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Nickname | LLA |
---|---|
Formation | 1909 |
72-0643689 | |
Purpose | Promote library interests of the State of Louisiana |
Headquarters | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Parent organization | American Library Association |
The Louisiana Library Association (LLA) is a professional organization for Louisiana's librarians and library workers. It is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [1] The LLA publishes The LLA Bulletin (est. 1937) and Louisiana Libraries magazine.[2][3]
It was originally founded in 1909, called the Louisiana State Library Association, after a call for a statewide library group from the New Orleans Library Club.[3][4] An initial meeting of thirty people was held at Tulane University in 1909 with the goal of increasing the number of trained librarians in the state and drafting library legislation.[4][5] The main speaker was Chalmers Hadley president of the American Library Association.[4] The LLA fell into some disorder during and after World War I, and was reorganized in 1925.[2] The LLA Convention or Conference began in 1909 has been held annually (except for 1914-1924, 1933, and 1945).[2]
LLA became a chapter member of the American Library Association in 1939, and has been a member since then with the exception of a period from March 5, 1963 through mid-1965 when the Executive Board of LLA resigned from ALA because the organization was not integrated.[2][3][6][7] LLA had voted in 1947 to admit Black members, but because of state segregation laws had not been able to implement the change.[8] Before 1965 the Louisiana Colored Teachers’ Association (later called the Louisiana Education Association) had a libraries section which counted public, school, and academic librarians among its members.[9]
In 1992 a joint conference was held in New Orleans with the Southeastern Library Association.
The first Black president of LLA was Idella Washington who was elected in 1998.[3]
In 1999 the LLA Bulletin was renamed Louisiana Libraries.[10]
The 2021 conference was held as a virtual conference during the COVID-19 pandemic. [11]
The Louisiana Library Association established its Awards program in 1944.[12]
The LLA offers multiple scholarships each year. The LLA Scholarship is for students enrolled in full-time study toward a Master's Degree in Library Science at Louisiana State University School of Library and Information Science. The Mary Moore Mitchell Scholarship is for part-time study. Recipients of both scholarships are selected by the Scholarship Committee with advice of the faculty at the Louisiana State University School of Library and Information Science.[33]