American Library Association (ALA) 2012-13 Annual Report highlights initiatives, milestones

CHICAGO — The American Library Association (ALA) has released its 2012-13 Annual Report, an overview of the association’s initiatives and accomplishments on behalf of the library profession, libraries and the public.

The report shows how ALA and its members continue to lead the way in the transformation of libraries and library services in an increasingly global digital environment. These efforts include initiatives led by 2012-2013 ALA President Maureen Sullivan, who continued the work of her predecessor, Molly Raphael, in the area of community engagement. Those efforts included the first “Leading to the Future” ALA Leadership Institute, which brought together a diverse group of 40 ALA members, who returned to their communities ready to lead change in a digital age.

As part of this effort, ALA forged a partnership with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and launched a new national initiative called “The Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities.” Initially funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the initiative aims to provide thousands of libraries of all types with the tools and training needed to help their communities find innovative solutions through library-led community engagement.

The report shows ALA’s ongoing support for intellectual freedom, as well as its high profile work in the areas of making e-book content available through libraries and in protecting patron privacy. Also highlighted are the association’s work in supporting literacy, equity of access to information for all and in enhancing the professional development of its members.

Read the 2012-2013 ALA Annual Report.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 57,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association 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.