Special Libraries Association

The Special Libraries Association is a US-based association for librarians responsible for specialized libraries and documentation centers, founded in 1909. In 1916, John A. Lapp effectively defined "the basic purpose of the special library, namely to put knowledge to work." This gave the Association its motto: "Putting Knowledge to Work."

History

The Special Libraries Association (SLA) was formally organized, complete with its Constitution, on July 2, 1909. John Cotton Dana was the first president. The first conference of the new association was held in New York City on November 5, 1909, with approximately 40 members participating. Specialized committees evolved into numerous specialized divisions. Numerous regional chapters have been formed.

In 1910, the Serial Publications program was established to provide a vehicle to communicate Association news, professional opportunities, and information affecting the profession, and to serve as a forum for the exchange of research and information impacting the profession.

Contributions

SLA activities include conferences, professional education, networking, advocacy, awards, and publications.

• Special libraries, published 1910 – 1996, began as an eight-page pamphlet in January 1910, with Anna B. Sears acting as editor. The April 1910 issue of Special Libraries contained the first directory of special libraries, devoted to 23 subject fields. Badly needed book lists and bibliogrphies were featured from the beginning. In 1980 Special libraries became a quarterly scholarly journal. Available online [1]
• SpeciaList,a monthly newsletter published 1980-1996.
• Information Outlook, replacing "SpeciaList, was a published 1997 through 2020 as a successor to Special Libraries. Available online [2]

Other persons involved include Burton W. Adkinson, Verner W. Clapp, Herman Henkle, Cloyd Dake Gull, Eugene B. Jackson, Donald W. King, Jack Cassius Morris, Winifred Sewell, Jesse H. Shera, Charles H. Stevens, Mortimer Taube and Herbert White

Further reading

• Special Libraries Association website [3]
• "Special Libraries Association." Wikipedia [4]
• Special Libraries Association. (1997, July 5). Historical highlights. [5]

Papers

• University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Library. The American Library Association Archives include some Special Libraries Association Business & Finance Division and Science-Technology Division records, 1937-2013. [6]