• Overview
• A Brief History of the California Library Association
• Past Presidents

Overview

The California Library Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, established in 1895 under the title of "Library Association of Central California," and lead by its first President, J.C. Rowell from the University of California. Through the leadership of the Presidents that followed, CLA has enjoyed a rich and memorable history. The Association's Annual Conferences have occurred since 1897, and early meetings were hosted by the cities of San Francisco, Redlands, Oakland, Long Beach, Lake Tahoe, Pasadena and Santa Barbara, among others. In 1906, the organization changed its name to the California Library Association.

Currently, CLA has over 1,600 Individual, Business, and Institutional members. Individual members include librarians, library employees, library students, friends group members, trustees, retirees as well as members of the general public who wish to support California libraries. CLA Business members represent a wide range of library-supporting businesses, whereas Institutional members include library institutions and systems who support the association's advocacy programs.

Annually, CLA provides professional development and advocacy support for its members and the California library community at large. Additionally, CLA supports the administration of the California Summer Reading Program as well as further summer enrichment programs funded by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

The California Library Association is committed to helping library staff develop the knowledge and skills needed to work for 21st Century libraries, and to advance in the library field.

A Brief History of the California Library Association

Established on March 8, 1895 by public and academic librarians in the Bay Area, the original “Library Association of Central California” became the “Library Association of California” two years later when it expanded to include Southern California members. The California Library Association (CLA) acquired its current name in 1906. Statewide membership numbered 233 by January 1907.

From the beginning, the Association enjoyed a close working relationship with the California State Library. In fact, all four state librarians between 1906 and 1972 served at least one term as CLA president. In 1969, CLA permanently moved to Sacramento after being headquartered in the homes of the Association’s various executive secretaries for more than 60 years.

Historically, CLA has led the way in creating many library initiatives ultimately adopted nationwide. In March 1952, the Association organized the first statewide Library Week, which became National Library Week when the American Library Association (ALA) adopted the concept in 1957. ALA also looked to CLA’s recently developed standards on library staffing, collection size and budget requisites when compiling its own national standards in 1956. CLA was one of the first state library associations to appoint an intellectual freedom committee in 1940 and, in 2001, was among the earliest library organizations to officially denounce the USA PATRIOT Act.

Today, CLA is perhaps best known for its legislative efforts, which have resulted in the successful passage of numerous library bills. Created in the early 1950s at the request of newly appointed state librarian Carma Zimmerman, the CLA Legislative Committee has been responsible for introducing initiatives that eventually led to statewide library aid, the creation of library systems, and library construction bonds. CLA’s lobbyists keep members apprised of developments in Sacramento and often rally library advocates for and against specific statewide legislation.

Although no book-length history has ever been written about the Association, CLA officers and activities can be tracked in the state library’s News Notes of California Libraries (1906-1956), as well as CLA’s own Bulletin of the California Library Association (1939-1947), California Library Bulletin (1947-1950), California Librarian (1950-1978), the California Library Association Newsletter (1966-1990), and California Libraries (1991-2004).

Originally prepared for CLA by:
Cindy Mediavilla, Chair
CLA Library History Interest Group
August 2009

Past Presidents