1950s

1951

In 1951 the new Standards for Accreditation were approved by ALA Council, stating that that the professional program should encompass a minimum of five years of study beyond secondary school and should lead to a master's degree.

1955

1955 saw the release of a report by Cresap, McCormick and Paget to the members on the management of the ALA. The report called for a change in the structure of the divisions to the present organization. As a result of this report, since 1957, there have been divisions for type of library and divisions for type of activity. 

Please see the pages of the individual divisions for a more in-depth history of each division.

1955

1955 saw the release of a report by Cresap, McCormick and Paget to the members on the management of the ALA. The report called for a change in the structure of the divisions to the present organization. As a result of this report, since 1957, there have been divisions for type of library and divisions for type of activity. 

Please see the pages of the individual divisions for a more in-depth history of each division.

1956

1956 saw the first integrated annual conference in Miami Beach after years of avoiding the South as a meeting place due to racial segregation.

1957

"The Young Adult Services Division was formally established in June 1957, after a massive reorganization effort within ALA made substantive organizational changes, including the splitting of the Association of Young People's librarians (established in 1941) into the Children's Library Association and the Young Adult Services Division. Mildred Batchelder was the first Executive Secretary (1957--1965), serving both the Children's and Young Adult divisions from her ALA Office.