February 1997: At the 1997 ALA Midwinter/Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Martinez, ALA Executive Director, presents a proposal for a Spectrum Initiative to the ALA Executive Board.

February 1997: At the 1997 ALA Midwinter/Washington, D.C., ALA Executive Board approves the Spectrum Initiative.

30 May 1997: ALA President-Elect Barbara Ford issues a document, "Spectrum Initiative: Next Steps" for discussion as Council Document #44 for the 1997 ALA Annual/San Francisco.

June 1997: ALA releases a Press Release, announcing "ALA to Launch Spectrum Initiative."

August 1997: Spectrum Initiative Steering Committee members are selected. The Committee is Chaired by Dr. Carla D. Hayden and includes, Khafre K. Abif, Mengxiong Liu, Diana Morales, Virginia M. McCurdy, Loriene Roy, Pamela G. Spencer, James F. Williams, II., and Kenneth A. Yamashita.

Fall 1997: Spectrum Committee Chairs are selected. These are: Awards Committee: Sarah A. Long, Chair; Library School Committee: Kathleen de la Pena McCook, Chair; Recruitment Committee: Florence Brown, Chair.

22-23 September 1997: The Spectrum Initiative Steering Committee meets in Chicago.

November 1997: The Spectrum Initiative Steering Committee meets in Chicago.

December 1997: The Texas Library Association provides an additional $2,000 to Spectrum Scholars attending an ALA accredited master's program in Texas.