Search Results | New Search

American Library Association
Also Known As: ALA
50 East Huron Street Chicago, IL 60611

GENERAL INFORMATION

Who We Are

With more than 65,000 members, the American Library Association (ALA) is the leading advocate for the value of libraries and librarians in connecting people to recorded knowledge in all forms.

• This organization is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity .
• This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.
• Financial information in this report is derived from the organization's August 31, 2008 Form 990.
• Additional narrative information in this report was last supplied by the organization on October 19, 2009.
• It makes its audited financial statements available to the public upon request.
• Contributions are deductible, as provided by law.

How to Help

This organization is seeking funds from contributions and grants. These funds will be used for unrestricted operating expenses, special projects and endowments.

Location(s) Served

• National

NTEE Code

• B03—Professional Societies & Associations
• B70—Libraries, Library Science
• R60—Civil Liberties Advocacy

Chief Executive

Mr. Keith Michael Fiels

Chief Executive Profile

Mr. Fiels has over 20 years of senior level administrative experience, including his previous position as the director of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. He also has experience working in public and school libraries. Fiels has been a member of ALA since 1976, and is active in ALA committees and divisions, as well as various state library associations.

Fiels is the recipient of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) Leadership Achievement Award and the Library Public Relations Council Award. He was named to the ALA Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) National Advocacy Honor Roll in 2000. Fiels is a former president of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA). He holds a B.A. and an MLS from the State University of New York, Buffalo and did advanced studies at the University of Denver.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Mission

ALA plays a key role in the formulation of national and international policies and standards that affect library and information services. It''s mission is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. Through the generous support of members and friends, ALA is able to fulfill its role as the leading advocate for the public''s right to a free and open information society.

Programs

ALA is home to eleven membership divisions, each with a type-of-library or type-of-library-function specialization.   ALA divisions publish journals, books, newsletters, and other materials; provide continuing education in a variety of venues and formats; offer awards and scholarships; sponsor institutes and conferences; and maintain networks of affiliates, chapters, and other collaborative relationships.

ALA has incorporated specialized sections and divisions from its early existence, beginning with the college and reference librarians (1889), the trustees (1890) and catalogers (1900).

Additional Comments from the Organization

#1 The 2007 Public Library Funding & Technology Access study showed that 99.1 percent of U.S. public libraries now offer free public access to the Internet; 73 percent of libraries reported they were the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities. Not only does the public library offer access to the computers, printers, scanners but also to trained staff who help library users gain skills and navigate the extensive material available online, according to the study. On the down side, many library buildings are ill-equipped to accommodate the space and electrical needs of more than a few computer workstations, and the study showed that another consistent capacity concern was the need for more bandwidth. #2 At the 2006 Annual Conference, the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) drafted a "Resolution on National Discussion on Privacy," which was adopted by the ALA Council. The resolution directed the IFC to collaborate with other ALA units to facilitate a national conversation on privacy as an American value. The IFC developed plans for a national event, "The Many Faces of Privacy," to raise public awareness about privacy and its importance in preserving civil liberties. A key component of the plan was outreach to organizations that share the ALA's concerns about individual privacy. This initiative culminated in a meeting held in September 2007 that brought together representatives from major privacy and civil liberties organizations, corporations, and ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom. The IFC and the OIF are continuing to work with these groups and the ALA's offices, units, and divisions to advance the National Conversation on Privacy. #3 The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), and the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) marked their 50th years of service in 2006-2007. #4 The Advocacy Institute, in its third year, continued to train library staff, trustees, and Friends to become stronger library advocates, improving the knowledge, skills, and confidence of library supporters nationwide. More than 100 people attended the Advocacy Institute at the ALA's 2007 Midwinter Meeting in Seattle; it included sessions on making budget presentations, crisis communications, and passing bond issues and referenda, as well as a collaborative panel discussion with YALSA focusing on turning young adult readers into library advocates.

GOALS AND RESULTS

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2007

1. In 2006-2007, the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse received more than 700 applications and awarded 99 academic scholarships totaling $594,500 across ALA units. The year 2007 marked the 10th anniversary of the Spectrum Scholarship Program, a national diversity and recruitment effort that unifies the profession's diversity recruitment and retention efforts at all levels. An additional 80 Spectrum scholarships were awarded, marking the largest cohort to date. The ALA and the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences announced the first six recipients of the Spectrum Doctoral Fellowship in June 2007.
2. The theme of National Library Week (NLW), April 15-21, 2007, was "Come together @ your library," and ALA representatives participated in a number of radio and print interviews regarding the changing role of libraries. NLW stories were seen by more than 32.3 million people. More than 115 NLW television news segments aired on stations throughout the country, reaching more than 4.7 million households.

Objectives for Fiscal Year Beginning September 1, 2007

1. To focus on The Campaign for America's Libraries' first-ever national advertising campaign exclusively designed for - and targeting the specific needs of - Latino/ Hispanic communities. The Campaign for America's Libraries - a multi-year public education campaign to speak loudly and clearly about the value of libraries and librarians in the 21st century. Donations can be designated to the Campaign for America's Libraries.
2. Under an agreement reached with the ALA in September, Friends of Libraries USA (FOLUSA) is to provide executive management for the Association of Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) through Aug. 31, 2008, with the expectation that FOLUSA and ALTA will seek to combine into an expanded division of the ALA on that date.
3. To increase the number of scholarships awarded, specifically Spectrum scholarships to be awarded to American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students for graduate programs in library and information science. Donations can be designated to ALA general scholarship endowment or to specific named scholarships.

Self Assessment

Evaluation of ALA's programs and projects is conducted on an ongoing basis by the ALA Office for Research and Statistics.

FINANCIAL DATA

Revenues and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2008

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2008

Note: The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Financial Comments from the Organization

#1 In the fiscal year 2007, the American Library Association (ALA) focused and moved forward on the implementation of the ALA Ahead to 2010 strategic plan. Key enablers such as staff, technology, dedicated members, and outside funding sources were well coordinated to continue building the Association's capacity to deliver programs, products and services to the membership. During the year, the Association expended funds to support the following initiatives and programs: Promoting legislation and advocacy at the federal level; Funding the capital budget for the building and improvements at $1.7 million; Publishing and distribution of print and digital publications; Continuing the phase-in of electronic balloting; Expanding continuing education opportunities in multiple formats; Marketing the new joint products for CHOICE Online and Booklist Online; Fund multiple research projects that support the library profession. #2 Programmatically fiscal 2007 was a very successful year. ALA expanded its list of programmatic priorities to include the following: Diversity; Equitable Access to Information and Library Services; Education and Lifelong Learning; Intellectual Freedom; Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession; Literacy; Organizational Excellence. #3 ALA's staff, dedicated members, and partners were able to expand the Association's reach and impact on the library community and general public at large in fiscal year 2007. There were nine 2010 projects that were initiated during the year, in addition to a number of holdovers from fiscal year 2006. These projects allowed the Association to impact such things as: Advocacy Resources Training; State Revenue Advocacy ; National Privacy Discussions; School Library Advocacy; Web Site Development; Media Group Participation; Delivery of Library Messages.

Search Results | New Search

Copyright 2010, Philanthropic Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Policies | Standards for Internet Philanthropy

GuideStar is the registered trademark and operating name of Philanthropic Research, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Any other use, including resale of the information or use for commercial gain, is prohibited, except in accordance with a GuideStar licensing agreement.