OLAC (Online Audiovisual Catalogers) was formed on 1980 to provide an organization through which catalogers of audiovisual materials could more effectively communicate and share information with each other, and with other organizations such as the Library of Congress and OCLC whose work affects the cataloging of audiovisual materials. Nancy Olson, then at the Memorial Library at Mankato State University in Mankato, Minnesota, provided the inspiration for the formation of this group, and was voted its first president at the organizational meeting on July 1, 1980, at the American Library Association conference in New York. By the end of that year, OLAC had just under 100 members. Its membership has since grown to over 700 members from across the United States, and 6 other countries.

OLAC is led by an Executive Board consisting of the President (or Chair), the Vice President/President Elect (or Vice Chair/Chair Elect), Treasurer, Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Immediate Past President, CAPC (Cataloging Policy Committee Chair). Standing committees include the Awards Committee (established in 1985 to select candidates for an annual award for exemplary contributions to the field), the Cataloging Policy Committee (established in 1984 to represent AV catalogers in matters relating to the formation, interpretation, and implementation of cataloging standards), the Nominating Committee (established in 1985 to coordinate the nomination and election of officers), and the Planning Committee (established in 1983 to organize OLAC's Conferences, held biennially since 1984). Ad-hoc committees are formed as needed to address specific issues.

The organization meets at the ALA midwinter meetings and annual conferences, and conducts its own biennial conference. It keeps its members informed through a newsletter which is published quarterly in March, June, September, and December.