Public Library Association

The strategic plan for the Public Association for 2022 to 2026, approved in June 2022, includes five objectives:[https://www.ala.org/pla/sites/ala.org.pla/files/content/about/strategicplan/PLA_Strategic_Plan_2022%E2%80%942026_PDF_8.31.22.pdf PLA Strategic Plan 2022–2026.] Public Library Association, June 2022. Goals are:

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice
• Transformation
• Professional Growth
• Advocacy
• Organizational Excellence

The PLA identified the following areas as "priority concerns":

• Adequate funding for public libraries
• Improved management of public libraries
• Recognition of the importance of all library staff members in providing quality public service
• Recruitment, education, training, and compensation of public librarians
• Intellectual freedom
• Improved access to library resources
• Effective communication with the nonlibrary world.

The PLA is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors elected by the association's members. The PLA Board of Directors consists of the President, President-Elect, Past-President, six Directors-at-Large, ALA Division Councilor, and PLA Executive Director. The Executive Director is an ex-officio and non-voting board member tasked with enacting the board's decisions. The PLA's current president is Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, its president-elect is Michael Lambert, and its executive director is Mary Davis Fournier.[https://www.ala.org/pla/about/people/board PLA Board of Directors]

Members of PLA standing committees, award juries, task forces, and advisory groups are appointed to one- or two-year terms by the president-elect. Active committees include a Budget and Finance Committee, Every Child Ready to Read Oversight Committee, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Leadership Development Committee, Legislation and Advocacy Committee, Public Libraries Advisory Committee, and committees to manage the PLA's biennial conferences and nominate candidates for committee service.{{cite web | url = http://www.ala.org/pla/about/committees | title = PLA Committees | date = 10 October 2011 | publisher = Public Library Association | access-date = 1 April 2014}}

Public Libraries is the PLA's official trade magazine. Published six times annually, this magazine focuses on news and issues pertaining to public libraries and librarianship.{{cite web | url = http://www.ala.org/pla/publications/publiclibraries | title = Public Libraries Magazine | date = 10 October 2011 | publisher = Public Library Association | access-date = 1 April 2014}} It commenced publication in January 1947 under the editorship of Muriel E. Perry of Decatur Public Library.Hughes, K. (2003). Public Library Association. In M. Drake (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Vol. 4, 2nd ed. (pp. 2393-6).{{cite web | url = http://www.ala.org/pla/about/history | title = The History of the Public Library Association | date = 10 October 2011 | publisher = Public Library Association | access-date = 1 April 2014}} Public Libraries Online is the digital companion to the print journal and offers three full articles from each print issue, plus daily updates, interviews, blogging, and other exclusive content. The print magazine is a delayed open access journal; its web companion is free and open to all users.{{cite web | url = http://publiclibrariesonline.org/about | title = Public Libraries Online | publisher = Public Library Association | access-date = 1 April 2014}} PLA is also responsible for the publication of many key monograph titles in the field of public librarianship.

PLA was formed in 1944 as the Division of Public Libraries of the American Library Association. The formation of the Division of Public Libraries of the American Library Association was approved by the ALA Council in 1944 following petitions signed by nearly 1,200 members.

The first PLA president was Amy Winslow of Cuyahoga County Library. The first Executive Secretary (a position now known as Executive Director) was Julia Wright Merrill.{{cite web | url = http://heritage.wisconsinlibraries.org/home/entry/julia-wright-merrill-18811961 | title = Julia Wright Merrill (1881-1961) | publisher = Wisconsin Library Heritage Center | access-date = 13 May 2014}} The original mission of the division was to advance public library interests and to cooperate in the promotion of library service in general.

In 1971 Effie Lee Morris became the first woman and black person to serve as president of the PLA.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Katisha|date=2020-05-08|title=13 Pioneering Black American Librarians You Oughta Know|url=https://bookriot.com/pioneering-black-american-librarians/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=BOOK RIOT|language=en-US}}

The PLA's First National Conference, with the theme "Serving People: Public Libraries Today and Tomorrow" was presented March 23–26, 1983 in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference chair was Charles W. Robinson. The core purposes was to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve.

The 2020 PLA Conference was a celebration of its 75th anniversary.[http://75years.pla.org/ PLA's 75th Anniversary.] Public Library Association. Oct. 13, 2019.

• American Library Association
• History of public library advocacy
• Library science
• Public libraries
• Public library advocacy
• Public Libraries

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Category:Public libraries

Category:Library associations in the United States

Category:Library-related professional associations

Category:Professional associations based in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Chicago

Category:Organizations established in 1944