and information science.

President and executive directors

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Further information: List of presidents of the American Library Association

ALA's President for the 2024–2025 term is Cindy Hohl. President-elect, Sam Helmick, will preside in 2025-2026.

The executive director of the American Library Association delegates authority within ALA headquarters to ALA’s department heads, who, in carrying out their assigned duties, are called upon to use ALA’s name, and, in that name, to commit the Association to programs, activities, and binding agreements.[70]

Secretaries of the Association prior to Carl Milam were George Burwell Utley (1911–20); Chalmers Hadley (1909–11); Edward C. Hovey (1905–7); James Ingersoll Wyer (1902–09); Frederick Winthrop Faxon (1900–02); Henry James Carr (1898–1900); Melvil Dewey (1897–98); Rutherford Platt Hayes (1896–97); Henry Livingston Elmendorf (1895–96); Frank Pierce Hill (1891–95); Mary Salome Cutler (1891); William E. Parker (1890–91) and Melvil Dewey (1879–90).[80][81]

Activities

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The official purpose of the association is "to promote library service and librarianship." Members may join one or more of eight membership divisions that deal with specialized topics such as academic, school, or public libraries, technical or reference services, and library administration. Members may also join any of the nineteen round tables that are grouped around more specific interests and issues than the broader set of ALA divisions.

Divisions

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Offices

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  • ALA Editions (book publishing)[85]
  • Office for Accreditation
  • Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services
  • Office for Intellectual Freedom
  • Public Programs Office[86]
  • Public Policy and Advocacy (est. in 1945)[87][88]

Round Tables

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Committees

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The Committee on Literacy develops and recommends the association's policies related to the promotion of multiple literacies.[97]

The Chapter Relations Committee develops and recognizes chapters as integral components of ALA, encourages discussion, activities and programs that support the mutual interests of ALA and the chapters.[98]

In 1970, the ALA founded the "Task Force on Gay Liberation, the first professional lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization, which became the "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT), now the Rainbow Round Table.[99][100][101]

In 1976, the Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) was established as an ALA Council Committee.[102][103]

National outreach

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The ALA is affiliated with regional, state, and student chapters across the country. It organizes conferences, participates in library standards development, and publishes books and periodicals. The ALA publishes the journals American Libraries, Booklist and Choice.

The Graphics Program creates and distributes products that promote libraries, literacy and reading.[104] Along with other organizations, it sponsors the annual Banned Books Week the last week of September. The Young Adult Library Services Association also sponsors Teen Read Week, the third week of each October, and Teen Tech Week, the second week of each March. In addition, the ALA helps to promote diversity in the library profession with various outreach activities, including the Spectrum Scholarship program, which awards academic scholarships to minority library students each year.[105] Additionally, the ALA's Office for Library Advocacy has an initiative called I Love Libraries, also known as ilovelibraries, which attempts to "spread the world about the value of today's libraries," promotes value of librarians and libraries, explains key library issues, and "urges readers to support and take action for their libraries."[106][107]

The ALA provides many scholarships (over $300,000 annually), a list of which can be found on their website.[108]

National Library Week, the second week of each April, is a national observance sponsored by the ALA since 1958.[109] Libraries across the country celebrate library resources, library champions and promote public outreach.

Awards

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Main article: List of ALA awards
ALA Youth Media Awards in January 2014; Pura Belpré Committee with Henrietta M. Smith

The American Library Association confers many professional recognition awards.[110] Association-wide awards include American Library Association Honorary Membership,[111] the Joseph W. Lippincott Award, the ALA Medal of Excellence[112] and American Library Association Equality Award.

The ALA annually confers numerous book and media awards, many through its children's and young adult divisions.

The Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) administers:

The Odyssey Award for best audiobook (joint with YALSA), and the (U.S.) Carnegie Medal and for best video. There are also two ALSC lifetime recognitions, the Children's Literature Legacy Award and the Arbuthnot Lecture.

The Coretta Scott King Award honorees are awarded by the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Round Table.[114]

The young-adult division, YALSA, administers the Margaret Edwards Award for significant and lasting contribution to YA literature, a lifetime recognition of one author annually, and annual awards that recognize particular works: the Michael L. Printz Award for a YA book judged on literary merit alone, the William C. Morris Award for an author's first YA book, the new "YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults," and the "Alex Award" list of ten adult books having special appeal for teens. Jointly with the children's division ALSC there is the Odyssey Award for excellence in audiobook production.[115]

The award for YA nonfiction was inaugurated in 2012, defined by ages 12 to 18 and publication year November 2010 to October 2011. The first winner was The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism & Treachery by Steve Sheinkin (Roaring Brook Press, November 2010) and four other finalists were named.[116][117]

The Reference and User Services Association awards include annual lists of "Notable" and "Best" books and other media.[118] The Reference and User Services Association awards also include the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, Dartmouth Medal, Sophie Brody Award and Schneider Book Awards.

The Library History Round Table awards the Justin Winsor Prize for the best library history essay.

The Rainbow RoundTable annually honors authors with the Stonewall Book Award.

The annual awards roster also includes the John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in library public relations, and the "I Love My Librarian" award in concert with the philanthropic foundation Carnegie Corporation of New York and the New York Public Library.

In 2000, the Office for Literacy and Outreach Services (OLOS) launched the Jean E. Coleman Library Outreach Lecture in tribute to the work of the first OLOS director, Jean E. Coleman. Barbara J. Ford gave the inaugural lecture, "Libraries, Literacy, Outreach and the Digital Divide."

Since 2006, the ALA has selected a class of Emerging Leaders, typically comprising about 100 librarians and library school students. This minor distinction is a form of organizational outreach to new librarians. The Emerging Leaders are allocated to project groups tasked with developing solutions to specified problems within ALA divisions. The class meets at the ALA Midwinter and Annual Meetings, commonly January and June. Project teams may present posters of their completed projects at the Annual.[119]

Conferences

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The American Library Association Conference in June 2011

The ALA and its divisions hold numerous conferences throughout the year. The two largest conferences are the annual conference and the midwinter meeting, now called LibLearnX.[120] The latter is typically held in January and focuses on innovative session design concepts, while the annual conference is typically held in June and focuses on programs, exhibits, and presentations. The ALA annual conference is notable for being one of the largest professional conferences in existence, typically drawing over 25,000 attendees.[121]

In 2020, Wanda Kay Brown was the first president in 75 years under whom the Annual Conference, scheduled for Chicago in June 2020, was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release about cancellation of the conference, Brown stated: "ALA's priority is the health and safety of the library community, including our members, staff, supporters, vendors and volunteers."[122]

Political positions

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See also: American librarianship and human rights

The ALA advocates positions on United States political issues that it believes are related to libraries and librarianship. For court cases that touch on issues about which the organization holds positions, the ALA often files amici curiae briefs, voluntarily offering information on some aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it. The ALA has a Public Policy and Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., that lobbies Congress on issues relating to libraries, information and communication. It also provides materials to libraries that may include information on how to apply for grants, how to comply with the law, and how to oppose a law.[123]

Intellectual freedom

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See also: Book censorship in the United States

The primary documented expressions of the ALA's intellectual freedom principles are the Freedom to Read Statement[124] and the Library Bill of Rights; the Library Bill of Rights urges libraries to "challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment."[125] The ALA Code of Ethics also calls on librarians to "uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources."[126]

The ALA maintains an Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF), which is charged with "implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom,"[127] defined as "the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. It provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored."[128] Its goal is "to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries."[127] The OIF compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted to them by librarians across the country.[129]

