The Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) is the Massachusetts, United States professional library association that "advocates for libraries, librarians, and library staff, defends intellectual freedom, and provides a forum for leadership, communication, professional development, and networking to keep libraries vital." MLA publishes standards for library services to Massachusetts children and young adults. MLA sponsors an annual conference, as well as continuing education programs and organizational reports of interest. MLA's offices are based in Bedford, MA.
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MLA was founded in 1890 as the "Massachusetts Library Club".[1] The gavel that has been passed down from president to president is said to be made from the wood of the USS Constitution. The MLA had a committee called The Art Club that created sets of photographs for travelling art exhibits that would rotate through Massachusetts member and associate libraries as early as 1900.[2]
In 1962 MLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee gave testimony before the Massachusetts Obscene Literature Control Commission opposing the suppression of Henry Miller's book Tropic of Cancer supporting Massachusetts residents' freedom to read.[3][4]
MLA has acted as both a publisher of authors such as Robert Frost as well as an author on many state standards for library services to different populations.