Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) | The American Library Association Archives

The Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) is interested in the general improvement and development of all aspects of library administration, at all levels of administration in libraries, and for all types and sizes of libraries. LAMA is responsible for library administration in general, personnel administration, in-service training and recruiting, financial administration, building and equipment, public relations, library organization, as well as governmental relations and relations with library governing bodies. The name of the division was changed to Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA).

The Library Administration Division (LAD) became a division of ALA on January 1, 1957 at which time nine ALA groups were transferred to it: Board of Personnel Administration, Building Committee, Federal Relations Committee, Equipment Committee, Friends of the Library Committee, Insurance for Libraries Committee, Library Legislation Committee, Public Relations Committee, and Statistics Committee (1).

The Library Administration Division provides an organizational framework for encouraging the study of administrative theory, for improving the practice of administration in libraries, and for identifying and fostering administrative skill. Toward these ends LAD is responsible for all elements of general administration which are common to more than one type of library. These may include organizational structure, financial administration, personnel management and training, buildings and equipment, public relations, and relations with library governing bodies. LAD meets this responsibility in the following ways:

1. Study and review of activities assigned to the division with due regard for changing developments in these activities.

2. Initiating and overseeing activities and projects appropriate to the division, including activities involving bibliography, compilation, publication, study, and review of professional literature within the scope of the division.

3. Synthesis of those activities of other ALA units which have a bearing in contacts outside the library profession.

4. Representation and interpretation of library administrative activities in contacts outside the library profession.

5. Aiding the professional development of librarians engaged in administration and encouragement of their participation in appropriate type-of-library divisions.

6. Planning and development of those programs of study and research in library administrative problems which are most needed by the profession (2).

Division was dissolved on September 1, 2020, and merged into a new division, Core.

1. ALA Bulletin, December, 1957, p. 855-56.

2. Ibid., November, 1964, p. 914.