1. The Association of Research Libraries
Julia C. Blixrud, ARL Assistant Executive Director, External Relations

2. Association of Research Libraries
Began in 1932
Not-for-profit organization
124 Institutional Members
US academic (100)
Canadian academic (14)
Nonuniversity (10)
Early programs
Statistics
Bibliographic access

3. ARL Mission
Shape and influence forces affecting the future of research libraries in the process of scholarly communication.
Articulate concerns of research libraries and their institutions, forges coalitions, influences information policy development, and supports innovation and improvements in research library operations.
Operate as a forum for the exchange of ideas and as an agent for collective action.

4. ARL Characteristics Resources Expenditures Ratios 500 million books
3.9 million serials
44 million gov docs
2.8 million videos
540 million mforms
34 million maps
9.6 million audio
100 million graphics
42 thousand staff
Expenditures
US$3.2 billion annually
US$1 billion for acquisitions, of which 20% is now being invested in access to electronic resources
Ratios
4% of higher education institutions managing and providing access to 40% of the information resources

5. Key Issues Facing Academic and Research Libraries*
New roles and contributions of the library to the university
Financial infrastructure and funds development
Human resources for the contemporary environment
Leadership of the library as a dynamic and complex organization
Intellectual property and copyright issues
Archiving and assuring long-term access to electronic information
*Peter Hernon, Ronald Powell, Arthur Young C&RL March 2001

6. Top Issues Facing Academic Libraries (ACRL)
Recruitment, education, and retention of librarians
Role of library in academic enterprise
Impact of information technology on library services
Creation, control and preservation of digital resources
Chaos in scholarly communication
Support of new users
Higher education funding

7. ACRL Big Ideas at CNI Collections issues Economics
Allocating limited funds
Authorization and authentication
Relationship with computing center
Licensing
Lack of advocacy
Preservation
Library performance
Visibility and leadership on campus
Marketing
Information literacy
MLS, certification
Space and facilities
Need to change to user-centered focus

8. 2003 Program Priorities
Provide leadership in advocacy and educational efforts within North American and international research and educational communities to influence legislation, institutional policies, and individual practices in the areas of intellectual property, copyright, privacy and other individual rights,and other information policies.

9. 2003 Program Priorities (cont.)
Promote tools, policies, and programs to ensure enduring, cost-effective, and integrated access to research materials from all parts of the world, in all formats, to readers working both near to and at a distance from those resources and, to the greatest extent possible, support delivery of these resources and related services to the user's desktop.

10. 2003 Program Priorities (cont.)
Encourage and support development of and access to institution-based repositories for the work of scholars and explore other strategies that could lead to more cost-effective models for managing scholarly communication in a global environment.

11. 2003 Program Priorities (cont.)
Develop effective strategies to assist member libraries in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented staff in a changing demographic and economic environment.

12. 2003 Program Priorities (cont.)
Develop new approaches and models for measuring and improving library service effectiveness, diversity, and leadership.

13. ARL Programs Statistics & Measurement
Federal Relations & Information Policy
Scholarly Communication
Access & Technology
Collections
Preservation
Leadership & Management
Diversity & Staffing
Research & Development
Publications & Communication

14. ARL Initiatives/Alliances
Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC)
Coalition for Networked Information (CNI)
National Humanities Alliance (NHA)
National Initiative for Networked Cultural Heritage (NINCH)
Shared Legal Capability (SLC)
Higher Education Alliance for Information Technology

15. Research & Development
Examples of ongoing or recently completed projects:
AAU/ARL Global Resources Program
ARL Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce
Assessing ILL/DD Services
Developing an ARL Agenda for Special Collections
E-Metrics Project
LibQUAL+™ Assessment Program
NSDL Digital Library Assessment Project
Project SAILS
Scholars Portal Project
Visiting Program Officer

16. ARL Governance 9 Standing Committees Working Groups/Task Forces
ARL Board of Directors (3 new elected from membership each year)
Executive Committee of the Board (President, Past-President, President-elect)

17. ARL Finances Membership dues Cost-recovery activity Grants
Recommendation from ARL Board
Voted by Membership in October
Cost-recovery activity
Workshops
Publications
Grants
Member-supported projects

18. Communication Channels
ARL Program Plan, March
ARL Activity Report, October
ARL: A Bimonthly Report
e-news for ARL Directors
ARL web page updated weekly
ARL-Directors list
ARL-Announce broadcast list

19. Julia C. Blixrud
Assistant Executive Director, External Relations
Association of Research Libraries
21 Dupont Circle, Ste 800
Washington, DC 20036
ext. 133
(fax)
(cell)