The story
Dr. Hemlin from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden was the founder of IATUL and also its first President, and in this capacity he did much to develop the Association. In September 1955 IATUL was recognized as a subsection of International Library Association’s division of The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA).
In the early years many of the members of IATUL came from Europe, where there were a number of well-established institutions for technological education. The eighteenth century had seen the founding of some of the earliest "schools" of this type in France, Germany and Hungary. The first half of the nineteenth century was a period of considerable economic and social growth and development. This period saw the increasing use of steam power for industry, the rapid change from local craft production to factory-based industries, and considerable improvements in communications. These changes led to an increased need for the provision of technical education and training, resulting in the founding of "trades and craft schools" and polytechnic institutions throughout Europe. Similar institutions were founded in the USA. The early members of IATUL came mostly from European universities of technology and from some American institutions. During the last twenty years there has been a steady growth in IATUL members coming from all parts of the world, resulting in a truly international organization.
From Wikipedia’s article on International Association of Scientific and Technological University Libraries, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5