The first “congress of librarians” and the beginning of the American Library Association
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 first “congress of librarians” and the beginning of the American Library Association
As ALA celebrates 150 years, we are called not only to reflect but to act. Our century-and-a-half legacy is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of librarians and library workers everywhere.
A mass of enthusiastic demonstrators took part in the Atlanta March for Social Justice and Women held on January 21, 2017, during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting and Exhibits. A contingent of at least 200 librarians participated, brandishing signs like “Make America read again” and “Keep your hands off my area studies.”
October 17–22, 1904, was “American Library Association Week” at the St. Louis World’s Fair, formally known as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in commemoration of President Thomas Jefferson’s acquisition of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. Like many other organizations, ALA saw the fair as a wonderful opportunity to hold its annual meeting in a historic venue that offered unlimited educational benefits.
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 Proposals: Shape ALA’s 150th Anniversary Conference
Join us in celebrating ALA’s 150th anniversary at the 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago, June 25–29. Submit your proposal for education programs or poster sessions by September 22 to help shape this milestone event highlighting the past, present, and future of libraries.
ALA Wants to Hear from You During Its 150th Anniversary
The American Library Association (ALA) is seeking website and podcast contributions from ALA members as it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026. We want stories that reflect experiences with ALA, its legacy, and its history to be featured on ala150.org and ALA’s How I Library podcast.
Bringing Harassment Out of the History Books
In this 2018 article, Anne Ford explores how the library profession has reckoned—or failed to reckon—with Melvil Dewey’s history of racism, exclusion, and sexual misconduct.
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
Fighting Censors and Book Bans: Establishing the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Almost 60 years ago, the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the American Library Association needed a partner in their fight for intellectual freedom.