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64-459: Dewey was born on December 10, 1851, in Adams Center, New York , the fifth and last child of Joel and Eliza Greene Dewey. He attended rural schools and determined early on that his destiny was to reform the education of the masses. He briefly attended Alfred University (1870), then Amherst College , where he belonged to Delta Kappa Epsilon , and from which he earned a bachelor's degree in 1874 and

128-475: A historically black college or university . She also was president during COVID-19 and the live annual conference was cancelled and delivered virtually. Brown characterized her presidency as one of "change, loss, and hope." In 2021, Patty Wong became the first Asian-American president of the ALA. In 2022 Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada was the first Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander American president. In 2023

192-625: A bibliography and thesis. Two students participated, including future ALA registrar and college archivist Nina Browne . From 1888 to 1906, Dewey was also director of the New York State Library, and until 1900, he was secretary of the University of the State of New York as well. In that function, he completely reorganized the state library, making it one of the most efficient in America, and established

256-428: A campaign. After 1906, Dewey was no longer an active ALA member, but he was still invited to be the guest of honor at ALA's 50th anniversary meeting in 1926. Reports, allegations, and an investigation of Dewey's inappropriate and offensive behavior directed at women continued for decades after his departure from the ALA. His prominent opponents on the grounds of sexual misbehavior included Tessa Kelso . "In exchange for

320-437: A chronic cause of trouble on the job. For decades, Dewey refused to stop his "unwelcome hugging, unwelcome touching, certainly unwelcome kissing" with female subordinates and others, according to biographer Wayne A. Wiegand . When Dewey opened his School of Library Economy at Columbia College to women, it was rumored that he asked for their bust sizes with their applications. Though the rumor turned out to be false, he did require

384-668: A group of librarians proposed that the ALA schedule a new round table program discussion on the social responsibilities of librarians at its annual conference in Kansas City . This group called themselves the Organizing Committee for the ALA Round Table on Social Responsibilities of Libraries. This group drew in many other under-represented groups in the ALA who lacked power, including the Congress for Change in 1969. This formation of

448-722: A health resort in New York state. His theories of spelling reform (to which end he founded the Spelling Reform Association in 1886 and later the Simplified Spelling Board ) found some local success at Lake Placid. There was an " Adirondak Loj " in the area, and the dinner menus of the club used his reformed spelling. A September 1927 menu is headed "Simpler spelin" and features dishes like hadok, poted beef with noodls, parsli or masht potato, butr, steamd rys, letis, and ys cream. It also advises guests that "All shud see

512-464: A master's degree in 1877. While still a student, he founded the Library Bureau , which sold high-quality index-cards and filing-cabinets, and established the standard dimensions for catalog cards. As a young adult, he advocated spelling reform ; he changed his name from the usual "Melville" to "Melvil", without redundant letters, and for a time changed his surname to " Dui ." From 1883 to 1888 he

576-487: A new scheme that superimposed a system of decimal numbers on a structure of knowledge first outlined by Sir Francis Bacon . For his decision to use a decimal system, he may have been inspired by two library systems that he includes in the acknowledgments in the first publication of his system in 1876. In that preface, and the following thirteen editions, Dewey cites the card system of Italian publisher Natale Battezzati as "the most fruitful source of ideas". Dewey copyrighted

640-719: A permanent committee – Committee on Intellectual Freedom. The ALA made revisions to strengthen the Library Bill of Rights in June 1948, approved the Statement on Labeling in 1951 to discourage labeling material as subversive, and adopted the Freedom to Read Statement and the Overseas Library Statement in 1953. The ALA has worked throughout its history to define, extend, protect and advocate for equity of access to information. In 1945

704-522: A photograph from each female applicant since "you cannot polish a pumpkin". In 1905, during a 10-day trip to Alaska sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), a group he co-founded, he made unwelcome advances toward four prominent librarians (including Adelaide Hasse ) who informed Association officials. As a result, Dewey was forced to step down from active participation in the ALA as several of his colleagues added their voices to

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768-536: A quiet departure, he was spared an ugly and public expose of one of his major flaws", Wiegand writes. "He was never again a power player in ALA politics." In 1929, Dewey settled out of court for $ 2,147 for a lawsuit brought by a former stenographer, whom he had kissed and caressed in public the previous summer. In general, Dewey himself did not deny his actions—only their impropriety. "I have been very unconventional ... as men [are] always who frankly show and speak of their liking for women," he wrote. But, he insisted, it

