It is published by the University of Chicago and was established to fill a need for investigation and discussion set forth by the American Library Association in 1926.

Thus, its publication history parallels the existence of library science as a field of academic research.

[6] In 2002 editor, John V. Richardson, analyzed the peer review process in place at Library Quarterly.

[7] A bibliometric analysis in 2006 on the 75th anniversary of the journal found that nearly 50% of the world's most cited library and information scientists were contributors.

[10] In 2004 The Library Quarterly went online, adding additional articles, content, and unique supplements.