Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession

1962

ALA organizes "Library-21" a futuristic exhibit, at the Seattle World's Fair.

"The Library 21 exhibit, designed primarily to envision the role of technology in libraries of the future, featured a state-of the-art Sperry-Rand UNIVAC Solid State 90 computer programmed to print out a portion of electronically stored text entered from a printed reference book.  A photo of the computer at the Library 21 exhibit is available at The University of Washington Library.The exhibit also featured more traditional library services like “Children's World,” which housed 2,000 books from all over the world, and the “Ready Reference Center,” with more than 700 reference titles and a Xerox 914 copier. The UNIVAC computer, however, was the star of the exhibition." Read more and see images from At Your Library

The  University of Washington Library has digitized a schedule of events at the Library 21 exhibit.

"The Century 21 Exposition - also known as the Seattle World's Fair - was held between April 21 and October 21, 1962 drew almost 10 million visitors....decided on a theme for the Fair centered on modern science, space exploration, and the progressive future, wrapped in the broad concept of a 'Century 21 Exposition." Read more from the Seattle Municiple Archives.

The Seattle Public Library holds a copy of the ALA Bulletin containing details of the exhibit.

History Link provides several images of the Seattle World's Fair

The ALA Archives at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign holds material related to the ALA exhibit. See their holdings.

 

1963

Knapp School Libraries Project begins, continuing to 1974.

"The Knapp School Libraries Project that was developed in the 1960s to create model libraries in elementary and secondary schools by upgrading their materials and qualified personnel. Visits from librarians, educators, students, and community members that helped disseminate the model libraries' characteristics are discussed." Read more from ERIC

"In 1963 the Knapp School Libraries Project was established to create model school library media centers across the country. The first priority was to upgrade school libraries to meet the 1960 standards focusing on professional staff and materials rather than on facilities. Funds were used to expand and renovate hundreds of school libraries.

Seeing the value of model school libraries, some states began establishing their own model school programs. In 1967, The School Library and the Instructional Program, A Report on Phase I of the Knapp School Libraries Project by Peggy Sullivan was published. She noted a high turnover in personnel that went on to establish their own exemplary libraries.

In 1968 the School Library Manpower project was established within the Knapp Foundation. It focused on the roles and job functions of school library personnel and provided recommendations for implementing experimental school library media education programs. The project continued until 1974." Read more from  the History of Libraries

The results from the first phase were published by ALA in 1967. The second phase continued focusing on elementary school library programs adding more schools for demonstration. Phase three focused on secondary schools instead of the elementary schools of earlier focus. Read more from the Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science

1964

ALA sponsors Library USA exhibit at the 1964 and 1965 New York World's Fair

"Library/U.S.A. is the information center for the United States Pavilion. It is sponsored by the American Library Association to acquaint you with the indispensable nature of libraries as a national resource. Librarians on duty are prepared to answer any question you may ask. A UNIVAC computer aids them in responding to questions about the exhbits in the U.S. Pavillion. Reference books are used to locate inforamtion on all other subjects." Read more from the United States Pavillion Library booklet.

Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945 - 2005  claims this was the first public demonstration of online bibliographic retrieval.

 

 

1982

"Since 1982, Banned Books Week has rallied librarians, booksellers, authors, publishers, teachers, and readers of all types to celebrate and defend the freedom to read. As we commemorate 30 years of Banned Books Week and enter our 31st year of protecting readers' rights, ALA is pleased to unveil this timeline of significant banned and challenged books."  See more of the Banned Books Timeline

"Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community –- librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types –- in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Check out the frequently challenged books section to explore the issues and controversies around book challenges and book banning. The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted with removal or restrictions in libraries and schools. While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week celebration is the fact that, in a majority of cases, the books have remained available. This happens only thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read."  Read More at the Banned Books Website

1988

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month - a time when the American Library Association and libraries across the country remind parents that the most important school supply of all is @ your library® - it's your library card. September was first so designated in 1988, as a continuation of a national campaign launched the previous year.

Read more and see the list of Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chairpersons and Spokespersons at Library Card Sign-Up Month History.

Find free promotional tools at the official page, September is Library Card Sign-up Month.

 

1998

YALSA launches Teen Read Week, setting aside the third week In October to encourage teens to read for the fun of it

"Teen Read Week is a time to celebrate reading for fun and encourage teens to take advantage of reading in all its forms —books and magazines, e-books, audiobooks and more — and become regular library users." Read more from the offical Teen Read Week site.

See the Teen Read Week products in the ALA Store

See images from Teen Read Week on Pintrest.

 

2006

ALA began to annually select a class of Emerging Leaders.

"The American Library Association (ALA) Emerging Leaders (EL) program is a leadership development program which enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts participants on the fast track to ALA committee volunteerism as well as other professional library-related organizations.

The  EL program kicks off with a daylong session during the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Afterward, it grows and develops in an online learning and networking environment for six months.  The program culminates with a poster session presentation to display the results of the project planning work of each group at the ALA Annual Conference.

Participants commit to participating in all aspects of the program.  Participants may be offered an opportunity to serve on  an ALA, division, chapter, or round table committee, taskforce or workgroup as well as other library-related groups upon completion of program.  However, appointments are not guaranteed.

The program is limited to no more than 50 participants each year." Read more