The association recognized the key role played by the trained and competent professional librarians in organizing and conducting libraries. For the first time a course was started with the financial support of Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Patulu, in the summer of 1920 in Vijayawada. Twenty library workers underwent training for one month in this batch. In addition to library administration subjects like Politics, Economics, Co-operation and Social services were taught. More emphasis was laid on social work than on librarianship. The classes were again started in 1934 in Vijayawada 30 members took training in it. In this batch more number of subjects in library science were taught. The association conducted two courses namely Granthalaya Pravesika (4 months) and Granthalaya Visarada (2 months).

It was in the year 1966 that the AP State Government had recognized the Certificate course in Library Science (CLISc) that was of 4 month duration with class 10 as the minimum eligibility for admission into the course. There after it emerged into a 5 month course with Intermediate course as the minimum qualification for admission. Since 1989 APLA has been running courses with English and Telugu as media of Instruction, with two batches of intake, one in the month of June and the other in the month of December in a year. Certificates are issued to the qualified students by Commissioner of Govt. Examinations, Government of AP. After the demise of Late Sri Paturi, the School is being run as Paturi Nagabhushanam School of Library Science providing hands-on experience and imparting technical skills to the needy. The School also organizes training programmes in MS Office, CDS/ISIS, KOHA and NewGenLib Library automation software etc.