AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIA TION. A national association *to promote the welfare of libraries in America.* It aims (1) by organization and force of numbers to effect needed reforms and improvements, most of which could not be brought about by individ ual effort; (2) by co-operation to lessen labor and expense of library administration; (3) by discussion and comparison to utilize the com bined knowledge and experience of the pro fession in perfecting plans and methods, and in solving difficulties; and (4) by meetings and correspondence to promote acquaintance and esprit de corps. The association was organized in 1876 and incorporated in 1879. The present membership is about 3,300. Annual meetings are held. Executive offices in charge of a salaried secretary are maintained in Chicago in the Public Library building. This is the centre for the association's activities which may be roughly grouped as follows: (1) Editing and publishing the official Bulletin, issued bimonthly, through which the membership is kept informed of the plans and work of the association and its committees. One number is entirely devoted to the (Proceedings) of the annual meeting and another to the (Handbook,) containing lists of officers, committees, mem bers, etc. (2) Editing and publishing the L. A. Booklist,) a monthly guide to the selection and purchase of the best of the current books. (3) Publishing and sale of all publications of the association, some 250 publications on library economy and bibliography having been issued in the past 30 years. (4) Correspond
ence on all phases of library work, the execu tive office acting, so far as it is able, as a clearing house of library information. (5) Co operation with the association committees, library commissions, State library associations and library clubs and other national educational and civic associations. (6) Promoting better library architecture by collecting and loaning plans of library buildings. (7) Promoting gen eral publicity of the aims and activities of the association and library work at large. Affili ated with the American Library Association are four national associations of kindred purpose: National Association of State Libraries, League of Library Commissions, American Association of Law Libraries and Special Libraries Asso ciation. The National Education Association has a library department closely connected though not officially affiliated with the American Library Association. Committees, standing and special, include those on bookbuying, book binding, public documents, library administra tion, library training, co-operation with other national associations, libraries in hospitals and charitable and penal institutions, work for the blind, international relations and Federal and State relations. Consult 'Papers and Proceed ings of the American Library Association' (1876-date, published annually) ; Green, S. S., 'Public Library Movement in the United States' (1913).