Virginia Library Association
The Virginia Library Association (VLA) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is "to develop, promote, and improve library and information services, library staff, and the profession of librarianship in order to advance literacy and learning and to ensure access to information in the Commonwealth of Virginia." The VLA is divided into six regions. It maintains the VLA Jobline, a list of jobs available in libraries throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. History. The VLA was founded in 1905 when John Pendleton Kennedy, who served as Virginia State Librarian from 1903 to 1907, organized a meeting in Richmond to  discuss forming a statewide library association. The state library was selected as the home of the new organization. Membership. VLA membership is open to any person, organization, or library. Honorary Life Memberships may be bestowed upon nominated individuals selected by the Awards and Recognition Committee, approved by the Executive Committee, and affirmed by VLA members on the annual ballot. Organizational structure. The Council of the Virginia Library Association is the governing body of the organization. A quorum consists of one half of the voting members of the Council plus one. The elected officers of the VLA comprise the Executive Committee . Those positions include: President, Vice President/President-elect, Second Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive Committee designates an Executive Director. Advocacy. The VLA has been a strong advocate in support of adequate funding for libraries, convincing the Virginia General Assembly to appropriate $50,000 for public libraries in the first such law to establish state aid in 1942. In the 1950s and 60s, the VLA took a stand to combat censorship and support intellectual freedom. In the 1970s, the VLA encouraged its members to become involved in letter writing campaigns to legislators and began participating in  the annual Library Legislative Day, when members travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate concerns to congressmen and senators. Major publications. "Virginia Libraries" was launched in April 1928 and initially served as the unofficial vehicle of the Virginia Library Association. It is now recognized as the official publication of the association and continues to be published quarterly. Archived copies from 1996 to the present are located on the Virginia Tech Digital Library and Archives Electronic Journals website. The "VLA Newsletter" was published from 1987 through 2010. Archived copies from February 1995 through 2010 are located on the Virginia Library Association website . Conferences. The VLA sponsors an Annual Conference and a Paraprofessional Annual Conference. Awards. The VLA sponsors several awards, to include the following: