The device of the District of Columbia Library Association, adopted in 1965, is based on the George Washington family shield as adapted by James Thackara and John Vallance and first imprinted on a map of the City of Washington engraved in 1792. The device, as illustrated on left, was reproduced from a copy of the map located in the Map Division, Library of Congress.

From the purpose of the Association the shield and book were redrawn to secure better definition of the line; "Rights of Man" was replaced by "DCLA"; and at the base of the shield was added "1894", the date of the founding of the District of Columbia Library Association.