ARL publishes reports, issue briefs, talking points, position statements, monographs, compilations of statistics, and many other types of documents on a wide range of current issues of interest to academic and research library administrators, staff, and library education professionals. In addition to these text-based documents, other ARL resources include audio and video files, images, and presentation slides.
Many ARL publications and resources are freely available through this website. Some monographs are available for purchase in print and/or online versions. Use the link to the right to search for ARL publications and resources. Not finding the item you are searching for? Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
New Publications Announcements
Subscribe to one or more of our e-newsletters to receive announcements of new publications. We also announce new publications on our homepage, our Facebook page, and through Twitter and Google+.
ARL Flagship Publications
Research Library Issues
RLI articles focus on current and emerging topics that are strategically important to research libraries. They explore issues, share information, pose critical questions, and provide examples. PDFs of issues are freely available through the ARL Digital Publications website.
ARL Statistics
The ARL Statistics publication compiles data on ARL member library collections, expenditures, staffing, and service activities that is gathered through the annual ARL statistics survey. Editions from 2004 to the present are available for purchase as online PDFs through ARL Digital Publications and/or as print copies. PDFs of earlier editions are freely available through this website. Download the arl-statistics-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information for ARL Statistics publications.
ARL Academic Law Library Statistics
The ARL Academic Law Library Statistics publication compiles data on ARL member law library collections, expenditures, staffing, and service activities that is gathered through the annual ARL statistics survey. Editions from 2004 to the present are available for purchase as online PDFs through ARL Digital Publications and/or as print copies. PDFs of earlier editions are freely available through this website. Download the arl-statistics-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information for ARL Statistics publications.
ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics
The ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics publication compiles data on ARL member health sciences library collections, expenditures, staffing, and service activities that is gathered through the annual ARL statistics survey. Editions from 2004 to the present are available for purchase as online PDFs through ARL Digital Publications and/or as print copies. PDFs of earlier editions are freely available through this website. Download the arl-statistics-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information for ARL Statistics publications.
ARL Annual Salary Survey
This publication reports salary data for more than 12,000 professional positions in ARL member libraries that is gathered through the annual ARL salary surveys. It also reports minority representation in US member libraries. Editions from 2005 to the present are available for purchase as online PDFs through ARL Digital Publications and/or as print copies. PDFs of earlier editions are freely available through this website. Download the arl-salary-survey-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information for the ARL Annual Salary Survey.
ARL Preservation Statistics
The ARL Preservation Statistics gathered data from 1987–1988 through 2007–2008 to measure the preservation efforts of ARL member libraries. These publications include data tables on personnel, expenditures, conservation treatment, preservation treatment, and preservation microfilming. An in-depth analysis of data by size of library is also provided. PDFs are freely available through this website.
ARL Supplementary Statistics
The ARL Supplementary Statistics serve as a testbed to collect information on new measures. It has yielded valuable information on public services and government documents in the past, and is used today to measure the use of electronic resources. Questions are either finalized and moved into the main ARL Statistics questionnaire, or determined not to be of value and removed from consideration. Note: there were no supplementary statistics publications for 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06. PDFs are freely available through this website.
SPEC Kits
SPEC surveys gather information from ARL member institutions on current research library practices and policies. SPEC Kits combine the survey results and documentation from survey respondents to guide libraries as they address the ever-changing challenges facing libraries. Print copies of the six SPEC Kits published each year are available through an annual subscription. Individual titles published since 2004 are also available to purchase. Access to online PDFs of editions from 2006 to the present via ARL Digital Publications is available for purchase as a collection or by individual title. PDFs from earlier years are freely available through HathiTrust. Download the spec-kit-purchase-options-2013.pdf for complete pricing and purchase options information for SPEC Kit publications.
Publications Ordering Information
To order print publications or IP access to online publications, please contact:
ARL Publications Distribution Center
PO Box 531
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-0531
Phone: 301-362-8196
Fax: 240-396-2479
E-mail:
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Pricing Information
Download print and online pricing information for ARL Statistics, ARL Annual Salary Survey, or SPEC Kits.
To qualify for member prices, orders must be shipped to an address at an ARL member library.
Shipping and Handling
US: UPS Ground: $10/per publication
Canada: UPS Ground: $15/per publication
US & Canada: UPS Second Day: $15 plus actual shipping charge
Rush Orders: Contact the ARL Publications Distribution Center
International: Contact the ARL Publications Distribution Center
Payment Options
Prepayment is required for non-members.
Payment by check, money order, Visa, and MasterCard is accepted. Checks should be made payable in US funds to the Association of Research Libraries. Federal ID number: 52-0784198-N.
Review Copies
Review copies are available to faculty and the press upon request. Please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Returns/Claims
Defective materials are returnable for exchange at any time within 60 days of shipping. Materials damaged during shipment may be returned for exchange with the original shipping package within 60 days of receipt. Items shipped as ordered are not returnable. All claims must be made within 6 months of order date.
