Kentucky Library Association


The Kentucky Library Association is a professional organization for Kentucky's librarians and library workers. It is headquartered in Prospect, Kentucky. It was founded on June 28, 1906, in Louisville, Kentucky with 52 charter members. Its original goal was to form a state library commission as well as to increase access to free state documents. William Frederick Yust was elected as the association's first president. KLA's third conference was a tri-state conferences presented with the states of Ohio and Indiana. KLA became a state chapter of the American Library Association in 1917, and is a member of the .

Legislative activity

In 1938, KLA was instrumental in the creation of the Library Extension Division, a State Board for the certification of librarians. In 1940 the Kentucky legislature approved a bill allowing the Division to "accept and administer Federal funds" for libraries in the state, should they become available. When the Library Service Act was signed by President Eisenhower in 1956 providing federal grants to promote public library service in rural areas, LED administered that grant. In 1945 KLA advocated for library service to inmates, and the libraries of the ten Kentucky penal institutions were placed under the supervision of a trained librarian.

Publications

KLA's first publication, Bulletin of the Kentucky Library Association, began in 1933. KLA currently publishes a scholarly journal, Kentucky Libraries, as well as an informal newsletter, IN-FO-CUS.