History of the South Carolina Library Association

By Roger Hux

The South Carolina Library Association was established on October 27, 1915, when fourteen librarians and library supporters met in the University of South Carolina Library and voted unanimously to form the new group. The original constitution listed three purposes: (1) “to arouse and stimulate an interest in the development of libraries:” (2) “to be a medium of information in (that) regard;” and (3) “to bring into touch her library force that they may gather additional strength and inspiration for the work.”

In those early years, promoting libraries was a difficult task. In 1915 only five towns had free libraries, and South Carolina was one of only eleven states without a library commission. World War I forced a suspension of SCLA’s annual meetings, and the agricultural depression of the 1920s killed any hope for state aid. It was not until 1929 that legislation establishing a state library board was passed, but no money was appropriated for its support.

In the 1930s SCLA joined with others in continuing the fight for state aid. From 1929 to 1932 SCLA joined with the Rosenwald Fund in providing a field agent for the State Library Board. It co-sponsored a landmark conference at Clemson in 1934 which led to the formation of the South Carolina Citizens Library Association, and in 1935 suggested the name of Ida Belle Enterekin as the first director of the WPA State Library Project.

The granting of the first significant state aid in 1943 marked a turning point for libraries and SCLA. The Association affiliated with ALA in 1944 and joined the State Library Board in publishing the first issue of the South Carolina Library Bulletin in 1945. In 1946 SCLA participated in the first regional survey of library services sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Library Council.

The 1950s and 1960s brought continued progress along with change. In 1956 the Association supported the State Library Board when SCLA faced censorship challenges over certain children’s books, and in 1962 opened membership to African-Americans and held its first racially integrated conference. SCLA co-sponsored the first Governor’s Conference on Libraries in 1965 and celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.

SCLA entered the computer era in the 1970s with the establishment of the Southeastern Library Network. At the same time SCLA published several items of historical interest, including a guide to the state’s library collections, a reprint series, a writer’s map, and an index to Sandlapper. In 1976 SCLA gave its first Friend of Libraries Award, and a year later hired its first executive director and added “type of activity” Sections to its organization.

In the 1980s Sections and Round Tables offered more opportunities for professional growth through workshops and other programs held throughout the year. Computers continued to receive considerable attention as libraries developed online public access catalogs and the South Carolina State Library established a state network. Association leaders ranked professional growth as their first goal in 1986, but still ranked activities supporting library development high on the list.

SCLA celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary at its 1990 conference in Columbia.

In the 1990s SCLA gave increasing attention to technology and, in particular, to the Internet and the World Wide Web. In 1995 it established a home page, and the following year it created a new Round Table for systems managers. Numerous programs dealt with the impact of technolgy on libraries and the changing role of librarians.

During the decade it also established new roundtables for African American concerns, paraprofessionals, and health science librarians. Twice during the decade, in 1992 and 1997, it honored the University of South Carolina College of Library and Information Science during its twentieth and twenty-fifth anniversary celebrations. SCLA also sent representatives to the White House Conference on Libraries and its follow-up sessions.

The Association Continued to hold programs on local authors and local history. Other areas of interest included diversity, preservation, assessment, bibliographic instruction, and intellectual freedom. In 2000 SCLA will celebrate its eigthy-fifth anniversary.

Following is a list of the official meetings of the Association indicating dates, the Presidents, and places in which the meetings were held.

SCLA Handbook, 2003 5th Edition Section II. History.