American Library Association

The American Library Association (ALA) is a voluntary organization that represents libraries and librarians around the world. Worldwide, the ALA is the largest and oldest professional organization for libraries, librarians, information science centers, and information scientists. The association was founded in 1876 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since its inception, the ALA has provided leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of libraries, information access, and information science. The ALA is primarily concerned with learning enhancement and information access for all people. The organization strives to advance the profession through its initiatives and divisions within the organization. The primary action areas for the ALA are advocacy, education, lifelong learning, intellectual freedom, organizational excellence, diversity, equitable access to information and services, expansion of all forms of literacy, and library transformation to maintain relevance in a...