832-574: A standard against censorship and was adopted by the ALA in 1939. This has been recognized as the moment defining modern librarianship as a profession committed to intellectual freedom and the right to read. ALA appointed a committee to study censorship and recommend policy after the banning of the novel The Grapes of Wrath in Kern County , California and the implementation of the Library Bill of Rights. The committee reported in 1940 that intellectual freedom and professionalism were linked and recommended

896-515: A stroke in Lake Placid, Florida . Dewey pioneered American librarianship and was an influential figure in the development of libraries in America in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is best known for the decimal classification system that many public and school libraries use. Among his other innovations was the idea of a state library operating as the state's school and public library services controller. In Boston, Massachusetts , he founded

960-402: A time when the publishing world has little diversity. Works from authors and illustrators of color make up less than 8 percent of children's titles produced in 2013. The ALA hopes this regrettable incident will be used to open a dialogue on the need for diversity in the publishing industry, particularly in regards to books for young people." In 2020 Wanda Kay Brown was the first president from

1024-656: Is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world. During the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, 103 librarians, 90 men and 13 women, responded to a call for a "Convention of Librarians" to be held October 4–6, 1876, at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania . IL At

1088-585: The Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago . In 1905, Dewey established the American Library Institute , which was an organization conceived to provide for the investigation, study, and discussion of issues within the field of library theory and practice. Immediately after receiving his undergraduate degree, he was hired to manage Amherst's library and reclassify its collections. Dewey worked out

1152-683: The Winter Olympics , which took place at Lake Placid—he chaired the New York State Winter Olympics Committee. In 1926, he went to Florida to establish a new branch of the Lake Placid Club. Dewey married twice, first to Annie R. Godfrey and then to Emily McKay Beal. He and his first wife had one child, Godfrey . Dewey became a member of the American Library Association's Hall of Fame in 1951. He died of

1216-471: The 2024–2025 term is Cindy Hohl . President-elect, Sam Helmick , will preside in 2025-2026. The executive director of the American Library Association delegates authority within ALA headquarters to ALA’s department heads, who, in carrying out their assigned duties, are called upon to use ALA’s name, and, in that name, to commit the Association to programs, activities, and binding agreements. Secretaries of

1280-582: The ALA "does not promote any 'ideology'". The Association received the Toni Morrison Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle . The Library History Round Table published the "Bibliography of Library History" database containing over 7,000 entries for books, articles, and theses in library history and related fields published from 1990 to 2022. Cindy Hohl , the first SPECTRUM Scholar to be elected president

1344-597: The ALA and the Office for Literacy and Outreach were established in 1970. In 1971, Barbara Gittings staffed a kissing booth at the ALA Conference underneath the banner, "Hug a Homosexual." This was the precipitating event that evolved into the Rainbow Round Table dedicated to supporting the information needs of LGBTQIA+ people. The American Library Association celebrated its centennial in 1976. In commemoration

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1408-676: The ALA commissioned a study, Access to Public Libraries , which found direct and indirect discrimination in American libraries. In 1967, some librarians protested against a pro- Vietnam War speech given by General Maxwell D. Taylor at the annual ALA conference in San Francisco; the former president of Sarah Lawrence College , Harold Taylor , spoke to the Middle-Atlantic Regional Library Conference about socially responsible professionalism; and less than one year later

1472-663: The ALA established an Office in Washington, D.C. named the National Relations Office under the direction of Paul Howard. In 1961, the ALA took a stand regarding service to African Americans and others, advocating for equal library service for all. An amendment to the Library Bill of Rights was passed in 1961 that made clear that an individual's library use should not be denied or abridged because of race, religion, national origin, or political views. Some communities decided to close their doors rather than desegregate. In 1963,

1536-410: The ALA guidelines on library services to the poor. The Office for Information Technology Policy was established in 1995 to act as a public policy advocate for libraries in the area of information technology. The "Congress on Professional Education" took place from April 30 to May 1, 1999 in Washington, D.C., with over 100 participating. Its purpose was to reach consensus among stakeholder groups on

1600-589: The ALA, serving as its acting president from April 11 to July 22 in 1976 upon the death of Allie Beth Martin and then elected president from July 22, 1976 to 1977. In 1979 and 1991 the ALA collaborated with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science on two White House Conferences. In 1983 in response to the National Commission on Excellence in Education Report, A Nation at Risk , leaders in library and information science launched

