{"id":2968,"date":"2016-08-05T07:00:13","date_gmt":"2016-08-05T07:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/archives.library.illinois.edu\/ala\/?p=2968"},"modified":"2016-08-05T07:00:13","modified_gmt":"2016-08-05T07:00:13","slug":"research-strategies-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/ala\/2016\/08\/05\/research-strategies-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Strategies: The Reference Library of the ALA Archives (Bookcase Two of Two)"},"content":{"rendered":"

For specific inquiries about ALA members and history, a review of our reference library is due. The ALA Archives library is an easily over-looked resource rich with data and research strategies. After reviewing general reference books, some queries are specifically answered with the following resources. Read on to learn even more!<\/p>\n

\"ALA<\/a>
ALA Archives Bookcase Two<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Since the ALA Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign began in 1973<\/a>, there has been a reference library supporting the archives. Currently, there are two bookcases\u00a0of ALA and non-ALA publications about the ALA, librarianship, librarians, and libraries. This blog post is the second installment of a two-part narrative<\/strong>. Often, new library or information science scholars do not know all of the available tools of their trade as well as specialized reference sources. Below, let’s take a look at what is on our shelves and how those other books work for us.<\/p>\n

\"Guide<\/a>
Guide to American Library Association Archives, First Edition, 1979<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, recognition is due for two broad reference resources:\u00a0Guide to the American Library Association Archives<\/em> and\u00a0National Catalog of Sources for the History of Librarianship<\/em>. Published first in 1979 and in a second edition in 1987, on microfiche, the Guide<\/em>\u00a0provides record series descriptions for the ALA Archives and a subject index for record series. (The Guide<\/em> was replaced by the current online database<\/a>.)\u00a0An accompanying paper booklet generally describes the ALA Archives’s history, archival holdings, and it includes a brief bibliography of “works relating to the history of ALA and its divisions.” In fact, this bibliography includes most of the books in the ALA Archives reference library.<\/p>\n

\"Guide<\/a>
Guide to American Library Association Archives, Second Edition, 1987<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also on microfiche, the\u00a0National Catalog<\/em> supplements\u00a0the\u00a0Guide<\/em>\u00a0as “a listing of \u00a0collections or record series arranged alphabetically by state and by repository.” While the\u00a0Guide<\/em>\u00a0was a helpful tool for browsing ALA Archives holdings, the\u00a0National Catalog<\/em> aids researchers in locating archival materials outside of the ALA Archives.\u00a0National Catalog<\/em> includes a paper booklet that provides a general overview of\u00a0National Catalog<\/em>‘s purpose, uses, and an essay about the value of archival research in library history research by Marion Casey.<\/p>\n

\"National<\/a>
National Catalog of Sources for the History of Librarianship, 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Naturally, there are books about general and specific moments or periods of library history.\u00a0Of course, we have a collection of books covering ALA history too! Remembering that early ALA historical narratives are found in early ALA publications like the Handbooks, the ALA has published longer scholarship too.\u00a0The ALA Archives reference library has three categories of books: ALA history; Division, Round Table, or Association histories; and Biographies.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>
Non-ALA Publications about ALA History (1 of 2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ALA history books include:<\/p>\n