About Us

Established in 1921, the Catholic Library Association is an international membership organization, providing its members professional development through educational and networking experiences, publications, scholarships, and other services. The Catholic Library Association coordinates the exchange of ideas, provides a source of inspirational support and guidance in ethical issues related to librarianship, and offers fellowship for those who seek, serve, preserve, and share the word in all its forms.

Our Mission

The Catholic Library Association, an international membership organization...

• Provides leadership for professional development
• Coordinates the exchange of ideas
• Offers spiritual support
• Promotes Catholic and ecumenical literature
• Fosters community among those who seek, serve, preserve, and share the word in all its forms

The Catholic Library Association...

• Encourages the establishment of religion-oriented libraries
• Promotes accepted standards of library service
• Is an educational resource for professional librarianship and fosters research and development in the field
• Supports and provides for the creation, compilation, publication, and use of religious reference tools
• Provides guidance in the selection and use of materials pertinent to Catholicism and professional librarianship
• Develops cooperative relationships with associations having mutual interests

The Catholic Library Association...

• Holds biannual conferences
• Publishes Catholic Library World
• Honors excellence in children’­s literature with the Regina Medal
• Honors outstanding contribution to high school librarianship with the St. Katharine Drexel Award
• Honors scholarly contributions in theological and religious studies with the Jerome Award
• Honors contributions to the renewal of parish and community life with the Aggiornamento Award
• Supports interest sections, roundtables and local/regional chapters