150TH ANNIVERSARY

FOR OUR LIBRARIES.
FOR 150 YEARS MORE.

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Since 1876 the American Library Association has championed access to information, defended free speech, & upheld the power of libraries to transform lives & strengthen democracy.

In 2026, we mark 150 years of standing up for libraries—and everything they make possible. This milestone isn’t just about looking back. It’s about rallying together to protect what matters now, and to imagine the libraries we’ll need for the next 150 years. Join us to reflect, connect, and act.

A VISUAL HISTORY OF READING, RESILIENCE, & REACH

Explore rarely seen images from the ALA Archives—snapshots of 150 years of librarianship, leadership, and community impact.

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A black and white photo of a military truck loaded with books and American flags. A sign on the back reads, "A.L.A. 5000000 BOOKS IN SERVICE, 1550 BRANCHES IN U.S. & FRONT." A soldier smiles from inside the truck.
A lively crowd gathered in front of a building decorated with balloons and a "GROUND BREAKING" banner. A vintage-style popcorn cart sits in the foreground. People appear to be celebrating a new opening.
A vintage photograph of a large room with ornate columns and high ceilings. Men and women are seen working at desks, reading, writing, and typing, capturing the bustling activity of a historical library office.
A black and white photo of a grand, multi-story mansion with a steep roof and intricate window moldings. A few cars are parked outside, and a tree without leaves stands in the front yard.
A barred glass display window featuring banned books and posters about censorship. The central sign promotes Banned Books Week (Sept 26 - Oct 3), with slogans like "Celebrate the Freedom to Read."
Two smiling women standing beside a person in a large costume of a monster character from “Where the Wild Things Are,” inside a modern building with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Four children in a classroom setting present favorite books in front of a display board labeled “OUR BOOK FRIENDS.” One girl holds up a drawing of a book titled "Peanuts the Pony."
A group of children proudly holding up books in front of a library building. Some stand beside or on a statue of a seated man. The children are smiling and appear to be celebrating reading
Children gathered in line near a bookmobile parked beside a building. Some hold books, while a boy runs past the camera holding multiple items. The background shows open landscape and mountains.
A bold poster with large red and black text reading, "CAUTION: THIS LIBRARY CONTAINS DANGEROUS BOOKS! Read at your own risk!" promoting Banned Books Week from September 10–17, 1983.
A black and white photo shows a young African American woman in glasses smiling as she checks out a book at a library counter. A librarian with long hair smiles back at her from behind the counter, next to a book charging machine.
Three African American children are shown in a library. A girl on the left smiles at the camera, a boy in the center reads a book, and an older boy on the right also reads a book. Bookshelves are filled with books
A smiling blonde woman, Dorothy Anderson, points to a large open book while sitting at a table with a young child, who is looking intently at the book. Bookshelves filled with books are in the background.
A black and white photo shows a horse-drawn "Pratt Library's Book Wagon" with bookshelves, from which a woman is selecting a book. A boy holds the horse's bridle, and several women and children are gathered around.
The cartoon character Garfield in a mascot costume stands between two men in suits, while a woman speaks at a podium to the left. A sign behind them reads "The Best Gift You'll Ever Give Your Child: A Library Card."
A black and white photo shows a young man and woman looking at a card catalog. The man is pulling out a card, while the woman points to a book. Bookshelves are visible in the background.
Inside a bookmobile, a woman in a light-colored dress reaches for a book on a shelf. Two children are seated nearby, reading books. Shelves filled with books line the walls of the vehicle.
Eight women, some dressed in saris, are posing together in front of a backdrop with the text "ALA International Relations Round Table Hospitality Booth" and several images.
Two smiling women, both named Judy (Judy Blume on the right with curly hair and a dark jacket, and Judy King on the left with short dark hair and a pink jacket), stand close together with their arms around each other, looking at the camera. Other people are blurred in the background.
A black and white photo captures a lively disco scene with many people dancing on a wooden floor in a large room.
A black and white photo shows a group of barefoot children, primarily of Asian descent, reading books outdoors near a large bookmobile with its side shelves open.
A black and white photo shows a group of children gathered around a bookmobile in a grassy outdoor setting, many holding books. A woman is standing near the open side of the bookmobile.
A black and white formal portrait shows a group of twenty-one individuals, mostly women in long dresses and a few men, posing for a "Library school class of 1890."
A black and white photo shows a librarian, wearing glasses and a white uniform, holding a book for a male patient who is lying in a hospital bed and also holding a book. A book cart is beside the bed.
A black and white photo shows a group of diverse children, many wearing hats, gathered around a woman who is reading a book aloud at a table in what appears to be a library.
A black and white photo shows a diverse group of children sitting on benches and chairs in front of bookshelves, attentively watching a woman who is holding up a book and reading to them.
A black and white photo shows a military bookmobile, labeled "PRESIDIO BOOKMOBILE," with several soldiers standing around it. In the background, a missile or rocket points skyward.
A color photo captures a "Rally for America's Libraries" event outdoors, featuring a stage with a speaker at a podium under a red, white, and blue balloon arch. Signs in the crowd advocate for library funding.
A black and white photo shows a young woman operating a large, boxy machine with a book placed on its surface and a separate control panel on the table. This is identified as a Kurzweil Reading Machine.
A black and white photo shows a group of elementary school-aged children, some wearing headphones, gathered around a large reel-to-reel tape recorder on a table. Two adult women are standing with them, observing.
A black and white photo shows a young woman with a smiling expression, seated on a wooden shelf filled with stacks of books. She is holding up a sign that reads "Victory Book Campaign - BOOKS FOR THE BOYS - DROP THEM HERE - Listen to Sidney Andorn - WGAR - 6:00 P.M. For Daily Totals."
A black and white photo shows a young person with short hair and glasses, wearing a plaid shirt and slacks, standing with their back to the camera. They are facing a display with early electronic equipment, including a monitor and a device with exposed wiring, and informational text on the wall above.

