United for Libraries | The American Library Association Archives

ALTA was founded in 1890 as the American Library Trustee Association. The association underwent a name change in 1999 from the American Library Trustee Association to the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates.

In 1975, a small but visionary project of the Committee on Friends of the Library embedded deep within ALA's Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) undertook a project to compile a directory of known Friends of Libraries groups on campuses and in communities. In 1979, FOLUSA was incorporated.

United for Libraries will continue to build on the work and success of both ALTA and FOLUSA by helping Trustees and Friends work together at the local, state, and national levels to effectively promote and advocate for libraries, encouraging the development of library Foundations, and engaging corporate supporters to unite and strengthen voices in support of libraries.