1664-405: The ALA. In 2014, Courtney Young , president of the association, commented on the background and implications of a racist joke author Daniel Handler made as African American writer Jacqueline Woodson received a National Book Award for Brown Girl Dreaming . "His comments were inappropriate and fell far short of the association's commitment to diversity," said Young. "Handler's remarks come at

1728-484: The Association prior to Carl Milam were George Burwell Utley (1911–20); Chalmers Hadley (1909–11); Edward C. Hovey (1905–7); James Ingersoll Wyer (1902–09); Frederick Winthrop Faxon (1900–02); Henry James Carr (1898–1900); Melvil Dewey (1897–98); Rutherford Platt Hayes (1896–97); Henry Livingston Elmendorf (1895–96); Frank Pierce Hill (1891–95); Mary Salome Cutler (1891); William E. Parker (1890– 1891) and Melvil Dewey (1879–90). The official purpose of

1792-731: The Bibliographical Society of America . In 1911, Theresa Elmendorf became ALA's first woman president. An analysis of the writings of the first fifteen women presidents gives more insight into the expanded role of women in the association. During World War I the ALA Executive Board initiated by Walter Lewis Brown established the Library War Service Committee to supply books and periodicals to military personnel at home and overseas. The American Library in Paris

1856-577: The Lake Placid Club's policy of excluding Jews and other religious and ethnic groups. While the regents declined to remove Dewey, they did issue a public rebuke, and in the summer of 1905 he resigned as a result. At the June 2019 conference of the American Library Association, the Council voted to remove Dewey's name from its top honor, the Melvil Dewey Medal; the resolution cited Dewey's history of racism, antisemitism, and sexual harassment. The resolution

1920-497: The Library Bureau, a private company "for the definite purpose of furnishing libraries with equipment and supplies of unvarying correctness and reliability." Its investigative unit, devoted to studying the best practices of library loss-management, circulation and data retention, recovered 3,000 books in its first year of existence. Dewey's Library Bureau company is also said to have introduced hanging vertical files , first seen at

1984-577: The Library History Round Table has been documented by the first archivist, Maynard Britchford. Additionally, the American Library Association Institutional Repository (ALAIR) provides digital access to the publications and intellectual work of the Association. ALA membership is open to any person or organization, though most of its members are libraries or librarians. Most members live and work in

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2048-608: The Public Library Association of ALA published the Public Library Services for Strong Communities Report addressing the myriad ways libraries nationwide serve and sustain their communities. That same year, the Montana State Library Commission withdrew from the ALA, citing comments made by Emily Drabinski , who self-identified as a "Marxist lesbian". The Digital Public Library Ecosystem

2112-458: The School of Library Economy, the first institution for the instruction of librarians ever organized. The college's board of trustees approved the proposal to establish the school on May 5, 1884. After preparation, the school was officially opened on January 5, 1887, with an enrollment of 20 students—three men and 17 women. Women were admitted to the program at Dewey's insistence and against the wishes of

2176-537: The United States, with international members comprising 3.5% of total membership. The ALA is governed by an elected council and an executive board. Policies and programs are administered by committees and round tables. One of the organization's most visible tasks is overseen by the Office for Accreditation, which formally reviews and authorizes American and Canadian academic institutions that offer degree programs in library and information science . ALA's President for

2240-487: The association is "to promote library service and librarianship." Members may join one or more of eight membership divisions that deal with specialized topics such as academic, school, or public libraries, technical or reference services, and library administration. Members may also join any of the nineteen round tables that are grouped around more specific interests and issues than the broader set of ALA divisions. Task forces: The Committee on Literacy develops and recommends

2304-503: The association published Libraries and the Life of the Mind in America. The American Library Association Archives, established at the time of the centennial, created an online exhibit which includes a history of the centennial. Clara Stanton Jones , president, Inaugural address was titled, “The First Step into ALA’s Second Century.” Clara Stanton Jones was the first African American president of

2368-399: The average family size was 3.13. In the community, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males. The median income for a household in

2432-515: The butiful after-glo on mountains to the east just before sunset. Fyn vu from Golfhous porch." Lake Placid also acted as a conference center hosting meetings promoting reform movements, such as the September 1899 conference on "home science" chaired by Ellen Swallow Richards , a pioneer of what later came to be called "home economics". Dewey was an early promoter of winter sports in Lake Placid and

