ARL

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit membership organization of major research libraries in the United States and Canada. Its aim is to advance research and teaching by strengthening scholarly communication, library management, and policy development through leadership, collaboration, and shared resources.

ARL was founded in 1932 by 12 libraries to coordinate activities and promote best practices among large research libraries. Over time it has grown to include a broad network of member institutions, spanning universities, national libraries, and other research-focused libraries. Collectively, ARL members hold a substantial portion of the scholarly materials and digital resources in North America, giving the organization influence in discussions about collections, access, and preservation.

Key activities of ARL include conducting empirical research on library operations, collections, and scholarly communication; producing benchmarking data such as the ARL Statistics; and supporting initiatives in digital libraries, data management, preservation, open access, and policy analysis. ARL also offers professional development opportunities and facilitates collaborative projects among libraries and allied organizations.

Governance and structure involve a board of directors drawn from member library leadership, guided by a president and a professional staff. The organization operates through committees and collaborative networks to advance its strategic priorities and coordinate responses to national and international library issues.

ARL’s work informs library practice, institutional planning, and policy debates related to funding, access, copyright, and the evolving landscape of scholarly communication, while fostering collaboration among libraries to improve services for researchers and students.