Illustration of an open book with two people on it and read text above and below on a white background

In 1972, the UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, promoted the International Year of the Book. The Vatican’s Apostolic Library set up an exhibit of manuscripts referring to the Old and New Testament. The image of two figures inside an open book is the image that was used as promotion for this event. 

Illustration of an open book over white text on a turquoise background

“Masterminds read” was one of two buttons for sale as promotional material from the Library Association of Australia, which was sold through their trade journal InCite in the February 25, 1983 issue. The other button read “Be an informaniac,” and both sold for $1 each, or 3 for $2. Other promotional items advertised for sale include a wine bottled for LAA22 (the association’s annual conference held in Adelaide, Australia), a shoulder bag with the slogan “Get into…a book,” which sold for $3.50, a tote bag with the slogan “Read all about it…at your library,” which sold for $4, and a “sloppy joe” (a long sleeve shirt) which reads “Information is power,” and sold for $18.

LAA is now known as ALIA (the Australian Library and Information Association), a change that was made in 1989. The organization promotes library and information services throughout the country through leadership, advocacy, and partnerships with like industries. Though the organization is centered around a profession it is not a professional organization; membership is open to anyone interested in libraries or information management. As of 2019, ALIA has 5,000 members, 7 sitting board members, 11 advisory committees and 40+ interest groups such as Children and Youth Services, LARK (Library Applied Research Kollective), and University and Research Libraries. The core tenants of ALIA include: advocacy, education, lifelong learning, literacy, transformation/evolution of the practice, intellectual freedom, and preservation.

Illustration of two characters riding bikes while reading books with black text underneath on an orange background

In 1976, the Australian government appointed librarian Allan Horton to chair a committee of inquiry into the country's public libraries. In his landmark report published that year, Libraries Are Great Mate! But They Could Be Greater, he recommended that libraries could be improved to become community hubs. The Australian Library Promotion Council drew on Horton's report to commission several posters from cartoonist Ken Maynard with catchy slogans. Maynard was a former police officer whose cartoons ran in the Australasian Post newspaper. His most famous cartoons were about an Aussie bar, Ettomagah Pub, and its regulars. This "Libraries are great sport" cartoon and slogan were featured on a poster in 1982.

Black text on a blue background

Gender equity ensures fairness for both men and women on the idea of giving a person everything they need to be successful, helping them start on a level playing field with no bias working against them. The purpose of equity is to ensure certain oppressed groups have access to to means or methods that create the same job or opportunity, even if that means the resources used are different. Historically, women have been excluded or disadvantaged with decision-making and access to economic and social resources as is seen with laws regarding women's suffrage and politics surrounding bodily autonomy. Women have been denied access to higher education and high-paying jobs due to gender and the cause of gender equity is still a goal that many work towards today.

Red text on a white background

This button promotes the freedom to read whatever you want. Libraries are defending a person’s right to read any book they want. Controversial material can be the most challenging thing for a librarian to overcome. Controversial material leads to book censorship in school, stores, and libraries. To promote the freedom to read, the ALA’s (the American Library Association) Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles a list of challenged book in order to inform the public about censorship effects that affect libraries and schools.    

Yellow text on a read background

Feminist literature has been around since the 15th century, but saw its popularity boom in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. During the Women’s Liberation Movement, women created their own publishing houses to publish and sell feminist literature. By the end of the 1980s, there were over 20 feminist publishing houses across the world. Some examples of these publishing houses include: Virago Press, Sheba Feminist Press, The Onlywomen Press, and The Women’s Press. Feminist literature remains a popular genre today. The American Library Association has an organization committed to highlighting feminist authors. The ALA also has an annual book list, called Amelia Bloomer List, to showcase feminist literature.

Black text on a white (faded to yellow) background with an illustration on the left side of swirling lines

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White and black illustration of a wheel with black text in the center and red text around the outer edge

This button was created by Benhaven School/Community in North Haven, Connecticut. Benhaven, founded in 1967 as a school for autistic children, is a multi-faceted agency serving people of all ages with diverse needs. They currently operate a school, residential services, a learning network, and a family support program. The slogan on the button is a play on the science-fiction catchphrase “take me to your leader”.

White text and national library symbol on a blue background

The national library symbol was launched by the American Library Association in 1982 as a simple, graphic representation of a book and reader meant to be easily recognizable on directional signs and other printed materials near and in libraries. It is frequently used on promotional materials by the ALA, and the organization encourages libraries of all kinds to use the symbol on marketing items such as bumper stickers, posters, mugs, and notepads.

Red and blue text on a white background

This button was created by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom in 2006 to recognize the efforts of librarians who work to bring awareness to the overreaching aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act. The button’s design was inspired by a series of emails in which FBI agents complained about “radical, militant librarians”

The American Library Association is a non profit organization that supports and promotes libraries, library professionals and library education. The association was founded in 1876 and is the largest library association in the world.