2496-482: The college's Regents. Although the school had a promising start, Dewey's conflicts with the university officials, in particular over the issue of the presence of women, led to its future being cast in doubt, and by 1888, it was apparent that Columbia intended to close it. However, at that point, Dewey, upon accepting a position with the New York State Library in Albany, successfully secured the agreement of its Regents to have

2560-623: The committee was approved in 1969 and would change its name to the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) in 1971. After its inception, the Round Table of Social Responsibilities began to press ALA leadership to address issues such as library unions, working conditions, wages, and intellectual freedom. The Freedom to Read Foundation was founded by Judith Krug , Alexander Allain , and Carrie C Robinson and established by ALA's executive board in 1969. The Black Caucus of

2624-707: The efforts of many to seek out education and self-improvement. Dewey was also influenced by Herbert Baxter Adams on ideas about library extension. As an enthusiastic supporter of the decimal metric system of weights and measures, Dewey established in 1876 the American Metric Bureau. Dewey also served once again as its secretary . He edited the Bureau's official publication, the Metric Bulletin (later called Metric Advocate ), first issued in July 1876. Later in his life, he

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2688-674: The end of the meeting, according to Edward G. Holley in his essay "ALA at 100", "the register was passed around for all to sign who wished to become charter members", making October 6, 1876, the date of the ALA's founding. Among the 103 librarians in attendance were Justin Winsor ( Boston Public Library and Harvard University ), William Frederick Poole ( Chicago Public Library and Newberry College ), Charles Ammi Cutter ( Boston Athenæum ), Melvil Dewey , Charles Evans ( Indianapolis Public Library ) and Richard Rogers Bowker . Attendees came from as far west as Chicago and from England. The ALA

2752-528: The idea of Lake Stearns in Florida formally changing its name to Lake Placid, Florida . Dewey established a pattern of making powerful enemies early in life. Many of his friends found him difficult as well. As one biographer put it, "Although he did not lack friends, they were becoming a little weary of coming to his defense, so endless a process had it become." Another biography refers to Dewey's "old nemesis—a persistent inability to control himself around women" as

2816-517: The northeastern part of the town of Adams. According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km ), of which 4.86 square miles (12.58 km ) are land and 0.14 square miles (0.35 km ), or 2.71%, are water. U.S. Route 11 , County Roads 66 and 76, and New York State Route 177 pass through the community, and Interstate 81 runs along

2880-405: The population. There were 560 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and

2944-577: The project, "Libraries and the Learning Society." Librarians examined how public libraries, academic libraries, library and information science training institutions, and school library media centers could best respond to A Nation at Risk. In June 1990, the ALA approved "Policy on Library Services to the Poor" and in 1996 the Task Force on Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty was formed to resurrect and promote

3008-422: The reform of their administration. He was also one of the founders of the American Library Association . The proceedings of the 1876 organizing conference were published by Frederick Leypoldt in the first volume of Library Journal. Dewey was secretary from 1876 to 1891 and president in 1891 and 1893. In 1883, Dewey replaced Beverly R. Betts as librarian of Columbia College and, in the following year, founded

3072-540: The school transferred there. The formal transfer was accomplished in 1889, and the school, which was ultimately very successful, was re-established in Albany as the New York State Library School under Dewey's direction. The school returned to Columbia's Manhattan campus in 1926. Dewey did not forget his Columbia students. He petitioned the University of the State of New York, which granted degrees to those students who agreed to submit to examinations and produce

3136-449: The system in 1876. This system has proved to be enormously influential; though many American libraries have since adopted the classification scheme of the Library of Congress , Dewey's system remains in widespread use. In 1876, Dewey moved to Boston, where he founded and became editor of The Library Journal , which became an influential factor in the development of libraries in America and

3200-739: The system of state traveling libraries and picture collections. In 1885, he founded the New York Library Club there. Community libraries began to flourish in the early nineteenth century. The western United States opened to expansion and further exploration, and people wanted services and opportunities to move with them. In New York, Melvil Dewey had "initiated a program of traveling libraries-collections of one hundred books sent to communities without public libraries." His efforts spurred other state organizations and private individuals to create traveling libraries. Increased library services to small or rural communities and underserved populations fortified

3264-413: The values and core competencies of the profession and on strategies for action to address common issues and concerns. At the beginning of the century The Congress on Professional Education recommended that the Association develop a set of Core Values. In 2007, Loriene Roy was elected as the first Native American President of the ALA. In 2009, Camila Alire became the first Hispanic president of

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3328-424: The village was $ 41,938, and the median income for a family was $ 49,485. Males had a median income of $ 35,441 versus $ 24,219 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 16,288. About 5.2% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. American Library Association The American Library Association ( ALA )

