Digital Publications

On this website you can access the full text of the Association’s flagship serial publications that have been published since 2006. Research Library Issues and SPEC Kits are freely available to all readers. Non-ARL members may purchase perpetual access to the ARL Annual Salary Survey and ARL Statistics titles. Online access offers the following features:

  • Search and read the full text online.
  • Fast, page-at-a-time viewing that works in any web browser, and in web-enabled handhelds like the iPhone.
  • Exact page reproduction.
  • Full-text search with relevancy ranking to help you quickly locate passages of interest.
  • All pages are easily bookmarkable for future reference.
  • Download a PDF of a particular section or the complete publication for offline use on your computer, tablet, or other digital reader.

What’s New

  • Cover Image ARL Annual Salary Survey 2016–2017
    Keyword(s): research libraries, salary data, salary trends, library professional staff
    Abstract:

    This report analyzes salary data for all professional staff working in the 124 ARL member libraries during FY2016–2017. Data for 10,245 professional staff members were reported this year for the 114 ARL university libraries, including their law and medical libraries (860 staff members reported by 72 medical libraries and 708 staff members reported by 74 law libraries). For the 10 nonuniversity ARL members, data were reported for 5,337 professional staff members. Beginning, median, and average salaries by race, sex, years of experience, geographic region, and professional position for research, university, law, and medical libraries are covered.

    Downloadable Microsoft Excel file of data tables

    Morris, Shaneka. ARL Annual Salary Survey 2016–2017. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2018.
  • Cover Image ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2015-2016
    Keyword(s): statistics; health sciences library; research library; collection expenditures; salary expenditures; operating expenditures; library personnel; public services; ILL items loaned; ILL items borrowed
    Abstract:

    This edition of the ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics is a compilation of data that describes collections, expenditures, personnel, and services in 58 health sciences libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada in fiscal year 2015–2016.

    Morris, Shaneka, and Gary Roebuck, comps. and eds. ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2015–2016. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2018.

     
  • Cover Image ARL Statistics 2015-2016
    Keyword(s): statistics; research library; collection expenditures; salary expenditures; operating expenditures; library personnel; public services; ILL items loaned; ILL items borrowed; library investment index
    Abstract:

    This edition of the ARL Statistics describes the collections, staffing, expenditures (for both print and electronic materials), and service activities of the 124 Association of Research Libraries member libraries in the US and Canada in fiscal year 2015–2016.

    Morris, Shaneka, and Gary Roebuck, comps. and eds. ARL Statistics 2015–2016. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2018.

     
  • Cover Image ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2015-2016
    Keyword(s): statistics; law library; research library; collection expenditures; salary expenditures; operating expenditures; library personnel; public services; ILL items loaned; ILL items borrowed
    Abstract:

    This edition of the ARL Academic Law Library Statistics is a compilation of data that describes collections, expenditures, personnel, and services in 72 law libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada in fiscal year 2015–2016.

    Morris, Shaneka, and Gary Roebuck, comps. and eds. ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2015–2016. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2018.
  • Cover Image SPEC Kit 359: Library Development (July 2018)
    Keyword(s): research library; development; fundraising; friendraising
    Abstract:

    This SPEC Kit gathered information to better understand the supporting structures and resources (personnel, financial, and material) and the activities and expectations associated with library development efforts at ARL member libraries. The survey retained some elements of the 2006 study for longitudinal comparison of the pre-recession environment and the current, post-recession environment, and included new elements to more broadly depict the current role of library development, including friendraising (efforts intended to generate committed and supportive relationships with outside parties and entities), communication to stakeholders of library value added, and stories and/or descriptive measures provided in these communication efforts. The survey also examined the role of advisory boards in the fundraising process. Since many academic libraries are either currently or soon will be engaged in a capital campaign or the renovation of an old or construction of a new library, the survey also examined the complexities of these common endeavors. It includes examples of organization charts, position descriptions, documents on fundraising goal setting and development board and friends governance, gift policies, capital campaign literature, and statements on intellectual freedom, inclusion, and diversity.

    Keith, Brian W., Joseph A. Salem, Jr., and Kurt Cumiskey. Library Development. SPEC Kit 359. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, July 2018.

     
  • Cover Image Research Library Issues, no. 294 (2018)
    Keyword(s): RLI; library liaisons; liaison librarians; faculty; students; university libraries; academic libraries; reorganization
  • Cover Image SPEC Kit 358: Accessibility and Universal Design (May 2018)
    Keyword(s): research library; accessibility; disability services; universal design; library services
    Abstract:

    This SPEC Kit explores how ARL member libraries are meeting the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities. This study gathered information on support for assistive technologies in libraries, services provided to individuals with disabilities, staffing and training for these services, evaluation of resources, and institutional policies and procedures in this area. It also includes questions on universal design, an approach to design that makes spaces and services more inclusive of all, regardless of their needs. It includes examples of accessibility services, statements, policies, and resources and job descriptions for accessibility services staff.

    Spina, Carli, and Margaret Cohen. Accessibility and Universal Design. SPEC Kit 358. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, May 2018.
  • Cover Image Research Library Issues, no. 293 (2018)
    Keyword(s): net neutrality; Open Internet Order; telecommunications policy; Federal Communications Commission; RLI
  • Cover Image Research Library Issues, no. 292 (2017)
    Keyword(s): RLI; research libraries; failure; innovation; invention; creativity; risk; success; organizational culture
  • Cover Image SPEC Kit 357: Libraries, Presses, and Publishing (November 2017)
    Keyword(s): research library; university press; library services; workforce; publishing
    Abstract:

    This SPEC Kit gathers information on the breadth of practice taking place at the intersection of research libraries, presses, and publishing, and on the blurring of boundaries as libraries engage in publishing and press activities in new ways. It explores which activities are associated with library publishing, the level of library/publishing/press integration and collaboration with or creation of formal publishing/press operations, and the organizational structuring of these activities and programs. It includes examples of publishing service options, press staffing, publishing information for authors and editors, and publication lists.

    Taylor, Laurie N., Brian W. Keith, Chelsea Dinsmore, and Meredith Morris-Babb. Libraries, Presses, and Publishing. SPEC Kit 357. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, November 2017.