Links to Library Web Resources

ALA Library Fact Sheet 29

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

• AASL (American Association of School Librarians) Affiliate Assembly - Directory of State and Regional Affiliate Organizations
  

  List of links to the web sites of state and regional school library media associations which are affiliates of the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association.

• American Library Association Affiliates
  

  List of links to the web sites for library associations of specific cultural groups or distinct disciplines which are affiliates of the American Library Association, 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 American Library Association (BCALA), 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).

• American Library Association Chapter Web Site Directory
  

  List of links to the web sites of state and regional library associations which are chapters of the American Library Association.

• American Library Association Statistics About Libraries
  

  List of links naming online resources and print publications with research, surveys, and statistics on various types of libraries, especially public, academic, and school libraries.

• Copyright Office
  

  Web site 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 Copyright Office FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Also see the Copyright Basics Circular (PDF).

• COSLA - Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
  

  Web site 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 top library officers of the states and territories, 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 latest report on state library agencies compiled by IMLS, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (more on this group below).

• IFLA - International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
  

  Web site 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 About IFLA and see the page outlining their Activities & Groups, which includes a list of IFLA's Core Activities, Divisions, Sections, Special Interest Groups, Discussion Groups, Joint Activities, and Corporate Partners. Also see the IFLA Mailing Lists. A list of the library associations in other nations resides at Library Associations Around the World, a project of the IFLA Management of Library Associations Section, coordinated by ALA's International Relations Office. For a list of other nations' national libraries, the Conference of Directors of National Libraries guides you to the National Library Websites maintained by the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

• IMLS - Institute of Museum and Library Services
  

  Web site 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 About Us for more information. Effective October 1, 2007, conducts the nation-wide public library survey as well as the state library survey. Access the most current report on public libraries, the Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2006 report.

• LII - Librarians' Index to the Internet
  

  Provides a well-organized point of access for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected Internet resources, with quick links to general reference materials as well as library professional information. Will be merging with the Internet Public Library in late 2009.

• Library of Congress
  

  Web Site of the Library of Congress, the national library of the United States. Read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) 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 Librarians and Archivists: Tools and resources for information professionals, and also Research and Reference Services: Library of Congress collections and research tools, as well as Virtual Programs & Services, including Ask a Librarian.

• NCES - National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
  

  Web site 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 NCES About Us and see the main page of the Library Statistics Program. Access the most current reports on academic libraries and school libraries. Public library statistical data now conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS); see IMLS entry above.

• NISO - National Information Standards Organization
  

  Web site of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO), a non-profit association accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which identifies, develops, maintains, and publishes technical standards to manage information in our changing and ever-more digital environment. NISO Standards are available as Adobe Reader PDF documents. For latest information, see NISO News and Events.

• OCLC - Online Computer Library Center
  

  Web site 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 About OCLC for more information on OCLC products and services and read about OCLC Research projects, including the OCLC Top 1000, a list of the top 1000 titles owned by member libraries.

• Schools and Libraries Program/E-Rate Application Information
  

  Web site 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 Overview of the Schools and Libraries Program 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 Reference Area - Reference Topics for further assistance and clarification.

• Special Library Association
  

  Web site 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 Inside SLA as well as SLA's About Information Professionals.

• State Library Web Sites
  

  List of links to the web sites of all fifty state libraries in the United States. This list is compiled and updated by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The Library of Congress discontinued its own list of state library web sites and now re-directs visitors to the State Libraries & Archives list maintained at the PublicLibraries.com web site.

• WebJunction
  

  An online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, and take online courses. The main sections of the site are Library Management, Technology, Library Services, Courses, Our Services, and Member Center. Also, WebJunction now hosts (and has archived) the SunSITE Communities Library Lists, specifically ILL-L, PubLib, Web4Lib, and XML4Lib, and also now hosts Current Cites, the information technology literature bibliography mailing list, and LibWeb, an online international index of thousands of library web sites from over 100 countries.

• WorldCat
  

  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 What is WorldCat? Stay up-to-date on WorldCat features and services via the WorldCat Blog.