| Pacific Northwest Library Association | |
| Nickname: | PNLA |
| Founding Location: | Seattle, Washington |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Headquarters: | Bothell, Washington |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Pam Henley |
| Leader Title2: | Vice President |
| Leader Name2: | Nicole Thode |
| Leader Title3: | Second Vice President |
| Leader Name3: | Ilana Kingsley |
| Parent Organization: | American Library Association |
The Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA) is a professional organization for the Pacific Northwest's librarians and library workers headquartered in Bothell, Washington. It has over 200 members from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.[1] [2]
PNLA was formed in 1909 as the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition was occurring.[3] It was sponsored by the Washington Library Association and was formed by thirty-five librarians from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia who met at the University of Washington to create an organization to overcome the "geographic isolation" which separated libraries in the Pacific Northwest from other libraries in the eastern and central parts of the United States. Some of the early initiatives of PNLA included advocating for library legislation in Alaska and the Yukon, as well as formation of the Subscription Book Committee which published Subscription Books Bulletin.
Subscription Books Bulletin notified libraries of low-quality books available via subscription. The newsletter was eventually taken over by the American Library Association and merged into ALA Booklist. PNLA has been publishing PNLA Quarterly since 1936.[4] In 1972 PNLA published Index of Pacific Northwest Portraits, an index to the illustrations of 12,000 men and women with historical importance in the states of Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, which appear in over 350 publications.[5]
PNLA has been giving out the Young Reader's Choice Award since 1940.[6] It is the oldest children's choice award in the US and Canada, and the only regional award chosen by children of both countries.