during and between the two world wars, mla made important administrative decisions that impacted its own structure, its relationships with the state of minnesota, and with the american library association. mla adopted a new constitution that redrafted the slate of officers, changed the makeup of the executive committee, and introduced institutional memberships. by 1939, members approved another new constitution. each successive constitution both reflected and defined mla’s activities. by-laws were added that named standing committees, detailed duties of the officers, and created procedures to establish sections.