Get involved: 
Help Us Write the Next Chapter

Our 150th anniversary will include programs, celebrations, and moments of reflection—all powered by people like you. Whether you’re a lifelong librarian or new to the field, your voice matters. Join the movement to make this a year of impact.

BECOME A MEMBER

Get involved: 
Help Us Write the Next Chapter

Our 150th anniversary will include programs, celebrations, and moments of action—all powered by people like you. Whether you’re a lifelong librarian or a new member, your voice matters. Join the movement to make this a year of impact, not just remembrance.

BECOME A MEMBER

150 Years Strong

THE OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY BLOG

Discover the people, policies, and pivotal moments that shaped the ALA—and the libraries we all rely on. Our anniversary blog is your behind-the-scenes look at the legacy we’re honoring and the future we’re building, with regular stories on how we’re celebrating.

Discover the people, policies, and pivotal moments that shaped the ALA—and the libraries we all rely on. Our anniversary blog is your behind-the-scenes look at the legacy we’re honoring and the future we’re building, with regular stories on how we’re celebrating.

1907 postmarked postcard of the Chicago Public Library

Why Chicago? ALA Headquarters, 1909

Ask most ALA members why the Association’s headquarters is in Chicago, they’re likely to guess “center of the country.” Not so. ALA headquarters is in Chicago because in 1909 a group of Midwest librarians representing the interests of small public libraries outmaneuvered eastern librarians representing large library interests to wrest control of the Association the latter had held since 1876.

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oral histories at the ala archive graphic

Oral Histories at the ALA Archives

Alongside written records, photographs, and publications, the American Library Association Archives also holds more than 150 interviews of librarians and library workers. These stories provide context to their lives and careers, how their experiences and education shaped their librarianship, and how certain events shaped their personal and professional lives.

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Detail from National Climate Action Strategy

How Sustainability Became a Core Value of ALA

The adoption of sustainability as a core value shows what’s possible when dedicated ALA members take the time to listen, learn, evolve, and chart a new path forward, strengthening our ability to remain relevant and responsive for another 150 years.

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Theresa West Elmendorf. Photo courtesy of the ALA Archive.

Madam President

Before women were allowed to vote in U.S. elections, the American Library Association (ALA) found its leadership in Theresa West Elmendorf. In 1911, more than 30 years after the founding of ALA, Elmendorf was elected the first female president of the Association.

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