About the MLA
Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. MLA members host an annual convention and other meetings, work with related organizations, and sustain one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities. For more than a century, members have worked to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature. Learn more about the MLA's mission and read the most recent annual report.
The MLA at a Glance
- Over 20,000 members in one hundred countries
- Programs serving teachers of English and other languages
- An annual convention, with meetings on a wide variety of subjects, and smaller seminars across the country and an array of online events
- The MLA International Bibliography, the most comprehensive research database in language and literature
- Resources for writers, including the digital resources MLA Handbook Plus and MLA Style Center
- An active book publications program that regularly releases new titles for teachers, students, and researchers and maintains a backlist of over 300 titles
- 4 periodicals: the ADE Bulletin; the ADFL Bulletin; Profession; and PMLA, one of the most distinguished journals in the humanities
- MLA Commons, a scholarly communication network and publishing platform, and open-access resources supporting literary studies and digital pedagogy
- A quarterly newsletter providing updates on association events and initiatives, stories about members' innovative work, and other items of interest to members
- 158 forums for the scholarly, teaching, and professional interests of members
- More than 50 membership committees overseeing association activities and publications
- Leadership in the national education community
Learn more about the association through our time line of MLA history.
Membership Involvement in Association Activities
- Over 300 members are elected to govern the association through its Executive Council, Delegate Assembly, and other governance committees.
- Over 780 members serve on the executive committees of the 158 forums that represent the scholarly, teaching, and professional interests of various constituencies within the membership and that help determine much of the program at the annual convention.
- Over 3,000 members present each year at the convention.
- Hundreds of peer reviewers work alongside the 65 members of the Publications Committee for books and the PMLA Editorial Board and Advisory Committee.
- More than 100 contributing scholars index books and journals for the MLA International Bibliography.
- Over 80 members are involved in selecting the winners of the 30 prizes the MLA awards for outstanding language and literature publications.
MAPS, the ADE and the ALD
MLA Academic Program Services (MAPS) is a professional network and a bundle of benefits and services designed to support the work and professional development of those who lead and manage academic programs in the humanities. Through MAPS, the MLA organizes professional development events, conducts management training, provides evaluation and consultancy services, and produces a wide array of resources to help administrators lead and manage their academic programs or departments.
Managed by the office of MLA academic program services and professional development, MAPS includes benefits provided by the Association of Departments of English (ADE) and the Association of Language Departments (ALD).