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.
The Caldecott Medal: ‘A Hasty Idea Thrown Out’
The Caldecott Medal is of one of the most prestigious children’s book awards in the world. Established in 1937 to recognize the most distinguished American picture book for children, the first medal was awarded in 1938 to Dorothy P. Lathrop for the book, “Animals of the Bible.” However, the idea was first presented in 1935 in a letter by Frederic G. Melcher.
Celebrating the Newbery: ‘Publicity of the Best Kind’
Publicity around the Newbery Medal has drummed up excitement amongst librarians, readers, and the public for the past century. Often this has meant events, press releases, newsletters, radio programming, television broadcasts, and newspaper and magazine articles. However, some publicity ideas were more daring than press conferences and radio programs.
‘The Spiritual High Point’: The Dr. MLK Holiday Observation and Sunrise Celebration
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observation and Sunrise Celebration celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. King, featuring a keynote speaker, representatives from National Associations of Librarians of Color, the ALA President, and the singing of “We Shall Overcome.” The celebration started in 2000, but efforts to observe the MLK Jr. Holiday during ALA’s Midwinter Meeting started long before.
Restoring a Piece of ALA History
In 1926, Boston Public Library presented the American Library Association (ALA) with a scrapbook of letters, postcards, and documents tracing the origins of the Librarians’ Conference of 1876, the start of the association. It has now been restored thanks to the ALA Archives at the University of Illinois.
Call for a Library Conference: The 1876 ALA Conference
In March 1876, an anonymous letter was sent to the London publication, Academy, noting that it was