Today, the purpose and mission of the ALA are, respectively, to "...promote library service and librarianship," and 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."
The ALA is an extremely important organization for book publishing, as its members are the gatekeepers for bringing trade books and other books and reference materials to a broad reading public and are the conduits to significant book sales. Therefore, the American Library Associations's two annual conferences, the ALA Midwinter Meeting and the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition are key events on the annual book publishing calendar.
From individual librarians to representatives of huge library systems like the New York Public Library, the ALA has over 61,000 individual and organizational members, the it's motto is "The best reading, for the largest number, at the least cost."
According to its strategic plan, the ALA is committed to investing its energies and resources to promote the following priorities:
Diversity - in the librarian profession, the library collections, and the people they serve
Equitable Access to Information and Library Services - across all ages, income levels, ethnicity or physical abilities
Education and Lifelong Learning - for library staff members and library constituencies
Intellectual Freedom - "Intellectual freedom is a basic right in a democratic society and a core value of the library profession. The American Library Association actively defends the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment."
Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession - in the form of public awareness of library importance, and promotion of pro-library state and national legislation.
Literacy - both reading and computer literacy, for adults as well as children.
Organizational Excellence - to ensure inclusiveness, effectiveness and responsiveness to the needs of the American Library Association members.
There are numerous divisions of the American Library Association, to serve the needs of individual types of libraries and librarians. They are:
- American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
- Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)
- Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) — This division sponsors the annual ALA Youth Media Awards, and is responsible for the prestigious John Newbery Medal for distinguished contribution to American children's literature and the Randolph Caldecott Medal for distinguished contribution to American children's illustration.
- Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends & Foundations
- Association of Specialized & Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)
- Library and Information Technology Association (LITA)
- Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA)
- Public Library Association (PLA)
- Reference & User Services Association
- The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) — This division is responsible for the Alex Award, the Edwards Award, the Printz Award, the Morris Award, the Odyessey Award and the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults, which are among the ALA Youth Media Awards.
The possible future of libraries might be in a cloud—read about the ambitious and fraught Google Library Project.