The first director, Judith Krug, headed the office for four decades, until her death in April 2009.[130]

In 1950, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, the forerunner of the OIF, investigated the termination of Ruth W. Brown as librarian of the Bartlesville Public Library, a position she held in the Oklahoma town for 30 years. Brown's termination was based on the false allegation that she was a communist and that she had as part of the library's serials collection two left wing publications, The New Republic and The Nation. The ALA support for her and the subsequent legal case was the first such investigation undertaken by the ALA or one of its state chapters.[131]

In 1999, radio personality Laura Schlessinger campaigned publicly against the ALA's intellectual freedom policy, specifically in regard to the ALA's refusal to remove a link on its web site to a specific sex-education site for teens.[132] Sharon Priestly said, however, that Schlessinger "distorted and misrepresented the ALA stand to make it sound like the ALA was saying porno for 'children' is O.K."[133]

In 2002, the ALA filed suit with library users and the ACLU against the United States Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), which required libraries receiving federal E-rate discounts for Internet access to install a "technology protection measure" to prevent children from accessing "visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors."[134] At trial, the federal district court struck down the law as unconstitutional.[135] The government appealed this decision, and on June 23, 2003, the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the law as constitutional as a condition imposed on institutions in exchange for government funding. In upholding the law, the Supreme Court, adopting the interpretation urged by the U.S. Solicitor General at oral argument, made it clear that the constitutionality of CIPA would be upheld only "if, as the Government represents, a librarian will unblock filtered material or disable the Internet software filter without significant delay on an adult user's request."[136]

In 2021, the ALA released a statement signed by its executive board and Boards of Directors of its eight divisions in response to "a dramatic uptick in book challenges and outright removal of books from libraries".[137] The message condemned "a few organizations [which] have advanced the proposition that the voices of the marginalized have no place on library shelves ... falsely claiming that these works are subversive, immoral, or worse [and inducing] officials to abandon constitutional principles, ignore the rule of law, and disregard individual rights to promote government censorship of library collections".[138] A spokesperson told ABC News that in her time working with reports of book challenges, she had "never seen such a widespread effort to remove books on racial and gender diversity".[138]

Privacy

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1970s

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) attempted to use librarians as possible informants in the conspiracy case of the Harrisburg Seven in 1971. The Harrisburg Seven, a group of religious anti-war activists, were primarily accused of conspiring to kidnap National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. The supposed leader of the group, Philip Berrigan, was serving time at the Lewisburg penitentiary. The FBI sought "to use library surveillance and librarian informants" at Bucknell University as evidence of the Harrisburg Seven's "characters and intentions."[139] Boyd Douglas became one such informant for the FBI: he was a prisoner at the same penitentiary with a work-release position at the library. Boyd presented himself as an anti-war activist and offered to smuggle letters he collected while at work to Philip Berrigan at the prison.

The FBI also attempted to use Zoia Horn, a librarian at the Bucknell library, and interviewed other library workers. The FBI met with Horn in her home to debrief her, but Horn refused to answer their questions. She refused to testify, even after she was given immunity from self-incrimination.[140] Horn stated, "To me it stands on: Freedom of thought" and for the government to practice "spying in homes, in libraries and universities inhibits and destroys this freedom."[141] Zoia Horn was charged with contempt of the court and served 20 days in jail. She was "the first librarian who spent time in jail for a value of our profession" according to Judith Krug of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.[142] Horn continued to fight for intellectual freedom in libraries and beyond. The Intellectual Freedom Committee of the California Library Association now awards the Zoia Horn Intellectual Freedom Award in honor of those who make contributions to intellectual freedom.[143]

In the 1970s, United States Department of the Treasury agents also pressured public libraries across the country to "release circulation records recording the names and identifying information of people who checked out books on bomb making."[139] The ALA believed this to be an "unconscionable and unconstitutional invasion of library patrons' privacy."[139]

As a result of these two situations and many others, the ALA affirmed the confidential status of all records which held patron names in a Policy on the Confidentiality of Library Records. The ALA also released the ALA Statement on Professional Ethics in 1975 which advocated for the protection of the "confidential relationship" between a library user and a library.[139]

1980s

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The FBI tried to use surveillance in library settings as part of its Library Awareness Program of the 1980s; it aimed to use librarians "as partners in surveillance." The program was known to the FBI as "The Development of Counterintelligence Among Librarians," indicating that the FBI believed that librarians might be supportive in its counterintelligence investigations. The FBI attempted to profile "Russian or Slavic-sounding last names" of library patrons to look for possible "national security threats." The FBI wanted libraries to help it trace "the reading habits of patrons with those names."[139]

The ALA responded by writing to the FBI director. The Intellectual Freedom Committee also created "an advisory statement to warn libraries" of the Library Awareness Program, including ways to help librarians "avoid breaking their ethical obligations if faced with FBI surveillance."[144]

USA PATRIOT Act

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In 2003, the ALA passed a resolution opposing the USA PATRIOT Act, which called sections of the law "a present danger to the constitutional rights and privacy rights of library users."[145] Since then, the ALA and its members have sought to change the law by working with members of Congress and educating their communities and the press about the law's potential to violate the privacy rights of library users. ALA has also participated as an amicus curiae in lawsuits filed by individuals challenging the constitutionality of the USA PATRIOT Act, including a lawsuit filed by four Connecticut librarians after the library consortium they managed was served with a national security letter seeking information about library users.[146] After several months of litigation, the lawsuit was dismissed when the FBI decided to withdraw the National Security Letter.[147] In 2007, the "Connecticut Four" were honored by the ALA with the Paul Howard Award for Courage for their challenge to the National Security Letter and gag order provision of the USA PATRIOT Act.[148]

In 2006, the ALA sold humorous "radical militant librarian" buttons for librarians to wear in support of the ALA's stances on intellectual freedom, privacy, and civil liberties.[149] Inspiration for the button's design came from documents obtained from the FBI by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The request revealed a series of e-mails in which FBI agents complained about the "radical, militant librarians" while criticizing the reluctance of FBI management to use the secret warrants authorized under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.[150]

Renaming of Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal

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In 2018, the organization changed the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal to the Children's Literature Legacy Award. According to The New York Times, the name change was made "in order to distance the honor" from what the ALA described as "culturally insensitive portrayals" in Wilder's books.[151]

[edit]

The ALA "supports efforts to amend the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and urges the courts to restore the balance in copyright law, ensure fair use and protect and extend the public domain."[152] It supports changing copyright law to eliminate damages when using orphan works without permission;[153] is wary of digital rights management; and, in ALA v. FCC,[154] successfully sued the Federal Communications Commission to prevent regulation that would enforce next-generation digital televisions to contain rights-management hardware. It has joined the Information Access Alliance to promote open access to research.[155] The Copyright Advisory Network of the association's Office for Information Technology Policy provides copyright resources to libraries and the communities they serve. The ALA is a member of the Library Copyright Alliance,[156] along with the Association of Research Libraries and the Association of College and Research Libraries, which provides a unified voice for over 300,000 information professionals in the United States.[157] Currently, the ALA supports bill H.R. 905, also known as the You Own Devices Act, stating "to foster the social and commercial evolution of the "Internet of Things" by codifying the right of the owner of a device containing 'essential software' intrinsic to its function to transfer [e.g. sell or lease] both the device and the software."[158]

Accredited programs in library and information studies

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Main article: List of American Library Association accredited library schools

ALA-accredited programs can be found at schools in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. These programs offer degrees with names such as Master of Library Science, Master of Arts, Master of Librarianship, Master of Library and Information Studies, and Master of Science. To be accredited, the program must undergo an external review and meet the Standards for Accreditation of Master's Programs in Library and Information Studies.

