Organizational Excellence

1939

The structure of ALA has changed overtime. The division structure started in 1939 with the Third Activities Committee. Some committees, working groups, and round tables already existed before the divisions.

Library Bill of Rights is adopted the same year.

1944

"The formation of the "Division of Public Libraries" of the American Library Association was approved by ALA Council in 1944, following petitions signed by nearly 1,200 members." Read more from the History of the Public Library Association

The Division of Public Libraries is now the Public Library Association.

1947

"Public Libraries" is the official journal of the Public Library Association. It was first published (Vol. 1, No.1) on January, 1947.

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.

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.