Southwestern Library Association
The Southwestern Library Association was a professional organization for librarians and library workers in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. It was headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma. It was founded on October 26, 1922, in Austin, Texas and designed primarily to serve library associations and librarians in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Elizabeth H. West, the State Librarian of Texas at the time, was the first president of SWLA. Dorothy Amann, president of the Texas Library Association from 1921-1922 was instrumental in visiting the states bordering Texas to encourage their participation. Lillian Gunter, founder of the Cooke County Library, was also a SWLA co-founder.
SWLA published the Southwestern Library Association Newsletter from 1959 through 1967. The organization is best known for its SLICE program for interstate networking and continuing education.
SWLA disbanded in 1983, when Louisiana joined the Southeastern Library Association, due to dwindling financial support.
