ARL is the collective voice for research libraries and archives on public policy in the US and internationally. We lead on policy and legal issues that advance sustainable, equitable, and barrier-free access to information and culture while protecting core values of privacy and freedom of expression.
ARL partners with the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) on Canadian public policy issues, and works in coalition with the International Alliance of Research Library Associations (IARLA) on global policy development.
Contact Katherine Klosek (kklosek@arl.org) to find out how you can get involved.
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American Council on Education (ACE) Letter on Visa Flexibility for Afghan Students and Scholars
On November 1, 2021, ARL signed onto a letter by the American Council on Education (ACE) asking Secretary of State Antony Blinken to grant flexibility in the F-1 and J-1...
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Demand Progress Letter in Support of Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act Legislation
On November 5, 2021, ARL signed onto a letter by Demand Progress asking Senate leadership to consider the Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (ACMRA), which would strengthen congressional oversight...
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International Alliance of Research Library Associations (IARLA) Statement Welcoming the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
IARLA's statement highlights how research libraries are poised to lead and partner with others in the global open science movement to advance many of the UNESCO recommendations on open science....
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Statement by SPARC’s Open Access Working Group Applauding the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science
The OAWG statement encourages the US—which is not a member of UNESCO—to adopt the Open Science Recommendations, particularly the recommendation to "develop an enabling policy environment for open science." Open...
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Demand Progress Letter Requesting Congress to Direct the Congressional Research Services (CRS) to Publish All Non-Confidential CRS Reports Online
On December 13, 2021, ARL signed onto a letter by Demand Progress asking Members of the Joint Committee on the Library to publish CRS reports online, in accordance with the...
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American Council on Education (ACE) Letter on Proposed Changes to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Safeguards Rule
On February 7, ARL signed onto a community comment letter in response to the FTC’s notice of proposed rulemaking on changes to its Safeguards Rule. The Safeguards Rule requires financial...
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American Council on Education (ACE) Letter on Bomb Threats to HBCUs
On February 14, 2022, ARL joined a letter by the American Council on Education (ACE) letter asking Congress to investigate bomb threats to HBCUs; to pass H.Con.Res. 70 condemning threats...
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American Historical Association Statement Condemning HBCU Bomb Threats
On February 22, 2022, ARL signed onto a statement by the American Historical Association (AHA) condemning the bomb threats sent to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). AHA connects the...
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Endorsement of Letter by cOAlition S to Publishers
On March 1, ARL endorsed an open letter by cOAlition S to publishers, requesting that they make their policies and contracts more transparent, particularly as it relates to author rights...
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American Council on Education (ACE) Statement on Academic Inquiry
On March 3, 2022, ARL joined 90 higher education associations in stating that free and open academic inquiry is a core value of higher education. Letter on academic inquiry