The mission of the PLA is as follows. The Public Library Association enhances the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services. This mission positions PLA to:
Focus its efforts on serving the needs of its members
Address issues which affect public libraries
Commit to quality public library services that benefit the general public
The goals of the PLA, as revised in 2014, are:
Advocacy and Awareness: PLA plays a major role in public library advocacy and in influencing public perception about the library.
Leadership and Transformation: PLA is a leading source for learning opportunities to advance the transformation of public libraries and helps to position the library's institutional and professional orientation from internal to outward toward the community.
Literate Nation: PLA is a leader and valued partner of public libraries’ initiatives to create a literate nation.
Organizational Excellence: PLA is positioned to sustain and grow its resources to advance the work of the association.
Effective communication with the nonlibrary world.
Governance
The PLA is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors elected by the association's members. The PLA Board of Directors consists of the President, President-Elect, Past-President, six Directors-at-Large, ALA Division Councilor, and PLA Executive Director. The Executive Director is an ex-officio and non-voting board member tasked with enacting the board's decisions. The PLA's current president is Carolyn Anthony, its president-elect is Larry Neal, and its executive director is Barbara Macikas. Members of PLA standing committees, award juries, task forces, and advisory groups are appointed to one- or two-year terms by the president-elect. Active committees include a Budget and Finance Committee, Every Child Ready to Read Oversight Committee, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Leadership Development Committee, Legislation and Advocacy Committee, Public LibrariesAdvisory Committee, and committees to manage the PLA's biennial conferences and nominate candidates for committee service.
Publications
is the PLA's official trade magazine. Published six times annually, this magazine focuses on news and issues pertaining to public libraries and librarianship. It commenced publication in January 1947 under the editorship of Muriel E. Perry of Decatur Public Library. Public Libraries Online is the digital companion to the print journal and offers three full articles from each print issue, plus daily updates, interviews, blogging, and other exclusive content. The print magazine is a delayed open access journal; its web companion is free and open to all users. PLA is also responsible for the publication of many key monograph titles in the field of public librarianship.
History
PLA was formed in 1944 as the Division of Public Libraries of the American Library Association. The formation of the Division of Public Libraries of the American Library Association was approved by the ALA Council in 1944 following petitions signed by nearly 1,200 members. The first PLA president was Amy Winslow of Cuyahoga County Library. The first Executive Secretary was Julia Wright Merrill. The original mission of the division was to advance public library interests and to cooperate in the promotion of library service in general. The PLA's First National Conference, with the theme "Serving People: Public Libraries Today and Tomorrow" was presented March 23–26, 1983 in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference chair was Charles W. Robinson. The core purposes was to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve.
