The message sent to members of the Library History Round Table by Jennifer Bartlett, Chair, Library History Round Table, 2025-26 reminded members to complete the survey by November 19.
In reviewing the timeline I noted a two omissions that I thought were major ALA milestones:
*𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐥, 𝐂.𝐁. & 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰, 𝐀. (𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟖). 𝐀 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞. 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨: 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
*𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐧, 𝐏𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐲. (1968) 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, (𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟖).
Here is the timeline:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YMCadOyUKeRW9SnjrfcjfNIPrggHUBHtSGw5bAYEH9Y/edit?gid=0#gid=0
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Below is the message from Jennifer Bartlett, Chair, Library History Round Table
If you haven't seen this already, ALA staff are working with History Associates Incorporated to develop an online, interactive timeline of the association's 150-year history. They are seeking additional input as we narrow down our list of milestones and events to feature in the timeline through a https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=A13lT-68rEWXGqQFOOEzHc6JQb0aggJKr7blSYldiNVUNzBBODlSSkdTMkNJNFpVMTc1OFY5SkNLQS4u. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2FPages%2FResponsePage.aspx%3Fid%3DA13lT-68rEWXGqQFOOEzHc6JQb0aggJKr7blSYldiNVUNzBBODlSSkdTMkNJNFpVMTc1OFY5SkNLQS4u&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C26f9bf7607b54b92bfff08de27d8d0cf%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C638992009386609999%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=kdBwCrKmsSbLkifsl7tJOGCf%2BfcqzpKZ%2BbL%2FC803Ms0%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="12" data-ogsc="">survey available here. The deadline to complete the survey is today, November 19 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
This interactive timeline will eventually be available on the ala150.org website. It will be used to tell ALA's rich history to a broad, public audience. It must appeal to, entertain, and educate a wide range of people, including:
- ALA members and other library professionals
- Historians, educators, and students
- Policymakers, funders, donors, and partners
- The general public and media
To keep the timeline engaging and digestible, we are striving to limit the timeline to fifty (50) entries. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the key moments and milestones in ALA's history. However, due to our size limit, we also need to make some important choices on what to keep and highlight, and what to save for another purpose. Please keep our goal of 50 entries in mind as you review the current list, along with the broad audience noted above.
Some things to keep in mind as you review include: Which are the most critical, key moments in ALA history? What and who are the first? What are the launch dates of the critical work or initiatives of the association? What are the most important milestones? Who are the trailblazers? We invite your input and expertise to help us review and narrow down this list at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=A13lT-68rEWXGqQFOOEzHc6JQb0aggJKr7blSYldiNVUNzBBODlSSkdTMkNJNFpVMTc1OFY5SkNLQS4u. Click or tap if you trust this link." data-auth="NotApplicable" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2FPages%2FResponsePage.aspx%3Fid%3DA13lT-68rEWXGqQFOOEzHc6JQb0aggJKr7blSYldiNVUNzBBODlSSkdTMkNJNFpVMTc1OFY5SkNLQS4u&data=05%7C02%7Ckmccook%40usf.edu%7C26f9bf7607b54b92bfff08de27d8d0cf%7C741bf7dee2e546df8d6782607df9deaa%7C0%7C0%7C638992009386625870%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=A5czRUMHZ2WPV2aydfz1ozPfUwd3q%2B2i17ef3CCJfTs%3D&reserved=0" data-linkindex="13" data-ogsc="">ALA History Timeline Feedback – Fill out form.
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Jennifer Bartlett
Chair, Library History Round Table, 2025-26
Associate Dean for Engagement, Learning, and Public Services
University of Tennessee
John Hodges Library
jbartl22@utk.edu
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Timeline Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YMCadOyUKeRW9SnjrfcjfNIPrggHUBHtSGw5bAYEH9Y/edit?gid=0#gid=0
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Kathleen de la Peña McCook
Distinguished University Professor
School of Information
University of South Florida
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