ALA

Expanded name

American Library Association

Date of establishment

1876

URL

http://www.ala.org/ [external]

Objectives

The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship. The stated mission is: to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.

From: American Library Association Mission and Priorities

Areas of Activity

ALA concentrates on the promotion of 7 key action areas to the library profession:

• Diversity
• Equitable access to information and library services
• Education and lifelong learning
• Intellectual freedom
• Advocay for libraries and the profession
• Literacy
• Organisational excellence

Membership

Personal, library or organisational membership, by annual subscription, for:

• Persons engaged in library work in both the US or abroad
• Those who wish to support the Association but are not engaged in library work
• Unemployed or retired library professionals

Standards Sponsored

AACR

Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules

AMREMM

Descriptive Cataloging of Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Manuscripts