A lot of ALA History is in our journals. This article appeared in RQ, the former name of the RUSA journal (now RUSQ Quarterly).
At ALA, before there was RUSA there was the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD).
Andrew M. Hansen, who was Director of RASD/RUSA at ALA HQ wrote a very detailed history of the Division in 1995. Copy is attached. Summary is below. It appeared in RQ in Spring 1995. Citation: Hansen, Andrew M. "RASD: serving those who serve the public." RQ, vol. 34, no. 3, spring 1995, pp. 314+
"RASD: Serving Those Who Serve the Public" by Andrew M. Hansen (Spring 1995, RQ Journal)The attached article provides a detailed, personal historical account of the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) of the American Library Association (ALA), tracing its origins from the mid-1950s through its formation in 1972 and early developments to 1995.
Written by long-time ALA staff member, Andrew M. Hansen, Director of the Reference and Adult Services Division (RASD) , it emphasizes the division's evolution, key activities, committees, publications, and the individuals who shaped it, drawing on minutes, publications, and recollections.Origins and Formation of Predecessor Divisions
- Reference Services Division (RSD): Established by ALA Council in June 1956 and operational in 1957 through a merger of reference sections from the Public Libraries Division and Association of College and Research Libraries. Focused on improving informational, bibliographical, and research services across libraries. Early activities included a 1955-originated survey on public library reference services (published as a University of Illinois Occasional Paper), which influenced standards, community integration, and adaptation to mass media. Key committees (e.g., Bibliography since 1923, Interlibrary Loan, Wilson Indexes) addressed materials evaluation, lending policies, and publisher advisories. The division expanded in the 1960s to handle photocopying, information retrieval (preceding the Information Science and Automation Division), cooperative services, and standards. It developed the 1968 ALA National Interlibrary Loan Code and a model for regional groups, emphasizing liberal lending while prioritizing local collections. Challenges included measuring reference statistics and limited focus on children's services.
- Adult Services Division (ASD): Created by ALA Council at the 1957 Midwinter Meeting (initially as Adult Education Division, renamed and broadened mid-year) to support continuing education, recreation, and cultural development for adults in all library types. Built on legacies from the Adult Education Section and ALA Adult Education Board. Early efforts disseminated findings from the Library-Community Project and advised the ALA Office for Adult Education (funded by the Fund for Adult Education until 1967). Priorities included aging , literacy, reading improvement, and library orientation. Summarizes activitiessuch as "Service to User Populations" and the Notable Books Council Projects included "Reading for an Age of Change" (1962-1968 bibliographic essays for educated adults, funded by Carnegie Corporation), a 1966 study on literacy services (leading to reports and materials for new readers, Spanish-speakers, and Native Americans), and a 1969 conference on adult books and reading. ASD collaborated with unions, federal agencies, and organizations like the Coalition of Adult Education Organizations. It published newsletters (e.g., Adult Services) with news, bibliographies, and reflective articles.
Joint Efforts and Merger
- Overlaps between RSD and ASD emerged early, blurring lines between content-focused reference and user-centered advisory services. Joint initiatives included the 1964 ASD/RSD Interdivisional Committee on Orientation (producing a successful 1967 preconference institute) and the 1966 Common Concerns Committee, which studied structures, recommended cross-representations, and ultimately proposed merger in 1971. ALA Council approved the merger at the 1972 Midwinter Meeting, forming RASD.
Early RASD Developments
- RASD adopted bylaws in 1972, amended for democratic safeguards (e.g., membership overrides of board actions via ballots). Concerns included preserving RQ journal and ensuring adult services' prominence amid RSD's larger size (7,076 vs. ASD's 2,975 members in 1971). The article notes RASD's focus on substantive responsibilities over politics, with publications like Adult Services: An Enduring Focus for Public Libraries .
The narrative reflects on ALA's dynamic nature, crediting countless contributors. It covers up to the mid-1990s context but is based on the author's hindsight from retirement.
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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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