Affiliates

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See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

American Library Association

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from Grokipedia
The American Library Association (ALA) is the world's oldest and largest professional organization for librarians and library workers, founded on October 6, 1876, during a convention in Philadelphia to facilitate better coordination and efficiency in library operations.[1][2] With a stated mission to empower libraries and advocate for equitable access to information, the ALA promotes intellectual freedom, professional development, and public policy supporting library services, including opposition to censorship and efforts to secure federal funding.[3][4] Among its key achievements, the ALA administers prominent literary awards such as the Newbery Medal for distinguished children's books and the Caldecott Medal for illustrated works, which have shaped standards in youth literature since 1922 and 1938, respectively.[5] The organization also compiles annual data on book challenges, reporting 821 attempts to censor library materials in 2024, predominantly involving titles with themes of sexual content or LGBTQ+ identities, which ALA frames as threats to free access but which have sparked backlash for prioritizing unrestricted inclusion over age-appropriate curation.[6][7] This advocacy has led to controversies, including legislative proposals in states like Georgia to prohibit public libraries from affiliating with the ALA over concerns regarding its guidance on content selection and perceived ideological influences.[8]

History

Founding and Early Development (1876–1900)

The American Library Association (ALA) was founded on October 6, 1876, at a convention held from October 4 to 6 in Philadelphia during the Centennial Exposition. The gathering attracted 103 librarians—90 men and 13 women—who responded to a call signed by figures including Melvil Dewey, Justin Winsor, Charles Ammi Cutter, and William Frederick Poole. Justin Winsor, librarian of Harvard University, was elected the first president, while Melvil Dewey, then 25 and known for developing the Dewey Decimal Classification, served as secretary. The association's constitution emphasized promoting library cooperation to enable librarians "to work more easily and at less expense."[1][9] Early activities centered on annual conferences that fostered professional exchange and standardization. The inaugural post-founding meeting occurred in 1877, with subsequent gatherings addressing cataloging, acquisitions, and operational efficiencies. By 1891, the 13th annual conference marked the first on the West Coast in San Francisco, drawing criticism for its emphasis on entertainment over substance. Other key meetings included the 1892 session in Lakewood, New Jersey, featuring a women's meeting chaired by Ellen M. Coe; the 1894 conference in Lake Placid, New York, hosted by Dewey; and the 1896 event in Cleveland, which compiled librarianship "do's." These forums advanced bibliographic practices and influenced emerging library education.[10][1] Significant organizational advancements included Dewey's founding of the world's first library school at Columbia College in 1887, enrolling 20 students—17 women and 3 men—in a one-year program focused on practical training. ALA also supported publications like the Library Journal, which chronicled association activities and debates. By 1900, international outreach expanded with the first conference outside the U.S. in Montreal, Canada, including a visit to McGill University, and an exhibit at the Paris Exposition Universelle funded by Andrew Carnegie. That year saw the informal establishment of a Club of Children’s Librarians, precursor to specialized youth services groups, reflecting growing attention to diverse library functions.[10]

Expansion in the 20th Century

![1919 ALA conference at New Monterey Hotel][float-right] The American Library Association underwent substantial expansion in the early 20th century, driven by the proliferation of public and educational libraries nationwide. School libraries, in particular, gained prominence during this period, with ALA advocating for their integration into curricula and establishing standards for collection development and staffing.[11] A pivotal moment occurred in 1917 with the onset of U.S. involvement in World War I, when ALA initiated the Library War Service to provide reading materials to troops. This effort raised more than $5 million in donations, enabling the creation of over 300 camp libraries, hospital libraries, and book collections on ships, transforming ALA from a modest professional group into a prominent national entity with broadened membership and visibility.[12][13][14] In the interwar years, ALA pursued internal reorganization to accommodate growing specialization, including the formation of roundtables for college and junior college librarians in the mid-1930s, which laid groundwork for dedicated divisions. Economic pressures of the Great Depression prompted advocacy for federal support, with ALA emphasizing adult education and employment opportunities for librarians through public works projects.[15][16] During World War II, ALA collaborated with organizations such as the American Red Cross and the United Service Organizations to sustain library services for armed forces personnel, collecting books from civilians to bolster overseas collections and reinforcing its role in wartime morale and education.[17] Postwar expansion accelerated through policy advocacy, culminating in the 1956 Library Services Act, which allocated $7.5 million annually for rural library development after a decade of ALA lobbying; this legislation marked the organization's entry into federal grant administration and spurred infrastructure growth across underserved areas.[18][19][20]

Centennial and Late 20th Century Shifts (1976–2000)

The American Library Association commemorated its centennial in 1976 with a major annual conference held in Chicago from July 18 to 24, attracting over 12,000 attendees, the second-highest attendance for an ALA event at the time.[21] The gathering featured celebratory elements such as a "Fair-in-the-Park" in Grant Park with historical reenactments, games, and a Liberty Bell replica; an international reception at the Newberry Library; a Grant Park concert; and an inaugural banquet where poet Gwendolyn Brooks presented an original work.[22][21] Amid financial difficulties and internal debates earlier in the decade, the conference emphasized themes of hope, renewal, and the societal role of librarians, coinciding with a membership drive that targeted 50,000 members under the slogan "Come join us for our second century."[21][23] A significant leadership milestone occurred during the centennial year when Clara Stanton Jones became the first African American president of the ALA, serving from July 1976 onward after acting in the role earlier that year.[24] This transition reflected evolving organizational priorities toward broader representation, even as the association navigated tensions between traditional professional development and emerging activist influences. The Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), established in 1969, gained prominence in the 1970s, advocating for resolutions on issues such as women's rights and anti-war efforts; for instance, its Task Force on Women launched a newsletter in 1970 and secured ALA Council support for affirmative action and equal pay in 1974–1975.[25] These efforts marked a shift toward integrating social justice concerns into library policy, though they sparked debates over whether such activism diluted the ALA's core focus on intellectual freedom and professional standards.[25] Throughout the late 20th century, the ALA intensified its commitment to intellectual freedom, with the Office for Intellectual Freedom—established in 1967—expanding efforts to monitor and counter book challenges, compiling annual reports on contested materials often involving topics like sex education and social issues.[26] By the 1980s and 1990s, the association defended access to controversial content amid rising parental and community objections, interpreting the Library Bill of Rights to prioritize unrestricted collection development over localized restrictions.[26] Organizational adaptations included growth in specialized round tables and committees addressing diversity and emerging technologies, such as early digital resources, while membership stabilized around professional advocacy amid broader societal shifts toward information access debates.[25] These developments positioned the ALA as a vocal defender of open access, though critics within and outside the profession argued that selective emphases on certain challenges overlooked balanced consideration of community standards and child protection.[26]

