American Library Association

The American Library Association is a U.S. professional organization that supports libraries, library workers, and equitable access to information through advocacy, standards, education, and programs.

Library Bill of Rights: A statement affirming libraries’ responsibilities to provide access to information and resist censorship. The Association’s enduring framework for defending intellectual freedom in library collections and services.
Melvil Dewey: An American librarian who developed the Dewey Decimal Classification and helped found the American Library Association. Dewey was a central organizer at the Association’s founding in 1876.
Judith F. Krug: An American librarian who led the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom for decades. Krug helped build the Association’s sustained response to censorship and challenges to library materials.
Special Libraries Association: A professional association for information professionals working in specialized organizations and subject-focused settings. It focuses more narrowly on specialized information work than the Association’s broad library membership.
Freedom to Read Statement: A statement opposing censorship and affirming the public’s right to read diverse ideas. The Association and allied publishers use it to explain why access to contested books matters.
American Library Association Annual Conference: A recurring professional gathering organized by the American Library Association for library workers and vendors. The first Association conference in 1876 established a recurring forum for shared professional work.
Barbara Gittings: An American LGBTQ rights activist and librarian who advocated for inclusive library collections. Her work with the Association advanced the visibility of LGBTQ materials and library users.
Association of College and Research Libraries: An American Library Association division serving academic and research libraries and their staff. This division concentrates on higher education, unlike the parent organization’s cross-sector remit.
ALA-accredited library school: A graduate program in library and information studies accredited by the American Library Association. Accreditation connects the Association’s professional standards to preparation for many librarian roles.
Library Journal: An American trade publication covering libraries, librarianship, and information services. Its founder, Melvil Dewey, used the journal to advance professional discussion alongside the new Association.

Linked from 8 pages