To learn more about the Illinois library network, Lincoln Trail has provided a list of consortia and associations below.

Illinois Library Consortia

• Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI)
  • On July 1, 2005, ICCMP, IDAL and ILCSO merged to become CARLI. The mission of CARLI is to lead Illinois academic libraries to create and sustain a rich, supportive, and diverse knowledge environment that furthers teaching, learning, and research through the sharing of collections, expertise, and programs. 2005-2006 is a transition year for the new organization, during which an integrated CARLI website is being developed.
    
• Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) - Library Initiatives
  • The CIC, located in Champaign, IL, is the academic consortium of the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago. Its programs encompass nearly all aspects of university activity.
    
• Health Science Librarians of Illinois (HSLI)
  • HSLI is a statewide organization for librarians and others interested in health sciences.
    
• Illinois Library Systems (ILSDO)
  • ILSDO consists of the nine regional, multitype library systems in Illinois. ILSDO promotes communication, sharing and cooperative projects among the library systems in Illinois.
    

Library Associations

• American Library Association
  The ALA is a national organization which provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all. Links are available to ALA's Divisions, Units, and Governance Structure.
  
  ALA's divisions specialize in services to particular constituencies.
  • AASL - American Association of School Librarians
  • ALTA - The Association for Library Trustees and Advocates
  • ALCTS - Association for Library Collections & Technical Services
  • ALSC - Association for Library Service to Children
  • ACRL - Association of College and Research Libraries
  • ASCLA - Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
  • LAMA - Library Administration and Management Association
  • LITA - Library and Information Technology Association
  • PLA - Public Library Association
  • RUSA - Reference and User Services Association
  • YALSA - Young Adult Library Services Association
    

• Illinois Library Association (ILA)
  • The ILA is the professional organizaton for Illinois libraries. ILA provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library services in Illinois. ILA's primary goals include advocacy for library issues, promoting literacy, lifelong learning, open access to Information, intellectual freedom, legislation, and increasing public awareness of libraries.
    
• Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA)
  • ISLMA serves K-12 Illinois school library media specialists and their students. ISLMA provides leadership and support for the development, promotion, and improvement of school library media programs and the school library media profession in Illinois.
    
• Medical Library Association (MLA)
  • The MLA is dedicated to improving the quality and leadership of the health information professional in order to foster the art and science of health information services.
    
• Special Libraries Association (SLA)
  • SLA is an international professional association representing nearly 15,000 information resource librarians. SLA members are employed by corporations, private companies, government agencies, technical and academic institutions, museums, medical facilities and information management consulting firms.
• Special Libraries Association - Illinois Chapter
  • The Illinois Chapter is an association of individuals and organizations having a professional, scientific, or technical interest in library and information science. The association strives to promote and improve the communication, dissemination, and use of such information and knowledge for the benefit of libraries or other educational organizations.
    
• Special Libraries Association - Student Group - University of Illinois (SLA Student Group)
  • The SLA Student Group, affiliated with SLA International and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, provides a forum for the exchange of information between students and professionals, promotes awareness and discussion of special library issues, and identifies and facilitates opportunities for students through a variety of on- and off-campus events and programs.
    
• U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Services (NCLIS)
  • NCLIS' main statutory functions are to discover the needs of the people of the US for library and information services, to make recommendations for national policies, and to advise the President, Congress, state and local governments on implementiation of national library and inmformation policy.