21st Century Challenges and Adaptations

In the early 2000s, the American Library Association (ALA) confronted the rapid digitization of information, prompting adaptations through initiatives like the America's Libraries for the 21st Century (AL21C) program launched in 2009, which monitored technological trends such as broadband access and digital content delivery to guide library evolution.[27] This shift addressed challenges including the digital divide, where uneven internet access exacerbated inequities; by 2024, ALA surveys indicated that 95% of public libraries offered digital literacy training and nearly half lent internet hotspots to bridge gaps for underserved populations.[28] However, intellectual property disputes over ebooks and open access persisted, with ALA advocating for fair use expansions while navigating publisher restrictions that limited library lending models compared to physical books.[29] Financial pressures intensified during the 2008 recession and persisted into the 2020s, with ALA facing declining contributed revenue and reduced in-person event attendance post-COVID-19, leading to strategic shifts toward diversified income like continuing education programs.[30] Membership trends reflected broader library funding strains, as public and school libraries grappled with municipal budget cuts, prompting ALA to lobby for federal support and emphasize libraries' roles in community resilience.[31] Critics, including some state library associations, argued that ALA's emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—embedded in strategic plans aiming to "dismantle biases"—diverted resources from core services and alienated conservative stakeholders, resulting in defections like Pennsylvania's suspension of ALA ties in 2023 over perceived ideological overreach.[32] [33] The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 onward accelerated adaptations, with libraries under ALA guidance pivoting to virtual programming, contactless services, and expanded broadband provision; a 2021 survey found public libraries served as critical hubs for remote education and job searches amid closures.[34] Usage data showed surges in digital resource access, though technical services units reported disruptions in acquisitions and cataloging.[35] [36] A surge in material challenges emerged as a defining controversy, with ALA documenting 4,240 unique titles targeted in 2023— a record driven largely by objections to content on sexual themes, LGBTQ+ identities, and race—framed by the organization as censorship attempts by organized groups.[37] [38] ALA responded by bolstering its Office for Intellectual Freedom resources, including toolkits for librarians facing challenges, while its 2025 strategic plan prioritized equity in collections to counter perceived exclusions.[7] Detractors contended that ALA's advocacy often conflated parental opt-outs or age-based removals with outright bans, positioning the association as partisan in cultural debates rather than neutral arbiter, which fueled backlash including legislative efforts in over a dozen states to restrict certain materials.[33] [39] These tensions underscored ALA's ongoing challenge in balancing intellectual freedom principles against demands for content curation aligned with community standards. ![Panelists at ALSC 2022 President Program.jpg][float-right] To adapt, ALA integrated emerging technologies like AI into discussions at its 2025 conference, addressing potential disruptions to cataloging and information access while cautioning on misinformation risks.[40] Its updated strategic vision emphasizes transforming libraries amid these pressures, focusing on data-driven advocacy and partnerships to sustain relevance in an era of declining physical visits offset by digital engagement.[41]

Archives and Historical Preservation

The American Library Association Archives, established in the summer of 1973 through an agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, serves as the official repository for the organization's historical records.[42] Housed at the university's library, the archives preserve materials documenting ALA's evolution from early precursors dating to 1853.[43] The collection includes official records, personal papers of members, correspondence, publications, photographs, audiovisual recordings, scrapbooks, and other ephemera spanning ALA's administrative, programmatic, and intellectual history.[43] Physical holdings occupy approximately 4,000 cubic feet, utilizing about half of available capacity, while digital assets exceed one terabyte, encompassing born-digital files from CDs, DVDs, flash drives, and older media like floppy disks.[43][44] Key preservation efforts focus on maintaining accessibility and integrity, with the ALA Institutional Repository (ALAIR) providing open access to digitized publications and select collections.[45] Notable digitized subsets include slides from the Library War Service campaign during World War I, featuring posters, pamphlets, and photographs that illustrate ALA's wartime support for servicemen's libraries.[43] A dedicated blog offers insights into holdings, aiding researchers in navigating the backlog managed by limited staff of 1.5 full-time equivalents.[45][43] These archives facilitate global scholarly inquiry, supporting works such as analyses of ALA's World War II contributions via preserved personal papers, like those of Althea B. Warren.[43] Beyond internal history, ALA advances preservation through initiatives like annual Preservation Week, which promotes safeguarding library, archive, and personal collections, alongside guidelines for conserving fragile local history materials and online courses on preservation fundamentals.[46][47][48]

Organizational Structure

Membership Trends and Composition

As of March 2025, the American Library Association's total membership stood at 47,035, reflecting a decline from 50,050 in March 2024.[49] This continues a longer-term downward trend, with membership exceeding 66,000 in 2005 before dropping by approximately 10,000 to around 56,000 by 2013.[50] Earlier reports noted fluctuations tied to economic factors, such as a 3.52% decrease to 65,437 members in 2009 amid the recession, alongside growth in student memberships.[51] Membership consists primarily of personal (individual) members, numbering 50,649 at the end of fiscal year 2019, compared to 5,248 organizational members such as libraries and institutions.[52] Personal members include practicing librarians, library educators, students, trustees, and support staff, with divisions and round tables attracting subsets focused on specific library sectors; for instance, division memberships totaled 39,796 and round table memberships 17,883 at the end of fiscal year 2022-2023, aligning with overall declines.[53] Demographically, ALA members mirror the library profession, which remains predominantly white at approximately 85% as of recent assessments, showing minimal shifts from 88% in 2005, 84% in 2010, and 85% in 2015 despite recruitment initiatives.[54] The profession and thus membership are also heavily female-dominated, though exact ALA-specific gender breakdowns from member surveys are not publicly detailed beyond confirming alignment with broader workforce data.[55] ALA has conducted ongoing demographics surveys since 2005, including a 2006 "Diversity Counts" study emphasizing the need for greater racial diversity to reflect U.S. population changes, but response data from efforts like the 2017 survey (37,666 responses) highlight persistent underrepresentation of non-white groups.[56][55]

Governance and Leadership

The American Library Association (ALA) is governed by a structure that includes the ALA Council as its primary policy-making body and the Executive Board as the entity responsible for implementing those policies. The Council consists of no fewer than 177 members, comprising 100 elected at large by the membership, 53 elected by state and regional chapters, 11 elected by divisions, and at least one from each round table, with the president, president-elect, and executive director serving as ex officio officers.[57] Council determines all association policies, which are binding unless overridden by a majority vote of the membership, and meets at least twice annually during conferences.[58] The Executive Board, chaired by the president, comprises the president, president-elect, immediate past president, treasurer, executive director (ex officio), and eight members elected for three-year terms by the membership.[59] [60] This board oversees the execution of Council policies, reviews the executive director's performance, manages finances, and appoints standing committees as needed.[61] The board holds authority between Council meetings and reports annually to the membership on its activities.[60] Leadership positions are filled through an election process open to ALA members, who vote via online ballots typically held in spring. The Nominating Committee, appointed by the president, slates candidates for president-elect, treasurer, and councilors-at-large, with provisions for petition candidates requiring signatures from at least 100 members.[62] [63] The president-elect serves a one-year term before ascending to president for another year, followed by a year as immediate past president, allowing continuity in leadership; the treasurer serves a three-year term.[62] Councilors serve three-year terms, with elections staggered to ensure ongoing representation.[64] The executive director, as chief staff officer, is appointed by the board and manages day-to-day operations, reporting to both the board and Council.[61] As of October 2025, Sam Helmick, Community & Access Services Coordinator at Iowa City Public Library, serves as ALA president for the 2025–2026 term, having been inaugurated on June 30, 2025, following election as president-elect in 2024.[65] [66] This rotational leadership model emphasizes member involvement, though critics have noted that the process can favor candidates aligned with prevailing advocacy priorities within the organization.[62]

