Links to Library Web Resources

Selected list of web sites that provide valuable information about libraries and librarianship.

91´«Ã½

91´«Ã½ Library Fact Sheet 29

The following web sites were selected because they provide valuable information about libraries and librarianship.

  • 91´«Ã½ Affiliates
    List of links to the web sites for library associations of specific cultural groups or distinct disciplines which are affiliates of the 91´«Ã½, which includes but is not limited to: the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL), the American Indian Library Association (AILA), the Assocation for Library & Information Science Education (ALISE), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Black Caucus of the 91´«Ã½ (BC91´«Ã½), REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, and the Medical Library Association (MLA).
  • 91´«Ã½ Research & Statistics
    List of links to 91´«Ã½ Initatives, including 91´«Ã½'s membership and salary surveys, and the annual Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study, as well as links to library statistics, and links to librarianship & library staff statistics.
  • Website of the United States Copyright Office, which operates out of the Library of Congress. For a better understanding of what copyright is and what it protects, read the .
  • Website of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), an independent organization of the chief officers of state and territorial agencies designated as the state library administrative agency and responsible for statewide library development. Its membership consists solely of these , variously designated as state librarian, director, commissioner or executive secretary. Includes profiles on each member, links to state resources, and links to library statistical and research information. Also see the compiled by IMLS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (see entry for IMLS below).
  • Website of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), an association of individuals and groups which make up the international library community from nearly 150 countries. For more information, read and see the page outlining their , which includes a list of IFLA's Core Activities, Divisions, Sections, Special Interest Groups, Discussion Groups, Joint Activities, and Corporate Partners. Also see the . A list of the library associations in other nations resides at Library Associations Around the World, a project of the , coordinated by 91´«Ã½'s International Relations Office. For a list of other nations' national libraries, the guides you to the maintained by the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
  • Website of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency created under the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996. IMLS responsibilities include fostering partnerships between libraries and museums and also providing support, including monetary grants, for all kinds of libraries, including public, school, and academic. Read the IMLS for more information. Effective October 1, 2007, conducts the as well as the . Access the .
  • Excerpt from : In January 2010, the website "ipl2: information you can trust" was launched, merging the collections of resources from the Internet Public Library (IPL) and the Librarians' Internet Index (LII) websites. The site is hosted by , and a with programs in information science are involved in developing and maintaining the ipl2. ipl2 is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment. To date, thousands of students and volunteer library and information science professionals have been involved in answering reference questions for our and in designing, building, creating and maintaining the ipl2's collections. It is through the efforts of these students and volunteers that the ipl2 continues to thrive to this day. See and the .
  • Website of the Library of Congress, the national library of the United States. Read the to find out about the library's holdings, access and services to the public, and current special projects. The Library of Congress site has distinctive online resources, such as and and a as well as .
  • Website of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a program within the United States Department of Education. NCES collects and publishes statistical data on various educational entities, including libraries; read and see the main page of the . Access the most current reports on and . Public library statistical data now conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); see IMLS entry above.
  • Website of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), a non-profit association accredited by the American National Standards Institute (), which identifies, develops, maintains, and publishes technical standards to manage information in our changing and ever-more digital environment. are available as Adobe Reader PDF documents. For latest information, see .
  • Website of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world's information and reducing information costs. Read for more information on and read about projects, including the , a list of the top 1000 titles owned by member libraries.
  • Website of the Schools and Libraries Program, part of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), which was set up under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Read the to learn about its central role in providing the "E-Rate" discount for internet access to schools and libraries across the country, espcially those in lower income rural and inner-city areas. Also see the for further assistance and clarification.
  • Website of the Special Libraries Association (SLA). This organization focuses on the needs of librarians in non-traditional settings, such as corporations, associations, and other institutions requiring information professionals. For more information, see as well as . There's a page of while questions like what is a special librarian and how many special libraries are there in the USA are addressed at the .
  • List of links to the websites of all fifty state libraries in the United States as well as the head library agencies of the U.S. territories, compiled by IMLS (see entry on IMLS above), comparable to the list of in COSLA (see entry on COSLA above). There is also a list compiled and regularly updated by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, . The and now re-directs visitors to the .
  • An online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, and take online courses. The main sections of the site are , , , , , and . Also, WebJunction now hosts (and has archived) , and also now hosts , the mailing list, and .
  • Created by OCLC (see OCLC entry above), WorldCat connects you to the collections and services of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide, yet lets you find items in libraries near you, using your zip code. Find out more at Stay up-to-date on WorldCat features and services via the .

Last updated: December 2010

For more information on this contact the 91´«Ã½ Library Reference Desk by telephone: 800-545-2433, extension 2153; fax: 312-280-3255; e-mail: library@ala.org; or regular mail: 91´«Ã½ Library, 91´«Ã½, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795.