Illinois Library Association
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|
| Abbreviation | ILA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1896 |
| Headquarters | 33 W. Grand Ave., Suite 401 Chicago, IL 60654-6799 |
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Membership
|
3,000 |
| Robert P. Doyle | |
| Betsy Adamowski | |
|
Main organ
|
Executive Board |
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Budget
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$2.7 million |
|
Staff
|
4 |
| Website | ila.org |
The Illinois Library Association (ILA) is the eighth oldest library association in the world and the third largest state library association in the United States. The association provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services in Illinois and for the library community in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. This access is essential for an open democratic society, an informed electorate, and the advancement of knowledge for all people. It is headquartered in Chicago.
The first meeting of what was to become the Illinois Library Association was held November 22–23, 1881. Originally called the Western Library Association (WLA), it met twice, in 1881 and again in 1884, both times in Illinois. William Frederick Poole was its first president and its avowed purpose was to promote cooperative purchasing and cataloging. The WLA ceased to exist in 1885. Ten years later, members of the Chicago Library Club proposed forming a state library association and held a meeting, in Springfield, Illinois to officially launch the Illinois Library Association.
ILA membership is open to any person or organization, though most of its members are primarily librarians, library staff, and trustees. Membership represents all types of libraries in the state—public, academic, school, government, and special libraries.
The association has four full-time staff members and is governed by a sixteen-member executive board, made up of elected officers.
Throughout the year, the Illinois Library Association monitors legislative activity at the state and national level, preparing for both challenges and opportunities. In countering legislation that restricts intellectual freedom, the profession advocates for a future of free and open access to information. In providing information to legislators and supporting legislation that improves library resources, the association is an advocate for change that will increase opportunities for all citizens. Timely alerts on pending legislation mobilize citizens to contact their representatives. The association also maintains legislative counsel in the state capital during the legislative session and works with the state library and other groups to maximize public benefit from available resources.
The Illinois Library Association Reporter is a bimonthly publication intended to explore new ideas and practices from all types of libraries and library systems; examine the challenges facing the profession; and inform the library community and its supporters with news and comment about important issues. The Reporter has been in publication since 1983 and it is indexed by EBSCO in Library & Information Science Source.
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