150 YEARS STRONG

A Short History of the ALA Logo

As the American Library Association (ALA) launched its Library War Service during World War I, the first of many ALA logos appears. Created for librarian uniforms, a simple A.L.A. insignia pin was used by camp librarians and representatives. In a March 1918 circular letter, Library War Service director, Herbert Putnam, announced the distribution of the bronze insignia pins for use.[1] By November of the same year, the simple A.L.A. design was replaced with an open book with “A.L.A.” inside.[2] Even after the war, this design would be used in ALA publications, conference programs, and letterhead for matters unconnected to the Library War Service. Even the ALA Board of Education for Librarianship would use the logo in its correspondence.

Original version of the pin, replaced by open-book style in 1918.
Original version of the pin, replaced by open-book style in 1918.
Final version of the official librarian pin used on uniforms.
Final version of the official librarian pin used on uniforms.

In 1923 and 1924, ALA investigated getting the insignia registered in the patent office.[3] However, it seems that nothing came of that venture and by 1926, ALA’s fiftieth anniversary, a new seal was created for the association. Reminiscent of its WWI origins, the new logo featured the same open book motif, but this time with the “A.L.A” above it instead of within. It was also encircled with the words “American Library Association 1876.” Unfortunately, the original drawings for the logo were unsigned and it is unknown who designed the seal. A 1934 letter from the ALA Editor of Publications speculates that “it must have been ordered through some printing house.”[4]

The ALA logo designed in 1926.
The ALA logo designed in 1926.

A special logo was designed for ALA’s centennial celebrations in 1976. The ALA Centennial Committee held a contest and in 1973, Sandra J. Beeson of Catholic University of America was declared the winner with her design selected. Beeson was awarded an expense-paid trip to that year’s annual conference in Las Vegas for the official unveiling of the logo. The logo was used widely in the branding for the celebration and featured prominently on the conference program for the centennial conference in Chicago.

1976 ALA Conference – 100th Anniversary
1976 ALA Conference – 100th Anniversary

Besides the centennial logo, the 1926 seal remained in continuous use, though in 1980, a stylized “ALA” logo started to appear in publications and letterhead. However, the 1926 seal would still appear on official ALA letterhead and items up into the 1990s. By 1990, a simplified version of the 1926 logo came into circulation, appearing in the 1990-1991 Handbook of Organization and Member Directory. It still contained the open book motif used back during WWI, but it dropped the “A.L.A.” above the open book.

The 1980s, 1926, and 1990s ALA logos.
The 1980s, 1926, and 1990s ALA logos.

In the late 1990s, the bolded ALA followed by “American Library Association” text logo started appearing within Handbooks of Organization and Member Directories. By 2010, the enduring seal logo was officially phased out, and the text logo has been in use ever since.[5]

 

[1] Herbert Putnam, March 16, 1918, War Service Correspondence, 1917-1923, Record Series 89/1/5.

[2] George Utley, November 20, 1918, War Service Correspondence, 1917-1923, Record Series 89/1/5.

[3] Meeting of the Executive Board, December 31, 1923 and Meeting of the Executive Board, June 29, 1924, Transcripts of Proceedings, 1909-46, 1951-2002, Record Series 2/1/1, Box 1, Volume 2, page 378 and 440.

[4] Emily V. D. Miller to Miriam Roe, October 29, 1934, Executive Director Subject File, 1904-2017, Record Series 2/4/6, Box 2, Folder: American Library Association – Miscellaneous, 1920-1936.

[5] American Library Association, “Flashback Friday,” Instagram photo, January 16, 2026, https://www.instagram.com/p/DTlqYcxjGDl/.

150 YEARS STRONG

THE OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY BLOG

Detail of letter from Lynn Blaylock to the Intellectual Freedom Committee.

‘Nothing Could Have Astonished Me More’: The Challenge of Consumer Reports

Cara Bertram May 21, 2026

Due to communist hysteria before and after World War II, many organizations and publications were under suspicion of being affiliated with or promoting the Communist party, including Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, the product testing and consumer advocacy magazine. As a result, Ohio schools banned the use of Consumer Reports in the classroom. While the ban was short-lived, the questions about it were not and the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee noticed the attempts to ban the publication.

A detail from the Library Bill of Rights, 1967.

The History of the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund

Faith McConnon May 19, 2026

To financially support librarians who have been denied employment rights or discriminated against on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, age, disability, or place of national origin or denied employment rights because of their defense of intellectual freedom, ALA created the LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, named in honor of a staunch defender of intellectual freedom and editor of ALA’s Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom.

A Seat at the Table feature graphic

A Seat at the Table: Reflections from Eight ALA Trailblazers

American Libraries May 14, 2026

For 150 years, the American Library Association has shaped the landscape of libraries and the profession itself—but its leadership has often reflected the racial and gender biases of society at large. American Libraries spoke with eight barrier-busting Association leaders about their struggles, triumphs, breakdowns, and breakthroughs. The stories and lessons they share reveal how diversity fuels and transforms the power of libraries everywhere.

The School of Economy at Columbia College in New York City, class of 1888. Photo: ALA Archives

55 Moments That Redefined Librarianship

American Libraries May 12, 2026

As the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates 150 years, we’re drawing inspiration from key events since its 1876 founding: from the first conventions and library schools, through wartime and the fight for civil rights, to seismic technological advancements and the existential threats of the current moment. Though not a comprehensive timeline of library history, the milestones collected here demonstrate lasting impact and how libraries and the profession are intertwined with the American story itself—as repositories of memory, arenas of debate, and enduring instruments of democratic life.

Keynote speaker and author Phoebe Eng signing books

Shared Visions: The National Conference on Asian/Pacific American Librarians

Cara Bertram May 5, 2026

In 2001, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and the Chinese American Librarians Association partnered to host the first and only National Conference on Asian/Pacific American Librarians. The theme, Shared Visions: Heritages, Scholarship, Progress, was chosen “with a sincere commitment to representing the rich diversity of East, South and Southeast Asian and Pacific American ethnicities, cultures and communities.”