3392-424: The village. The population density was 302.6 inhabitants per square mile (116.8/km ). There were 617 housing units at an average density of 124.5 per square mile (48.1/km ). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.67% White , 0.07% African American , 0.20% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 0.07% Pacific Islander , 0.13% from other races , and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of

3456-582: The western side, with access from Exit 42. US-11 and I-81 each lead north 10 miles (16 km) to Watertown , the Jefferson county seat . US-11 leads south 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the village of Adams , while I-81 leads south 60 miles (97 km) to Syracuse . NY-177 leads east across the Tug Hill Plateau 24 miles (39 km) to West Lowville . As of the 2000 United States Census , there were 1,500 people, 560 households, and 398 families residing in

3520-723: Was a member of the advisory board of the All-America Standards Council (a California-based organization that promoted metrication for all countries in the Americas), and he functioned as a member of the advisory board and chairman of the Metric Education Committee in the American Metric Association (today the U.S. Metric Association). Late in his life, Dewey helped found the Lake Placid Club as

3584-753: Was active in arranging the 1932 Winter Olympics there. He was also a founder of the Lake Placid Club Education Foundation in 1922. Under his leadership, the Northwood School ( Lake Placid, New York ) prospered. He was also a founder of the Adirondack Music Festival in 1925, and served as a trustee of the Chautauqua Institution . In 1926, he established a southern branch of the Lake Placid Club in Florida . Dewey supported

3648-462: Was chartered in 1879 in Massachusetts . Its headquarters office is in Chicago . Another important founder was Frederick Leypoldt , publisher of Library Journal , who published the conference proceedings. Justin Winsor was the first president of the ALA, serving from 1876 until 1885. Many early presidents were also officers in the Bibliographical Society of America. See List of presidents of

3712-604: Was chief librarian at the Columbia University Libraries . During his time as director of the New York State Library (1888–1906), Dewey established a program of traveling libraries. From 1888 to 1900, he served as secretary and executive officer of the University of the State of New York . In 1895, Dewey founded the Lake Placid Club with his wife Annie. He and his son Godfrey had been active in arranging

3776-564: Was first known as "Adams Five Corners". Named because of the 5-road crossroad in the middle of town, the name was used until at least 1828. The exact date of the name change is not known, but the hamlet became known as "Adams Centre", a spelling that continued until approximately 1900. The community was founded c. 1816. A railroad line was completed in 1852. Adams Center is in southern Jefferson County at 43°51′44″N 76°0′25″W  /  43.86222°N 76.00694°W  / 43.86222; -76.00694 (43.862191, -76.006955), in

3840-482: Was founded as part of this effort. In the 1930s, library activists pressured the American Library Association to be more responsive to issues such as peace, segregation, library unions, and intellectual freedom. In 1931, the Junior Members Round Table (JMRT) was formed to provide a voice for the younger members of the ALA. The first Library Bill of Rights (LBR) was drafted by Forrest Spaulding to set

3904-501: Was inaugurated in July 2024. Her presidential theme is “A Good Way for ALA.” Standards for Library Services for the Incarcerated or Detained was published in 2024. The ALA Archives, including historical documents, non-current records, and digital records, are held at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign archives. The establishment of the archives and the roles of David Horace Clift , Robert Wedgeworth , Beta Phi Mu , and

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3968-532: Was not his fault if the targets of his "unconventional" actions took offense: "Pure women would understand my ways." The Lake Placid Club banned Jews, blacks, and others from membership, a policy written by Dewey himself. Out of fear, Dewey bought the land adjacent to the Lake Placid Club to prevent Jews from purchasing it. In 1904, the New York State Board of Regents received a petition demanding Dewey's removal as state librarian because of his involvement in

4032-420: Was passed overwhelmingly with no debate. The award was renamed the ALA Medal of Excellence at the Association's January 2020 conference. Adams Center, New York Adams Center (formerly called Adams Five Corners ) is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Adams in Jefferson County , New York , United States. The population was 1,492 during the 2020 decennial census. The town

4096-443: Was published by ALA in 2023. It is a comprehensive overview of the current state and operations of the relationships and roles of stakeholders including authors, agents, publishers, distributors, the library community, governments, and trade organizations. In 2024, in response to proposed Georgia legislation that would prohibit public expenditures on the ALA, the ALA responded that the legislation "is based on false narratives", and

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