Maryland Library Association

Founded in 1923 to promote library interests and development and the profession of librarianship in the state of Maryland.

Comprised of four divisions, Academic and Research Libraries, Adult-Young Adult Services, Children's Services, and Technical Services, as well as a number of standing committees, which have included Intellectual Freedom, Recruitment and Scholarship, and Exhibits.

From the description of Archives of the Maryland Library Association, 1923-2006. (University of Maryland Libraries). WorldCat record id: 18674645

The Maryland Library Association (MLA) was founded in 1923 by a group of dedicated librarians hoping to form a collective voice of representation to further the interests of libraries within the state of Maryland. Charlotte Newell (Mrs. M. A. Newell), Secretary and Treasurer of the Maryland Public Library Advisory Commission, drafted letters to a number of Maryland librarians inviting them to attend a discussion concerning the possibility of initiating a state library association. The informal meeting was held on June 8, 1923, at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. At that time, the group appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the proposed library association. The group organized a second organizational meeting on November 14, 1923, where the present persons elected to organize the Maryland Library Association, thereby adopting the constitution and electing officers, including the first president, Mr. Louis H. Dielman, Executive Secretary of the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. The stated objective of the early MLA was "to promote library interests in the state of Maryland." The first fifty years remained dedicated to this goal, and the MLA was instrumental in such tasks as the development of the graduate school of library science at the University of Maryland, College Park, which began accepting students in 1965. In 1975, the original goal was modified to permit the MLA to "promote and develop library interest and development and the profession of librarianship in the state of Maryland." Today, in addition to providing numerous professional development opportunities for its members, the MLA continues to actively serve the library interests of Maryland through the monitoring of and participation in legislative activities and public policy.

The governing body of the MLA, the Executive Board, consists of the following: six elected officers, three appointed officers, division presidents, and one American Library Association (ALA) Chapter Councilor. Since 1974, when the MLA filed for articles of incorporation, the executive board members have also been recognized as directors of a non-profit organization. The magnitude of responsibility wielded by the Executive Board requires they meet bi-monthly in order to discuss such issues as policy and finances.

The operating units of the MLA include divisions and round tables, advisory panels, standing committees, and temporary task forces. Divisions are long-standing groups that "represent broad based areas of concern that are stable but flexible" for the library community at large. Divisions regularly host programs and, at times, work in conjunction with other divisions to meet the needs of MLA members. Among the largest of the existing divisions are Academic and Research Libraries, Children's Services, and Technical Services. Advisory panels are relatively few in number but are very important in the creation of policy for MLA "within specific areas of jurisdiction," mainly Intellectual Freedom, Legislative, and Professional Development. Each of these panels is presided over by an appointed officer, who is also required to serve as a member of the Executive Board. The Advisory Panel of the Executive Board is responsible for filtering issues to be presented and discussed at Board meetings. The duty of the various standing committees is to undertake and carry out regular business of the MLA. Committees may change according to the evolving needs of the association and direct such tasks as marketing; binding; exhibits; nominations and elections; and awards. Finally, task forces are formed at the discretion of the MLA to research specific considerations. Subjects addressed by former task forces include finance and the Leadership Training Institute.

Information regarding the current functioning of the Maryland Library Association can be found in the official quarterly publication, The Crab, and the monthly publication Happenings, which outlines upcoming events. The MLA website is also a useful resource and can be accessed at http://www.mdlib.org (last accessed September 2004).

From the guide to the Maryland Library Association archives, 1923-2007, 1970-2006, (Historical Manuscripts)