Divisions, Offices, Round Tables, and Committees

The American Library Association structures its operations through eight divisions, which serve as primary membership units focused on distinct types of libraries or professional functions, enabling specialized collaboration and resource development. Each division operates with an elected board of directors, sections, and committees tailored to its scope, such as the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) for K-12 education settings, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) for higher education institutions, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) for youth services under age 14, the Public Library Association (PLA) for public library systems, the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) for user-centered services, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) for teen programming, Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures for technical services and management (formed by mergers including ALCTS, LAMA, and LITA), and United for Libraries for advocacy involving trustees, friends groups, and advocates.[67][68] ALA offices function as programmatic and support units, implementing association-wide initiatives in areas like accreditation, advocacy, and professional resources, often maintaining liaisons with committees and external entities. Key offices include the Office for Accreditation, which evaluates and accredits master's programs in library and information science; the Office for Intellectual Freedom, tasked with upholding First Amendment principles against censorship challenges; the Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, promoting equity in library staffing and community engagement; the Public Policy and Advocacy office, monitoring federal legislation affecting libraries since 1945; the Public Programs Office, providing grants and training for cultural programming; and the Publishing office, producing professional journals, books, and digital tools.[69][70][71] Round tables, numbering 19 as of 2023, offer voluntary affiliation for members pursuing interests beyond division remits, fostering discussion groups, advocacy, and specialized projects with minimal dues. Examples encompass the New Members Round Table (NMRT) for career support among recent professionals; the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), which advances socially progressive agendas in library policies and collections; the Rainbow Round Table, dedicated to resources for LGBTQ+ communities; the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) for public access to federal information; the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) for format-specific programming; and the Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT) for environmental practices in libraries.[72] These units require at least 150 members to sustain active status per ALA policy.[61] Committees form the operational backbone across levels, with 37 standing committees at the association or Council tier appointed by the president-elect on advice from the Committee on Committees, addressing governance, policy, and execution such as the Committee on Diversity for inclusion strategies, the Committee on Legislation for advocacy coordination, and the Committee on Organization for structural reforms including division or round table proposals. Divisions and round tables maintain their own committees for internal tasks, like awards selection or professional development, while interdivisional and ad hoc groups handle cross-unit or temporary projects; all appointments prioritize volunteer engagement via online forms, ensuring alignment with ALA's bylaws.[73][68]

Core Activities and Programs

Awards and Professional Recognition

The American Library Association (ALA), primarily through its divisions such as the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), administers a range of awards recognizing excellence in children's and young adult literature, media, and professional librarianship. These awards, selected by committees of ALA members based on criteria emphasizing literary distinction, artistic merit, and cultural relevance, are announced annually during the ALA Midwinter Meeting's Youth Media Awards press conference.[74][75] Prominent book and media awards include the John Newbery Medal, established in 1922 and first awarded in 1922 to Hendrik Willem van Loon's The Story of Mankind for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published the previous year.[76][77] The Randolph Caldecott Medal, inaugurated in 1938, honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children, with the medal design featuring elements inspired by 19th-century illustrator Randolph Caldecott.[78][78] Other significant awards encompass the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, initiated in 1969 and formally recognized by ALA in 1982, which annually acknowledge outstanding books by African American authors and illustrators that promote themes of peace, justice, and equality; and the Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996 and presented biennially until 2009 before becoming annual, for Latino/Latina writers and illustrators whose works best portray the Latino cultural experience.[79][80]
AwardYear EstablishedPurpose
John Newbery Medal1922Most distinguished American children's book.[76]
Randolph Caldecott Medal1938Most distinguished American picture book illustration.[78]
Coretta Scott King Book Awards1969 (ALA recognition 1982)Excellence by African American creators in youth literature.[79]
Pura Belpré Award1996Latino/Latina works affirming cultural experience.[80]
For professional recognition, ALA presents awards honoring librarians and leaders for contributions to the field. The Joseph W. Lippincott Award, established in 1938, provides $1,500 and a citation to a librarian demonstrating distinguished service through professional activities, publications, or other impactful efforts.[81] ALA Honorary Membership recognizes exceptional lifetime achievements in librarianship, such as leadership in library services or advocacy, with recipients including figures like Dolly Parton in 2023 for promoting literacy.[82] Additional honors, like the Paul Howard Award for Courage established more recently, commend individuals defending intellectual freedom amid challenges.[83] These recognitions underscore ALA's role in elevating standards within library science and information services.[82]

Conferences and Professional Development

The American Library Association (ALA) organizes two primary national meetings: the Annual Conference and Exhibition, held typically in late June or early July, and the Midwinter Meeting, convened in January. The Annual Conference, initiated in 1876, serves as the largest professional gathering for librarians, featuring exhibits from publishers and vendors, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops on topics such as library management, technology integration, and advocacy. Attendance has varied historically, peaking at over 28,000 in Washington, D.C., in 2007, with 21,460 registrants in 2019 before declining to 13,532 total participants (including 8,439 attendees) in Chicago in 2024 amid post-pandemic shifts to hybrid formats.[84][85][86] The Midwinter Meeting, first held in 1908, focuses on governance, committee deliberations, and strategic planning rather than extensive exhibits or public programming, attracting fewer participants—typically several thousand—for sessions on policy development and division-specific business. Locations rotate among major U.S. cities, such as Atlanta in 2017 and Philadelphia in 2020, with virtual adaptations during disruptions like the 2021 online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both events provide continuing education credits essential for professional certification maintenance among librarians.[87][88] Beyond these flagship events, ALA supports professional development through its divisions, round tables, and centralized platforms offering webinars, e-courses, and workshops tailored to library staff needs, including skills in digital literacy, equity initiatives, and administrative leadership. For instance, the ALA eLearning portal delivers on-demand courses and live sessions, while divisions like the Public Library Association (PLA) host paid webinars at $57.85 for members and specialized conferences with preconference workshops. These programs emphasize practical training, with free options available through entities like the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) for topics such as research support and instructional design.[89][90][91] Divisional conferences supplement ALA's core offerings, such as the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference held biennially for K-12 focus, and PLA's events emphasizing public library operations. These initiatives collectively aim to equip members with evidence-based strategies amid evolving challenges like budget constraints and technological advancements, though participation metrics remain tied to membership trends and event accessibility.[92][93]

Accreditation of Library and Information Programs

The American Library Association (ALA) accredits master's programs in library and information studies through its Committee on Accreditation (COA), which conducts external peer reviews to validate program quality and alignment with professional standards.[70] The Office for Accreditation administers the process, offering consultation to programs, maintaining accreditation status records, and ensuring equitable reviews that emphasize continuous self-assessment.[70] This accreditation applies to programs in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, focusing exclusively on master's-level degrees that prepare graduates for roles in information management, librarianship, and related fields.[94] ALA's accreditation history began with formal involvement in 1923, leading to the establishment of the Board of Education for Librarianship in 1924 and the first accreditations in 1925; the COA was formalized by the ALA Council in 1956 to centralize oversight.[95] [96] The process, governed by the Accreditation Process, Policies, and Procedures (AP3, latest edition revised May 1, 2025), involves programs submitting detailed self-studies, followed by site visits from review teams and COA deliberations, with full accreditation typically granted for up to seven years and requiring periodic reaffirmation.[97] Decisions range from full accreditation to conditional status or denial, based on evidence of compliance rather than prescriptive mandates.[98] Accreditation standards mandate that programs articulate a mission addressing societal information needs, ethics, and diversity; deliver a curriculum integrating theory, research methods, technology applications, and practical skills with multicultural and global emphases; maintain qualified faculty engaged in scholarship and service; support diverse student admissions and advising; and provide sufficient administrative autonomy, financial stability, and physical resources like specialized libraries and computing facilities.[99] A key prerequisite is that the parent institution holds accreditation from a recognized regional or national body, ensuring institutional credibility.[99] These criteria prioritize foundational competencies over niche specializations, fostering programs adaptable to evolving information landscapes. As of 2021, 63 master's programs held ALA accreditation (55 in the U.S. including Puerto Rico, and 7 in Canada), with recent estimates indicating around 60-64 active programs; a searchable directory and PDF list current statuses, including accreditation end dates and distance learning options.[100] [101] ALA-accredited degrees are required by the vast majority of employers for professional librarian positions, signaling verified preparation in core competencies amid a field facing technological disruptions and shifting user demands.[102]

