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Unit 11: Library Associations: India, UK and USA

Award; Clearance Day Award for promoting love of books and reading; Melvil Dewey Notes
Award for creative professional achievement; E. P. Dutton-John McRae Award for advanced
study for serving the needs of culturally deprived children; Margaret Mann Award for
achievements in cataloguing and classifications; and Ralph R. Shaw Award.

11.3.4 Library Association (LA-UK)

The Library Association (LA-UK) is another old and large library association like the American
Library Association. It was founded in 1877 with its headquarters in London. It was founded as
the Library Association of the United Kingdom at the conclusion of the First International
Conference of Librarians held at Brussels in October 1877. Publication of the Monthly Notes
commenced on 15th January 1880, and The Library was adopted as the official journal on 10th
December 1880. On 30th January 1896, the name of the Association was changed to the Library
Association. It was granted Royal Charter on 17th February, 1898. The Library Association
Record commenced publication as the official journal of the Association in January 1899. It
became a wholly professional association in 1962 when new bye-laws came into operation.

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Caution In spite of the proliferation of library associations, the Library Association has
steadily advanced into its second century and it continues to be actively involved in
promoting library interests in Great Britain.

Objectives

The objectives of the Library Association are primarily to unite all persons engaged or interested
in library work and include promotion of the establishment and improvement of libraries,
promotion of appropriate legislation; encouragement of research; better qualifications of
librarians and raising of professional standards and conditions generally.

Organisation

The membership of the Library Association is over 24,000 and is open to all interested in its aims
and objectives. However, the status of Chartered Librarian and the use of the title of Associate of
the Library Association (ALA) are restricted to those who have successfully completed the
courses and training of the Association prescribed for the purpose. Fellowship of the Library
Association is given on submission of an approved thesis for outstanding service to librarianship.
The Library Association has twelve regional branches, including the Scottish and Welsh Library
Associations and twenty three special interest groups. The Library Association is governed by a
60- number council elected by the members and is advised by four main committees: Executive
Coordinating, General Purpose, Library Services and Professional Development and Education.

Functions and Activities

Functions and activities of Library Association are as follows:

Conferences: The Library Association holds an annual conference regularly. In addition,
Branches and Groups arrange their own conferences; meetings and study schools. Printed
proceedings usually result from these meetings.

Education: From its earliest years, the Library Association has been organising courses
for aspiring librarians, planning syllabus, conducting examinations, and maintaining a
professional register. It has encouraged formation of library schools in the country. After
the library schools were developed; LA’s role as an examining body has diminished. But
it still plays an important part in continuing professional education and training. It

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