CONTENTS: ARL Board of Directors | ARL Staff | Action Plan Priority Achievements | By the Numbers
Throughout 2023, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) focused on the 2023–2026 Action Plan priorities to advance our vision of creating a trusted, equitable, and inclusive research and learning ecosystem and preparing library leaders to advance this work in strategic partnership with member libraries and other organizations worldwide. Our members include museum, national, public, and university libraries in Canada and the United States.
Highlights for each Action Plan priority are noted below. Many thanks to our members, Board, partners, and staff for their engagement in the work of the Association, their collaboration, and their shared expertise. You are invited to learn more about each priority on our website.
With the conclusion of 2023, ARL President Susan Parker (University of British Columbia) handed over leadership of the Board to Trevor A. Dawes (University of Delaware). In December, ARL announced the incoming executive director, Andrew K. Pace, who begins his tenure on February 1, 2024, and thanked Mary Lee Kennedy for almost six years of service as executive director, ending January 31, 2024.
ARL Board of Directors 2023
ARL Staff, December 2023
Action Plan Priority Achievements
Highlights of ARL’s achievements are organized by the Association’s priorities below.
Advocate for an information policy environment in which research libraries advance the progress of knowledge
ARL works in coalition with representatives from civil society, higher education, libraries, scholars, open science, research, technology, and trade to advance our mission and vision in the public policy arena in Canada and the United States. Our portfolio focuses on accessibility, information policy, funding for higher education and science, copyright and fair use/fair dealing, higher education policy, open internet, and privacy.
- The ARL/Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Joint Task Force on Marrakesh Treaty Implementation completed its work, including several publications and presenting to the World Intellectual Property Organization.
- ARL partnered in 2023 with the Wikimedia Foundation to brief congressional staffers on the implications of reforming or repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects free expression online.
- As a member of the Library Copyright Alliance (LCA), ARL enhanced the research library community’s understanding of how copyright law can address concerns that arise from the use of generative AI. OpenAI cited LCA’s principles on copyright and AI to assert that training AI models on copyrighted works is fair use.
Advocate for and equip research library and archives leaders as partners in advancing research and scholarship that is increasingly open and equitable
This portfolio includes collections and the scholarly record, research and scholarship, and university-based publishing.
- A joint task force with the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) is developing a set of possible future scenarios examining how artificial intelligence (AI)—especially generative AI—and machine learning might transform the research enterprise.
- The Realities of Academic Data Sharing (RADS) Initiative released an updated list of data management and sharing (DMS) activities researchers and institutional research support units may undertake to make their funded research data publicly available.
- TOME: Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem, a joint pilot project of ARL, the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Association of University Presses (AUPresses), issued its final report, noting that authors loved TOME and the research community is committed to open-access monographs.
Demonstrate the value and contributions of research libraries and archives to their communities
ARL is committed to providing its members and the broader community with data to support their organizations, to convene experts more broadly in sharing their knowledge, and to increase awareness about the value of research libraries by decision-makers.
- The 2022 annual survey cycle completed data collection, corrections, and publication of the ARL Statistics 2022 and ARL Salary Survey 2022 under the recently approved guidance to streamline the survey process. In early 2023, ARL published the ARL Statistics 2021 and ARL Salary Survey 2021.
- ARL completed two research library impact initiatives: ARL and CARL published two reports on research library impact as it relates to institutional priorities, Observations on Research Libraries’ Alignment with Institutional STEM Priorities and Redressing Relationships with the Historically Marginalized; and ARL released its final report on the Research Library Impact Framework (RLIF).
- Planning is underway for the 2024 Library Assessment Conference, co-hosted by ARL and the University of Washington (UW) Libraries. The conference will be held November 6–9, 2024, in Portland, Oregon.
Implement a strategy for leadership and organizational development through programming and events that develop library deans, directors, and staff to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by the significant changes underway in research, teaching, and learning
Focused on senior and executive leadership, ARL provides institutes and programs for its members and the field.
- New in 2023, ARL Institutes provide learning events for executive and senior leaders on timely organizational development and leadership challenges. The first Executive Institute, on free expression, convened in October. Two public institutes are in the planning stages: the first President’s Institute, on sustainability; and the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Institute, with funding from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
- The inaugural Intensive Learning Program (ILP) began in 2023. This eight-month hybrid experience explores operational aspects of senior-leader portfolios in research libraries and archives as well as responsibilities related to managing those portfolios.
- The 2023 Leadership Fellows Program (LFP) launched. The LFP develops and prepares the next generation of senior library and archival leaders through a combination of curriculum, sponsorship, peer mentoring, individualized learning, and site visits.
Promote the creation of diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments, services, and collections by member institutions
This portfolio focuses on recruiting into our organizations and developing individuals who identify as people of color, or are from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups. We also ensure that our community continues to improve the representation of historically underrepresented, underserved, or marginalized groups in information resources.
- ARL continued to offer the popular Leadership and Career Develop Program (LCDP) and Kaleidoscope Program in 2023. LCDP is a 13-month program for mid-career BIPOC leaders that facilitates their development and advances their leadership goals. The Kaleidoscope Program is a two-year commitment that prepares BIPOC graduate students for purposeful careers in research libraries and archives.
- The ARL Board approved two commitments regarding ARL’s land acknowledgement: updating the language to more clearly acknowledge the nuanced nature of this practice in an international association with diverse institutional members and varied modalities for its offerings; and ensuring that our land acknowledgement practices are connected to meaningful actions and impact.
- The 2024 ARL Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Libraries & Archives (IDEAL) Conference co-hosts started planning the conference with ARL. The co-hosts are Carleton University, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Waterloo, Western University, and York University.
By the Numbers
ARL’s programs, initiatives, and events included partners, attendees and speakers.
Convening
- Over 950 attendees from our 127 member institutions and the public in member sessions, webinars, peer-to-peer confabs, Association Meetings, institutes, and external forums
Informing
- 154 Day in Review emails, 50 ARL News emails, 18 briefings, 10 reports
Shaping
- $650,000 of dues and sponsorships to support our learning and DEI programs and offerings for ARL stakeholders, which included 117 fellows and scholars
Influencing
- 24 coalition/partner letters, 7 statements, 5 public comments, 4 amicus briefs