National Outreach and Educational Initiatives

The American Library Association (ALA) coordinates national outreach and educational initiatives through its Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS), which develops programs to enhance literacy skills and library access for underserved groups, including adults with low literacy and English language learners.[103] These efforts emphasize scalable models for public libraries to deliver foundational reading, digital literacy, and workforce development training.[104] A flagship program, the American Dream Literacy Initiative, launched in January 2007 in partnership with the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, provides annual grants to U.S. public libraries located within 20 miles of Dollar General stores to expand services for adult English language learners and basic education participants.[105] By 2017, the initiative had awarded grants to over 200 libraries across multiple states, enabling enhanced literacy and workforce programs.[105] In July 2025, ALA initiated the Libraries as Literacy Centers project, funded by the Mellon Foundation, selecting eight public libraries in states including North Carolina, Arkansas, and California to pilot community-based literacy models over two years.[106] Partnering with World Education, the program offers customized training, cross-site collaboration, and action plans focused on direct instruction, partner-supported delivery, and ecosystem building to promote lifelong learning and equity in foundational skills and digital access.[106] Broader literacy efforts under Literacy Across the Lifespan target the estimated 36 million U.S. adults with low literacy skills through resources like the ALA Literacy Clearinghouse, the Literacy for All Toolkit for adult services, and DigitalLearn.org for self-paced digital training.[107] ODLOS also produces national outreach toolkits for serving diverse populations, inclusive booklists for educational collections, and campaigns like Libraries Respond to encourage community responses to events via social media.[108] These initiatives support family literacy, adult education, and English language learning, often coordinated with ALA's Literacy Assembly and webinars for library staff.[104]

Advocacy Positions

Intellectual Freedom and Collection Policies

The American Library Association (ALA) defines intellectual freedom as the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely without restriction, as guaranteed by the First Amendment, with libraries serving as neutral forums for diverse ideas.[109] This principle underpins ALA's opposition to censorship, defined as any suppression of ideas deemed objectionable, including removal of library materials based on partisan disapproval rather than objective criteria like accuracy or relevance.[109] The Office for Intellectual Freedom, established by ALA Council on December 1, 1967, implements these policies through advocacy, education, and tracking of challenges to materials, reporting over 4,200 unique book titles targeted in U.S. libraries and schools in 2023 alone.[71] Central to ALA's framework is the Library Bill of Rights, first adopted by the ALA Council on June 19, 1939, and amended in 1944, 1948, 1961, 1967, and 1980.[110] It mandates that library materials be chosen freely based on their value and interest to users, without exclusion for candid or controversial content, and asserts that no one should be denied access due to origin, age, background, or views.[110] Article I specifies selection on merit rather than excluding works for frankness, while Article VII requires libraries to contest encroachments on the freedom to read or view.[110] Interpretations of the Bill, such as the 1996 guideline on diverse collections, direct libraries to build inclusive holdings representing all viewpoints without promoting conformity to prevailing tastes or moral standards.[111] The Freedom to Read Statement, jointly adopted by ALA and the American Book Publishers Council on June 25, 1953, and reaffirmed multiple times including in 2004, reinforces that constitutional protections extend to publishing and circulating ideas, rejecting suppression for alleged obscenity or threats to security absent clear evidence.[112] It holds publishers and librarians responsible for enriching thought through diverse offerings, countering most objections to books as rooted in minority tastes rather than broad harm.[112] ALA's collection policies derive from these documents, requiring written guidelines for selection, weeding, and reconsideration that prioritize intellectual freedom over subjective exclusions.[113] Libraries must assess materials against community needs, intellectual content, and technical quality, while avoiding restrictions based on political, moral, or religious views; for instance, the 2019 interpretation on equity emphasizes access for marginalized groups without endorsing specific ideologies.[113][111] Reconsideration processes demand formal requests reviewed by committees using the same criteria as initial selection, prohibiting removal solely due to objections, with ALA providing toolkits to train staff on defending holdings against challenges.[113] These policies apply across public, school, and academic libraries, promoting balanced collections that include factual works on controversial topics without favoring one perspective.[111]

Privacy Rights and Government Surveillance

The American Library Association (ALA) asserts that library users possess a fundamental right to privacy and confidentiality in their use of library resources and services, as articulated in its interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, first adopted in 1939 and revised in 2019 to explicitly affirm equal protections for minors.[114] This principle, grounded in Article VII of the Library Bill of Rights and Article III of the ALA Code of Ethics, encompasses personally identifiable information such as circulation records, computer usage, and digital interactions, emphasizing that such data must be minimized, anonymized where possible, and retained only as legally required.[114] ALA maintains that unjust surveillance, including biometric technologies like facial recognition, undermines the library's mission to foster free inquiry without fear of observation or reprisal.[114] ALA advocates for robust legal safeguards against government overreach, noting that 48 states and the District of Columbia have enacted statutes protecting the confidentiality of library records, with disclosures permitted only through court orders or subpoenas.[115] In response to post-9/11 expansions of surveillance powers, ALA has consistently opposed provisions enabling warrantless or low-threshold access to patron data, prioritizing Fourth Amendment protections over national security justifications that could chill intellectual freedom.[116] For instance, the association criticized Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act (2001), dubbed the "library provision," which authorized the FBI to demand library records via national security letters without demonstrating probable cause or relevance to specific threats.[117] ALA issued resolutions in 2003 and 2005 urging Congress to allow Section 215 to expire, developed guidelines for librarians facing demands for records, and collaborated with civil liberties groups to promote reforms, contributing to the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 that imposed stricter oversight and ended bulk metadata collection under that section.[117][118] Extending this stance to broader intelligence practices, ALA joined bipartisan coalitions in opposing the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 2017, arguing that "backdoor searches" of incidentally collected U.S. persons' data—including potential library communications—violated privacy without adequate warrants or judicial review.[119][116] The association also endorsed legislation in 2013 to limit National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance capabilities, describing unchecked data collection as a threat to patrons' rights to explore ideas confidentially.[120] ALA's advocacy includes filing amicus briefs, issuing coalition letters supporting measures like the Email Privacy Act, and providing resources for librarians to resist improper government requests, framing such efforts as essential defenses against erosion of constitutional liberties.[116]

