# Chinese American Librarians Association

> American organization dedicated to promoting Chinese culture through libraries

**Wikidata**: [Q16987154](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16987154)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_American_Librarians_Association)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chinese-american-librarians-association

## Why It Matters
The Chinese American Librarians Association represents a vital intersection of cultural preservation, professional development, and academic research within the American library system. As a bridge organization, it facilitates the integration of Chinese cultural materials and perspectives into Western library collections and services, supporting both Chinese American librarians and the broader community's access to Chinese cultural resources. Its dual classification as both a library association and a research institute underscores its commitment to advancing knowledge in library science while simultaneously serving as a cultural ambassador. By maintaining active affiliations with major bodies like the American Library Association and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, CALA ensures that Chinese American perspectives are represented in global information policy and professional standards.

## Notable For
- Dual classification as both a library association and a research institute
- Membership in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), connecting it to global library standards
- Affiliation with the American Library Association, the oldest and largest library association in the world
- Recognition as a funding organization in the Open Funder Registry (ID: 100005483)
- Presence in authoritative library catalogs including the Library of Congress (ID: n83054515), National Library of Israel, and the Chinese Encyclopedia (3rd Edition, ID: 35267)
- Multilingual presence with Wikipedia entries in both English and Chinese

## Body

### Mission and Purpose
The Chinese American Librarians Association is an American organization whose primary mission is promoting Chinese culture through libraries. It operates at the intersection of library science and cultural advocacy, working to enhance the visibility and accessibility of Chinese cultural materials within library systems.

### Organizational Structure and Legal Status
CALA is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a designation that allows it to receive tax-deductible donations. Its IRS Employer Identification Number is 23-7417422. The organization's headquarters are located in Camarillo, California. It is officially classified as an instance of three entity types: a library association, a nonprofit organization, and a research institute, reflecting its multifaceted role in the professional and academic landscape.

### Financial Profile
The organization maintains a stable financial profile with total assets reported at $452,843 USD as of 2023. Revenue has fluctuated over the years, from $40,138 in 2012 to a peak of $123,074 in 2023.

**Revenue History (Selected Years):**
- 2011: $56,371
- 2014: $46,310
- 2019: $94,113
- 2022: $109,188
- 2023: $123,074

Donations have constituted a portion of its revenue, with $53,303 received in 2019 and $9,838 in 2023.

### Professional Affiliations and Memberships
CALA maintains significant professional connections:
- **Affiliation:** American Library Association
- **Member Of:** Joint Council of Librarians of Color (as of 2023), International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions

### Digital Presence
The organization operates an official website at https://cala-web.org/ (English) and an official donation page at https://cala-web.org/donate. Its social media footprint includes a Facebook page (CALA-Chinese-American-Librarians-Association-281336511932864) and a YouTube channel (CALAChannel, ID: UCCM_whIMlPx0SeFJeyzta2w), which has 45 videos, 162 subscribers, and 12,550 views as of September 2025.

### Authority Control and Identifiers
CALA is indexed and recognized by numerous international bibliographic and authority systems:
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n83054515
- **ISNI:** 0000000106953337
- **VIAF ID:** 140755774
- **CiNii Research ID:** 1140563741806162304
- **Open Funder Registry ID:** 100005483
- **Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID:** 35267
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID:** 987007259743405171
- **HKBAN ID:** 9811112228003406
- **NACSIS CAT Author ID:** DA10697709

## References

1. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230810140605/https://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/iro/intlassocorgconf/libraryassociations)
2. [Directory of Open Access Journals](http://jlis.glis.ntnu.edu.tw/ojs/index.php/jlis/notes/peerReviewProcess)
3. [Source](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237417422)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. CiNii Research
6. [Source](https://www.jclcinc.org/)
7. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230803111744/https://cdn.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/ifla-members-and-association-affiliates_2023-07-21.pdf)
8. [Source](https://cala-web.org/about/)
9. Nonprofit Explorer
10. [Nonprofit Explorer](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237417422)
11. [Source](https://cala-web.org/)
12. Open Funder Registry
13. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
14. YouTube API