The North Dakota Library Association (NDLA) is a professional association for librarians, library staff, and library supporters that represent school, public, academic, and special libraries located in North Dakota, United States. "The purpose of this organization is to exercise professional leadership and to promote library services and librarianship." The North Dakota Library Association was formed on January 18, 1906. The association has humble beginnings â at the 1909 conference, there were only 18 members. There are currently over 300 NDLA members (including academic, health, public, and school libraries).
The NDLA's executive board includes 27 members, including: president; president-elect; past president; secretary; treasurer; American Library Association councilor; Mountain Plains Library Association representative; Academic & Special Libraries Section; Government Documents Roundtable; Health Science Information Section; New Members Roundtable; Public Library Section; School & Library Youth Service Section; Technical Services Roundtable; Constitution, Bylaws & Policies; Continuing Education; Finance; Intellectual Freedom; Legislative; Nominations, Elections & Voting; Membership; Professional Development; public relations & 2014âÂÂ26 executive secretary; The Good Stuff Editorial; archivist/historian; state librarian; and web editor. The executive board is responsible for the transactions of âÂÂall business of the North Dakota Library AssociationâÂÂ, speaking âÂÂfor the NDLA membership on national, state, and local library issuesâÂÂ, setting âÂÂgoals and executes long-range plans for the NDLAâÂÂ, taking âÂÂno position on social issues that do not directly impact librariesâ and following âÂÂthrough on directives expressed by NDLA members at the Annual Conference and by section and roundtable decision.â The executive board âÂÂmeets at least three times a yearâ and âÂÂall meetings are open to the NDLA membership.âÂÂ
NDLA awards a Librarian of the Year award annually since 1992 for "notable contributions to the North Dakota library profession, .. significant development of libraries in North Dakota, or .. exemplary statewide service for an extended period of time."