Things You Didn’t Know About ALA History, 1876–1900
American Libraries highlights little-known moments from ALA’s first 25 years of existence.
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.
Things You Didn’t Know About ALA History, 1876–1900
American Libraries highlights little-known moments from ALA’s first 25 years of existence.
A Library Card for Every Child
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a national campaign to emphasize the importance of library cards to a child’s education and to combat illiteracy. The campaign first started in 1987 as a response to then Secretary of Education, William Bennett, who stated: “Let’s have a campaign … Every child should obtain a library card and use it.”
Harry Clemons: The ALA in Siberia
During World War I, most ALA-operated libraries were stationed in U.S.-based military camps. However, a small number of librarians were sent overseas to help distribute books and run libraries. Harry Clemons was one such librarian.
You’ve Got Mail: Carnegie Libraries, As Seen Through Library Postcards
On the anniversary of industrialist and library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s death on August 11, 1919, we’re taking a look at one of his lasting legacies—the Carnegie library.
Mr. Linderfelt’s Trouble, Part Two: Restoration to the Record
More than 130 years after his resignation, disgraced and forgotten ALA President Klas August Linderfelt has finally taken his place in ALA’s official record as a past president.
Mr. Linderfelt’s Trouble, Part One: ALA’s Lost President
In 1892, Klas August Linderfelt, the first librarian of Milwaukee Public Library (MLP), was arrested for embezzling $4,000. The arrest came as a shock to the library profession. Not only was Linderfelt the head of MLP, but he was also the president of both the American Library Association and the Wisconsin Library Association. And that’s just the beginning of this wild tale.
REFORMA and ALA: 55 Years of History
ALA maintains partnerships with external organizations through its affiliates program. One of those is REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. For more than 50 years, the two associations have been partners in the goal of providing better library services to Latino communities.
For the Cornerstones of Our Communities: ALA and the Freedom to Read
Shortly after ALA was founded, it became clear that libraries needed a voice in government. ALA’s intertwined Public Policy and Advocacy Office and Office for Intellectual Freedom are that presence, ensuring that libraries and library professionals receive the support that allow them to succeed at providing equitable access to information for all.
Out of the Closet and Onto the Shelves
The American Library Association’s (ALA) Rainbow Round Table is a group with a lot of firsts. Formed in 1970 as the Task Force on Gay Liberation, under ALA’s Social Responsibilities Round Table, they were the first profession-based gay organization.
Blazing Trails: Stories from Pioneering Black Librarians
In 2018, American Libraries spoke with five leading African-American librarians about their careers, the changes they have witnessed over the decades, and the current issues in librarianship. While no two people have the same story, all five interviewees note inclusivity as an important theme. They discuss libraries as safe havens, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the history and future of the Association, as well as their legacies within the profession.