American Library Association

The American Library Association'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.

ALA is committed to 8 Key Action Areas as guiding principles for investment of energies and resources:

Advocacy for Libraries and the Profession:

The Association actively works to increase public awareness of the crucial value of libraries and librarians, to promote state and national legislation beneficial to libraries and library users, and to supply the resources, training and support networks needed by local advocates seeking to increase support for libraries of all types.

Diversity:

Diversity is a fundamental value of the Association and its members, and is reflected in its commitment to recruiting people of color and people with disabilities to the profession and to the promotion and development of library collections and services for all people.

Education and Lifelong Learning:

The Association provides opportunities for the professional development and education of all library staff members and trustees; it promotes continuous, lifelong learning for all people through library and information services of every type.

Equitable Access to Information and Library Services:

The Association advocates funding and policies that support libraries as great democratic institutions, serving people of every age, income level, location, ethnicity, or physical ability, and providing the full range of information resources needed to live, learn, govern and work.

Intellectual Freedom:

Intellectual Freedom is a basic right in a democratic society and a core value of the library profession. The American Library Association actively defends the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Literacy:

The American Library Association assists and promotes libraries in helping children and adults develop the skills they need- the ability to read and use computers- understanding that the ability to seek and effectively utilize information resources is essential in a global information society.

Organizational Excellence:

The Association is inclusive, effective and responsive to the needs of ALA members.

Transforming Libraries:

ALA provides leadership in the transformation of libraries and library services in a dynamic and increasingly global digital information environment.