Missouri Library Association

The Missouri Library Association (MLA) is a professional organization for Missouri's librarians and library workers. It is headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri.^[1] It was founded on December 18, 1900, in Columbia, Missouri, at a meeting called by Fredrick Crunden, Head Librarian for the St. Louis Public Library; Carrie Whitney, Director of the Kansas City Public Library; Charles Yeater, Trustee and President of the Board of Directors for the Sedalia Public Library; Purd Wright, Librarian at the St. Joseph Public Library; and James Gerould, University Librarian at the University of Missouri.^[2] The organization's first president was Fredrick Crunden.^[3]

Missouri Library Association

Formation	December 18, 1900; 124 years ago (1900-12-18)
Founded at	Columbia, Missouri
Tax ID no.	44-0658268
Headquarters	Ballwin, Missouri
Parent organization	American Library Association
Website	molib.org

One of the organizations early goals was the establishment of a state library which was accomplished in 1907.^[2] MLA worked to create a librarian certification program, forming a Certification Board in 1934.^[2]