Copyright, Fair Use, and Intellectual Property

The American Library Association (ALA) maintains that copyright law should foster public access to knowledge while respecting creators' incentives, advocating for reforms that prioritize library exceptions amid digital challenges. Through its Washington Office and committees like the Copyright and Licensing Committee, ALA lobbies Congress and federal agencies to preserve statutory rights such as fair use and first sale doctrine against erosion by technology mandates or private contracts.[121][122] ALA emphasizes fair use under Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows unlicensed reproduction and use of copyrighted works for nonprofit educational, scholarly, and research purposes when weighed against four factors: the use's purpose and character (favoring transformative, noncommercial applications); the work's nature; the portion used in relation to the whole; and potential market harm. The organization disseminates resources, including LibGuides and policy interpretations, to equip librarians with tools for applying these factors, arguing that fair use prevents undue restrictions on information dissemination.[123][124][125] For example, ALA endorses fair use in digitization projects and interlibrary loans, provided they align with these criteria, and has critiqued narrow judicial interpretations that could limit library operations.[122] In intellectual property policy, ALA supports robust public domain protections and access to "orphan works"—copyrighted materials whose owners cannot be located—proposing legislative solutions to enable library digitization without infringement liability. The association opposes extensions of copyright terms beyond those justified by empirical evidence of innovation incentives, viewing prolonged monopolies as barriers to cultural reuse.[121][126] ALA also backs Section 108 of the Copyright Act, which permits libraries to make limited reproductions for preservation and replacement, while resisting amendments that would narrow these provisions or impose new digital hurdles.[121] On the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) of 1998, ALA routinely petitions the U.S. Copyright Office in triennial rulemakings for exemptions to Section 1201's ban on circumventing technological protection measures (TPMs). These efforts, often in coalition with groups like the Association of Research Libraries, secure renewals for library uses such as text and data mining, accessibility adaptations for disabled users, and preservation of obsolete formats; the 2024 rulemaking, for instance, expanded exemptions for noninfringing research on machine-readable content.[127][128][129] ALA contends that TPMs, without exemptions, stifle legitimate library functions, and it challenges license agreements that contractually override fair use or Section 108 rights.[130][121] ALA's positions have drawn counterarguments from publishers, who assert that expansive library exceptions undermine revenue models essential for content creation, citing data on declining physical sales amid digital lending growth. Nonetheless, ALA maintains its stances prioritize empirical public benefits, such as enhanced research output from accessible archives, over private IP maximalism.[126][131]

Controversies and Criticisms

Book Challenges, "Banned Books," and Parental Rights Disputes

The American Library Association (ALA) maintains an Office for Intellectual Freedom that tracks formal challenges to library materials, defined as attempts by individuals or groups to remove or restrict access based on content objections, distinguishing these from outright bans, which involve actual removal.[132] In 2023, ALA recorded 1,247 such challenges targeting 4,240 unique titles across public and school libraries, marking a record high and a 65% increase from 2022.[133] Preliminary 2024 data showed 821 challenges affecting 2,452 titles, the third-highest annual total since ALA began systematic tracking in 1990, with public libraries accounting for 46% of incidents.[134] ALA attributes the surge to organized efforts targeting books addressing LGBTQ+ themes, sexual content, and racial issues, framing challenges as censorship threats to intellectual freedom.[135] Challenged titles frequently include young adult works with depictions of sexual activity, such as Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, cited for illustrations of oral sex and masturbation alongside LGBTQ+ narratives, and All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson, which describes personal experiences of anal sex and condom use.[6] Other examples like Tricks by Ellen Hopkins feature detailed accounts of underage prostitution and drug use, with ALA noting reasons including "claimed to be sexually explicit" and LGBTQ+ content.[6] Proponents of challenges, often parents or groups like Moms for Liberty advocating parental rights, argue these materials are inappropriately accessible to minors in youth sections, prioritizing age-appropriateness and protection from explicit descriptions over unrestricted access.[136] ALA opposes restrictions beyond parental guidance for individual children, asserting that one family's objections should not limit availability for others and condemning efforts to remove materials as violations of the Library Bill of Rights, which upholds collection diversity without age-based segregation.[137] In response to state laws, such as Florida's 2022 Parental Rights in Education Act requiring review of instructional materials for pornography or age-inappropriateness, ALA has mobilized campaigns like Unite Against Book Bans, claiming 72% of 2023 demands originated from organized groups or officials rather than isolated parents.[135] Critics of ALA's approach contend the organization conflates routine review processes—triggered by formal complaints—with censorship, as most challenges result in retention or relocation rather than permanent bans, potentially exaggerating threats to justify advocacy while downplaying concerns over explicit content's suitability for children.[138] These disputes have escalated into legal and policy battles, with parental rights advocates securing measures in over a dozen states by 2024 to mandate transparency in library selections and opt-out options for explicit materials, prompting ALA to decry them as politicized attacks on libraries.[139] ALA's Banned Books Week, held annually since 1982, promotes challenged titles to counter what it describes as rising intolerance, though outcomes of challenges remain underreported, with ALA relying on voluntary submissions and media accounts that may undercount successful reviews.[38] Empirical data indicates challenges rarely lead to widespread removals, as libraries often retain materials post-review, underscoring tensions between ALA's commitment to unrestricted access and demands for parental oversight in public institutions funded by taxpayers.[140]

Promotion of Explicit or Ideological Content in Libraries

The American Library Association (ALA) interprets its Library Bill of Rights to require libraries to provide materials reflecting diverse views on sex, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, without restricting access based on content objections.[141] This includes guidelines stating that libraries cannot reject or remove resources deemed objectionable by individuals or groups, and must challenge censorship attempts, even for controversial topics.[142] [110] ALA's interpretations further assert that restricting access to materials violates core principles, applying this to collections serving minors alongside adults.[143] ALA promotes inclusion of ideological content through initiatives like the Rainbow Project Book List, an annual bibliography recommending books with "significant and authentic LGBQTIA+ content" for library collections, and the Stonewall Book Awards, which recognize English-language works of "exceptional merit" relating to LGBTQIA+ experiences, including those for children and young adults.[144] [145] These efforts align with ALA's "Libraries Respond" programs, which urge libraries to reflect LGBTQIA+ populations in collections, services, and programming to ensure equitable access.[146] For instance, ALA has advocated for queer literacy initiatives and supported library workers in promoting diverse perspectives on gender and sexuality during events like Pride Month.[147] [148] In practice, ALA defends library retention of books containing explicit sexual descriptions targeted at youth, framing challenges as censorship. Examples include All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson, cited in ALA's 2024 report for LGBTQIA+ content deemed sexually explicit by challengers, and other top challenged titles like This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson, which feature graphic depictions of sexual acts.[149] [6] ALA's annual tracking of "banned books" highlights over 821 attempts in 2024 to remove such materials from school and public libraries, often emphasizing titles with sexual or ideological themes without distinguishing age-appropriateness in defenses.[134] Critics, including parental rights advocates and congressional testimony, argue that ALA's policies effectively promote explicit and ideological content inappropriate for minors, prioritizing unrestricted access over protections against potential harm from early exposure to pornography or partisan viewpoints on gender and sexuality.[150] [151] They contend ALA's narrative equates parental objections to discrimination, ignoring empirical concerns about developmental impacts, while ALA maintains such challenges undermine intellectual freedom for all users, including youth.[152] [33] This stance has drawn accusations of institutional bias toward progressive ideologies, as ALA's advocacy aligns closely with DEI frameworks in collection development.[153]

