The records are arrranged in the following series: 1. ULA Records; 2. Executive Board and Administration; 3. Subsidiary Units; 4. Programs; 5. Publications; 6. Finances; 7. Conferences; 8. 1990s Addenda; and 9. 2013 Addendum.
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
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.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Boxes 1-45 were donated in the 1970s-1980s (22 linear feet).
Box 46 was donated in the 1990s (0.25 linear feet).
Boxes/cartons 47-69 were donated in 1996-1998 (34.5 linear feet).
Processed by Deana L. Astle, Roy Webb, Elizabeth Perkes, Mark Jensen, Aaron Curtis and Matthew Weathered in 1978-2012.
See also the
The Utah Library Association records (1912-2012) consist largely of minute books and scrapbooks of the organization, along with such miscellaneous material as speeches, membership directories, newsclippings, etc. The minute books cover the period 1912-1975 with an eighteen-year gap between 1940 and 1958, while minutes of the sections of the association are very spotty. The scrapbooks cover the period 1928-1974. After the initial deposit in 1978, a register was prepared covering the materials in the first five boxes. This section is listed as "ULA Records, 1912-1977," in this register. From 1978 to 1988, other materials were added, but only on an occasional basis. Work was begun on an addendum to the first register, but when it became obvious that there was a great amount of material still to be deposited, work stopped and was not resumed until the position of ULA Historian was transferred to the staff of the Marriott Library, Special Collections. In 1988, an attempt was made to systematize collection of records. The resulting materials are listed in the present register. These materials include continuations of records already collected, bringing those sections up to date. They also include the records of subsidiary units which have only come into existence since 1978, such as the various roundtables. In 2009, an addendum was added to the collection consisting of those materials donated in 2008. This addendum includes minutes of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors as well as materials from the various committees, round tables, and sections. Materials in boxes 47-64 are unprocessed and require permission to use from the Manuscripts curator. In 2016, an addendum was added to the collection consisting of materials donated in 2013. These materials include administrative files, financial documents, and minutes from board meetings. These materials are found in boxes 65-83.
Minutes of Executive Board, 1912-1939 (1938-1939 minutes, pp. 220-227); Minutes of the Annual Meeting (1912-1939); Resolutions of the Association (1912-1939); President's Report (1926-1927); report of the legislative committee (1939-1931, p. Ill); list of members to June 1913 (p. 100); cash receipts and disbursements (1912-1939, pp. 150-219, 228); Utah Library Association Handbook (1921)--includes list of presidents (1922-1936) and active members (1921).
ALA-ULA-MPLA Business (1961-1963); Scholarship Committee (1961-1962); School Library Standards Committee (1961-1962); Recruitment Committee (1962-1963); Committee on Interlibrary Cooperation (1962); Conventions (ULA business luncheon, March 18, 1967 and preliminary program 1962 Convention); Executive Board minutes (1959-1967); Financial Reports (1960-1962); Membership Lists (1961-1962); Officers Council (1962); Projects and Programs (1963).
School Section (1963-1966); Public Library Section (1960, 1962-1963, 1967); Special Library Section (1963, 1966-1967); Trustee Section (1963, 1970); University and College Section (1969); Scholarship Committee (1966-1968).
Executive Board minutes.
Scrapbook contains ULA Convention programs, photographs, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, banquet favors, ULA Handbook and Directory (1952), and other miscellaneous material.
Scrapbook of National Library Week (1970) that contains photographs, programs, brochures, newspaper clippings, and other miscellaneous material.
Scrapbook contains photographs, convention programs, newspaper clippings on libraries and librarians, Whitmore Library dedication program, and other miscellaneous material.
Scrapbook contains banquet favors, photographs, magazine articles, limited correspondence, convention programs and dedications programs for J. Reuben Clark Library (BYU), University of Utah Library, Weber State College Library, Southern Utah State College Library, Eccles Health Sciences Library, Utah State University Library, Ruth V. Tyler Library, Price Public Library, Murray Library, Spanish Fork Library, Rose Park Branch Library, Weber County Library, Salt Lake City Public Library, David County Library, Holladay Branch Library, Gerrity Memorial Library (Hill Air Force Base).
These folders include agendas, minutes, correspondence, and other materials related to meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
This box includes correspondence, minutes, and various planning materials for the 1976-1996 Annual Conferences.
This box includes correspondence, minutes, and various planning materials for the 1997-2001 Annual Conferences.
This box includes correspondence, minutes, and various planning materials for the 2002-2009 Annual Conferences.
These folders include monthly publications of the Utah State Library Division.
This box includes a t-shirt and a button.