| Missouri Library Association | |
| Logo Alt: | the name of the org with a shape that looks like maybe a moving book? |
| Founding Location: | Columbia, Missouri |
| Tax Id: | 44-0658268 |
| Headquarters: | Ballwin, Missouri |
| Parent Organization: | American Library Association |
The Missouri Library Association (MLA) is a professional organization for Missouri's librarians and library workers. It is headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri.[1] It was founded on December 18, 1900, in Columbia, Missouri, at a meeting called by Fredrick Crunden, Head Librarian for the St. Louis Public Library; Carrie Whitney, Director of the Kansas City Public Library; Charles Yeater, Trustee and President of the Board of Directors for the Sedalia Public Library; Purd Wright, Librarian at the St. Joseph Public Library; and James Gerould, University Librarian at the University of Missouri.[2] The organization's first president was Fredrick Crunden.[3]
One of the organizations early goals was the establishment of a state library which was accomplished in 1907. MLA worked to create a librarian certification program, forming a Certification Board in 1934.