Perceived Political Bias and Activism

The American Library Association (ALA) has faced accusations of exhibiting a left-leaning political bias through its advocacy and programming, with critics arguing that its initiatives prioritize progressive social agendas over traditional library neutrality. Organizations such as InfluenceWatch have characterized the ALA's public policy stance as left-of-center, citing its sponsorship of "Banned Books Week" as an effort to counter social-conservative challenges to library materials, often framing such actions as censorship without equivalent scrutiny of content proponents' ideological motivations.[154] This perception is amplified by the ALA's Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), an internal group that advances resolutions on issues like condemning white supremacy and fascism, which some view as injecting partisan activism into professional standards.[155][156] A prominent example involves ALA President Emily Drabinski, who served from 2022 to 2023 and publicly identified herself as a "Marxist lesbian" in a 2022 tweet, prompting backlash from conservative commentators and state officials who questioned the organization's impartiality.[157] Drabinski's prior writings critiqued library classification systems like the Dewey Decimal for allegedly favoring Christian perspectives, further fueling claims of ideological embedding in core operations.[157] In response, several states, including Montana and Alabama, withdrew institutional affiliations or funding from the ALA, citing concerns over politicized leadership that could influence library policies toward Marxist or anti-Christian orientations.[158][159] The ALA maintained its nonpartisan status under federal nonprofit rules, but detractors, including Republican lawmakers, argued that such leadership exemplified a departure from apolitical librarianship toward overt progressive activism.[160] The ALA's equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) efforts have also drawn criticism for advancing a progressive framework that critics say undermines objective access to information. ALA policy interprets intellectual freedom to encompass EDI as central, with resolutions promoting EDI initiatives to address historical racism in school libraries and supporting civil rights protections for people of diverse gender identities.[161][162][163] For instance, the ALA Executive Board opposed censorship of programs on racial injustice and diversity education in 2021, positioning libraries as platforms for such content amid debates over curriculum neutrality.[164] Conservative analysts contend these initiatives distort library neutrality by favoring ideological training over merit-based practices, as seen in broader critiques of DEI's infiltration into library hiring and collections.[165] Additionally, the ALA's endorsement of Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) programs, which feature drag performers reading to children, has been cited as evidence of activism aligned with gender ideology promotion. The ALA provides resources and advocacy support for DQSH events, framing them as extensions of inclusive literacy initiatives, despite a 2019 petition with over 100,000 signatures protesting this stance as inappropriate for public libraries.[166][167][168] Critics, including parental rights advocates, argue that such support reflects a bias toward progressive cultural events while downplaying community concerns about age-appropriateness, contributing to perceptions of the ALA as an activist entity rather than a neutral steward of information.[169] Critics have further highlighted the March 2024 dismissal of Cathy Simpson, CEO of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library in Canada, after she published an op-ed advocating for viewpoint diversity and critiquing progressive trends in library practices. Simpson was terminated without cause amid backlash from some stakeholders, and the ALA issued no public acknowledgment or defense of her situation. Detractors cite this silence as evidence of selective application of intellectual freedom principles, particularly when challenges originate from left-leaning perspectives.[170][171] While the ALA defends its positions as upholding intellectual freedom and access for all, the pattern of resolutions and programs—predominantly addressing left-leaning social justice themes with limited counterbalancing on conservative priorities—has led to claims of systemic bias within the organization.[172]

Internal Dissent, Membership Decline, and Organizational Relevance

Internal dissent within the American Library Association (ALA) has intensified since the late 2010s, driven by disagreements over the organization's advocacy for materials challenged as sexually explicit or ideologically charged, which critics among librarians and library systems argue prioritizes unrestricted access over parental concerns and community values. In 2023, ALA President Emily Drabinski's public self-identification as a "Marxist lesbian" on social media prompted backlash from conservative factions, leading to calls for libraries to sever ties.[173] [33] This contributed to withdrawals by library systems in states including Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania, where officials cited the ALA's defense of contested content as evidence of partisan overreach rather than neutral intellectual freedom.[174] [175] [176] High-profile resignations underscored these fractures; ALA Executive Director Tracie D. Hall stepped down effective October 6, 2023, amid financial strains and internal debates over the group's direction, though the ALA attributed her departure to personal reasons without elaborating on dissent.[177] Earlier, in 2018, internal ALA controversies arose over handling hate speech challenges, with the Office for Intellectual Freedom's positions drawing criticism for sidelining librarians facing professional repercussions in their communities.[178] Such divisions reflect broader tensions between the ALA's commitment to unfiltered access and members' perceptions of institutional capture by progressive activism, eroding trust in its governance.[33] Membership has declined markedly, dropping 14% from 2018 levels to approximately 49,700 individuals by 2023—the lowest figure since 1989—exacerbated by post-COVID trends and backlash against perceived politicization.[33] [175] ALA internal reports confirm pre-pandemic stability at 55,000–58,000 members, followed by a sharp 2020 dip and ongoing erosion, with fiscal year 2025 year-to-date figures trailing 2024 by 13%.[50] [49] Institutional memberships have also waned, particularly in red states, as systems redirect funds away from an organization seen as misaligned with local priorities on content curation.[175] These trends have prompted scrutiny of the ALA's organizational relevance, with detractors contending that its entanglement in cultural disputes—such as defending materials against removal efforts—has transformed it from a unifying professional body into a polarized advocate, alienating segments of the library field.[33] Flat or declining participation, coupled with budget deficits and reduced conference attendance, signals diminished influence, as libraries in dissenting regions form alternatives or operate independently.[31] While the ALA maintains its core mission advances equity and access at scale, the exodus of members and affiliates raises causal questions about whether ideological entrenchment, rather than external factors alone, drives the erosion of its broad representational authority.[31][175]

Affiliates and Related Entities

The American Library Association maintains eight divisions as internal membership groups tailored to specific library sectors, enabling focused professional development and advocacy. These include the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), which supports school library professionals; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), dedicated to services for children up to age 14; the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), serving academic and research librarians; the Public Library Association (PLA), focused on public libraries; and Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, a division formed in 2020 through the merger of the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), Library and Information Technology Association (LITA), and Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) to address shared infrastructure and leadership needs.[67] Other divisions encompass the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) and the United Library Association, though organizational restructuring has consolidated some functions under Core. Divisions operate semi-autonomously, with their own leadership, publications, and annual conference programs, funded partly through member dues and ALA allocations. ALA affiliates comprise independent organizations aligned with its mission but operating separately, often collaborating on joint initiatives. Notable affiliates include the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), specializing in legal information; the American Indian Library Association (AILA), promoting Native American library services; the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), advancing information science; and the American Theological Library Association (ATLA), focused on religious resources.[179] Ethnic-focused affiliates, such as the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), and Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), address diversity in librarianship and advocate for underrepresented communities within ALA's framework.[180] These groups maintain formal ties through representation on ALA Council and co-sponsored events, but retain independent governance and funding.[181] Round tables serve as ALA's interest-based membership groups, fostering niche discussions without the structure of divisions. As of 2023, there are approximately 19 round tables, including the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT), which critiques library policies on social justice issues; the Rainbow Round Table (RRT), advocating for LGBTQ+ concerns; the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT); and the Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT).[72][182] Round tables may levy additional dues, produce publications subject to ALA approval, and influence policy through the Round Table Coordinating Assembly, which elects representatives to ALA Council. Related entities include the ALA-Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA), which certifies library support staff; the Freedom to Read Foundation, established in 1969 to litigate First Amendment cases involving libraries; and United for Libraries, formerly Friends of Libraries U.S.A., supporting library trustees, advocates, and friends groups.[183] ALA also partners with state chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and territories, which adapt national policies locally while sending delegates to ALA Council.[184] These structures enhance ALA's reach but have drawn scrutiny for amplifying certain ideological round tables, such as SRRT, amid debates over organizational focus.[180]

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