The New Voice for America’s Libraries
On February 1, 2009, Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA) and the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates (ALTA) joined forces to become an expanded division of ALA known as ALTAFF, the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. Through this partnership, ALTAFF unites libraries’ voices to speak out on behalf of library services and free public access to information.
ALTAFF is a national network of enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities and campuses. No one has a stronger voice for libraries than those who use them, raise money for them, and govern them. By uniting these voices, library supporters everywhere will become a real force to be reckoned with at the local, state, and national levels.
A Rich History
ALTA was founded in 1890 as the American Library Trustee Association. The association underwent a name change in 1999 from the American Library Trustee Association to the Association for Library Trustees and Advocates.
In 1975, a small but visionary project of the Committee on Friends of the Library embedded deep within ALA's Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) undertook a project to compile a directory of known Friends of Libraries groups on campuses and in communities. In 1979, FOLUSA was incorporated.
ALTAFF will continue to build on the work and success of both ALTA and FOLUSA by helping Trustees and Friends work together at the local, state, and national levels to effectively promote and advocate for libraries, encouraging the development of library Foundations, and engaging corporate supporters to unite and strengthen voices in support of libraries.