Missouri Library Association

{{short description|Professional association for librarians in Missouri}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Missouri Library Association

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| logo = Missouri_Library_Association.jpg

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| logo_alt = the name of the org with a shape that looks like maybe a moving book?

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| formation = {{start date and age|1900|12|18}}

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| founding_location = Columbia, Missouri

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| tax_id = 44-0658268

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| headquarters = Ballwin, Missouri

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| parent_organization = American Library Association

| website = {{URL|http://molib.org/}}

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The Missouri Library Association (MLA) is a professional organization for Missouri's librarians and library workers. It is headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri.{{cite web |title=Missouri Library Association |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/44-0658268 |website=Guidestar |accessdate=10 March 2020}} It was founded on December 18, 1900, in Columbia, Missouri, at a meeting called by Fredrick Crunden, Head Librarian for the St. Louis Public Library; Carrie Whitney, Director of the Kansas City Public Library; Charles Yeater, Trustee and President of the Board of Directors for the Sedalia Public Library; Purd Wright, Librarian at the St. Joseph Public Library; and James Gerould, University Librarian at the University of Missouri.{{cite web | title=History and Mission – Missouri Library Association | website=Missouri Library Association| date=2014-10-14 | url=http://molib.org/about/history-and-mission/ | access-date=2020-03-10}} The organization's first president was Fredrick Crunden.{{cite news |title=Officers Chosen by the Missouri Library Association |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/71765825/ |accessdate=10 March 2020 |work=Sedalia Democrat |date=December 20, 1900 |page=1}}

One of the organizations early goals was the establishment of a state library which was accomplished in 1907. MLA worked to create a librarian certification program, forming a Certification Board in 1934.