Utah Library Association records, 1912-2012

The Utah Library Association was formed in 1912 at the instigation of Esther Nelson, librarian of the University of Utah; Joanna Sprague and Julie T. Lynch of the Salt Lake Public Library; and Howard R. Driggs, library secretary of the State Board of Public Instruction. Librarians from throughout the state gathered at the City and County Building in Salt Lake City on June 12 to create the organization, approve the constitution, and elect officers. The purpose of the association was "to promote the library interests of the State of Utah," E. G. Gowans was elected president, Christian Larsen as first vice president, Esther Nelson as second vice president, and Alfred M. Nelson as secretary and treasurer. Joanna Sprague, Fred W. Taylor, and Howard R. Driggs constituted the first Executive Board.

In the early years, dues to ULA included an associate membership in the National Education Association. Though this close tie with education was severed in 1915 when ULA became separate and distinct from the Utah Education Association, the annual meetings of the two organizations were held at the same general time so that librarians could attend both.

The second decade of ULA was marked by efforts to raise the standards of librarianship as a profession, to improve the education of librarians, and to plan for the certification of school librarians. Leaders during this period were: Evelyn Bean, Dora Wright, Mrs. Robert Forrester, Julia T. Lynch, Mrs. E. Crane Watson, Iretta Peters, Anna Ollorton, Ruth Vine Tyler, and Hattie Smith.

The third decade was marked by the Depression--and money problems. It was a period of belt-tightening throughout the state and expansion of libraries and library services was extremely limited. A survey of public libraries in the state as to their resources, training of personnel, tax support, etc. was made during this period, and a recommendation was made to the state legislature that a state library commission be established with a trained librarian at its helm.

The fourth decade was marked by active lobbying work in the legislature to increase levies for libraries as well as doing extensive groundwork for the establishment of state library leadership.

The fifth decade saw a rapid expansion of libraries and library services with the passage of the Federal Library Services Act in 1956, and the creation of the Utah State Library Agency in 1957 which had been actively sought since the 1930s. The mimeographed ULA Newsletter became the full-fledged periodical Utah Libraries and, in 1959-1960, the ULA constitution was revised under the direction of Milton Abram to establish the School, Public Library, University and Special Library Sections.

The sixth decade was marked by further growth of the association, the creation of the position of historian by constitutional change in 1968, and a greatly increased membership. In 1968 the association boasted 640 members, up from 46 in 1912.

The seventh decade saw ULA moving closer to satisfying the continuing educational needs of Utah librarians by expanding the annual conventions to include workshops and seminars, and encouraging the sections to hold at least one general meeting a year, outside of the convention, to help educate and inform its members. In 1972 the Utah Educational Media Association (UEMA) was formed, drawing away many school librarians who felt their needs were not being fully met by ULA. This action encouraged ULA to expand its educational function, but also served to pull the school librarians in two directions.

Since 1978, the ULA has faced several crises, such as the Jeanne Layton termination and the Salt Lake County Library video policy. This period has also seen the annual conferences moved outside the Salt Lake valley, as the state has grown. The historian has moved to where the records are deposited, the Marriott Library Special Collections Dept. at the University of Utah. The conflict with UEMA (now UELMA) has yet to be resolved. However, ULA has become a much more professional organization, stepping outside the old boundaries of school librarianship, to embrace special libraries, advances in library technology, and an ever-changing population in the state of Utah.