Executive Board and Executive Director | The American Library Association Archives

Established in 1876, the Executive Board consists of the officers of the Association, the immediate past president, and 8 members elected by Council from its membership for four year terms. The members of the Executive Board are members of Council (1) Acting for the Council, the Executive Board administers the established policies and programs. As the management board of ALA, it is responsible for headquarters operations, subject to review by Council, and makes recommendations with respect to policy and operations (2).

The Executive Director is appointed by the Executive Board. The Executive Director is in charge of headquarters and its personnel, carries out the activities provided for in the budget, and perfroms such other duties as may be assigned. Originally an elected position, the office of Executive Secretary became an appointed position in 1909 (3). The title changed to Executive Director in 1958 (4).

Sub-groups:

1-President

2-Vice President

3-Treasurer

4-Executive Director

5-Members of Executive Board

6-American Library in Paris Board of Trustees

7-Endowment Trustees

8-Publishing Board

10-Legal Counsel Committee

30-Headquarters Space Needs Committee

31-Divisional Interests Committee

32-Honorary Members

33-Investments Committee

34-Resources Committee

35-War Mobilization Committee

36-Advisory Evaluation Committee

37-ALA Archival and Library Materials Committee

38-Annuities and Pensions (Staff)

40-Search Committee

41-ACONDA/ANACONDA

43-Finance/Budget Committee

45-Headquarters Building Committee

47-Equal Rights Task Force

93-Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces

1. ALA Handbook of Organization, 1986-87, p.3.

2. Ibid., p. 205.

3. Wayne A. Wiegand, The Politics of an Emerging Profession (New York: Greenwood Press, 1986), p. 125.

4. David H. Clift, "ALA Headquarters in the Reorganization," ALA Bulletin, December 1958, p. 817.