About IACRL

The Illinois Association of College and Research Libraries (IACRL) is a forum of the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and a chapter of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). For the purposes of this forum, academic libraries include college, community, technical and junior colleges and university libraries as well as research libraries not affiliated with academic institutions.
Join IACRL
Any ILA member can join IACRL by updating your ILA forum preferences. Non-members of ILA can become members by joining ILA and checking the IACRL Forum box on the ILA membership application. (Membership in ALA or ACRL not required.)
IACRL Directory of Expertise
The Illinois Association of College & Research Libraries is developing a directory of expertise for Illinois academic librarians. Sign up to share your expertise with your librarian colleagues. Share your passion for and experience with any number of the specialties listed below. This contact list of expertise will give librarians across the state the opportunity to network with each other, answer one another’s questions, and share knowledge.
News
- 2022 ILA Award Nominations Are Open: Nominate a colleague – or yourself!
- March 19, 2022
- by Kim Tipton, McHenry County College Last year's winner of the ILA Illinois Academic Librarian of the Year Award, Sue Franzen! Do you know an Illinois academic librarian who has made an impact this year at their library? Are you an Illinois academic…
- Publications by Illinois Academic Librarians: October 2021-March 2022
- March 19, 2022
- Compiled by Jill Harper, Heartland Community College, and Krista Bowers Sharpe, Western Illinois University Benson, Sara R., Carla S. Myers, and Timothy Vollmer. 2022. “Washington Hotline.” College & Research Libraries News 83 (2): 84…
- IACRL Unconference Report from ILA 2021
- March 19, 2022
- By Krista Bowers Sharpe, Western Illinois University For the 2021 IACRL Unconference, held as part of ILA Virtual 2021, President Emily Gilbert, Past-President Sue Franzen, and President-Elect Dan Matthews did what academic librarians do best–t…
Events
-
Jun
13
2022
IACRL Executive Board Meeting
Monday, Jun 13, 2022 10:00am–11:00am
Zoom Meeting
-
Jul
11
2022
IACRL Executive Board Meeting
Monday, Jul 11, 2022 10:00am–11:00am
Zoom Meeting
-
Aug
8
2022
IACRL Executive Board Meeting
Monday, Aug 8, 2022 10:00am–11:00am
Zoom Meeting
Mission
The mission of the IACRL is to promote the interests of academic libraries and the personnel of those libraries; to enhance the abilities of academic library personnel to identify and meet the information needs of current and potential library users; to develop and promote leadership to the academic library community.
Goals and objectives
- To contribute to the professional and career development of all academic library personnel
- To enhance the capabilities of Illinois libraries to serve the needs of their users
- To promote and speak for the interests of academic libraries
- To promote study, research and dissemination of information relevant to academic librarianship
- To promote and foster cooperation and communication among the members of IACRL, the academic community, and other organizations with common interests
- To support and protect intellectual freedom in academic libraries
- To honor the contribution of individuals who enhance academic libraries in Illinois
Mailing list

Keep in touch! Stay informed and join our listserv! The IACRL listserv is an unmoderated discussion group, consisting primarily of occasional announcements about IACRL and upcoming events.
To subscribe, unsubscribe, or update your information, please visit http://list.railslibraries.info/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/iacrl.
To post a message to all list members, email iacrl@list.railslibraries.info. You can also email iacrl-request@list.railslibraries.info with the word help in the subject or body for additional list maintenance options.
If you have questions, please contact list moderators Gwen Gregory (ggregory@uic.edu) or Eric Edwards (eedwards@ilsos.net).
IACRL By-Laws
Our By-Laws were approved by the membership on October 27, 1997 and were amended on October 17, 2000, April 1, 2014, and October 8, 2009. View a full HTML version of the IACRL by-laws online.
Officers
-
Emily Gilbert, President Assistant Professor/Library Liaison to the College of Medicine at University of Illinois at Chicago
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Daniel Matthews, President-Elect Digital Services Librarian at Moraine Valley Community College Library
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Susan R. Franzen, Past President Interim Associate Dean for Public Services & Organizational Development at Illinois State University
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Elena Carrillo, Secretary Head Librarian at University of Illinois at Chicago
Term ends 06/30/2022
Standing Committees
-
Susan R. Franzen, Awards Committee Chair Interim Associate Dean for Public Services & Organizational Development at Illinois State University
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Daniel Matthews, Conference/Continuing Education Committee Chair Digital Services Librarian at Moraine Valley Community College Library
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Lorene Kennard, Membership Committee Chair University Archivist and Cataloging Manager at University of St. Francis Library
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Susan R. Franzen, Nominating Committee Chair Interim Associate Dean for Public Services & Organizational Development at Illinois State University
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Krista A. Bowers Sharpe, Communications Committee Chair Coordinator of Reference Service at Western Illinois University
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Gwen Gregory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Associate Dean for Collections Management at Northern Illinois University Libraries
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Olia Sweiss, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Librarian
Term ends 06/30/2022
Forum Leadership
-
Laura L. Barnes, Board liaison Sustainability Information Curator at Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Term ends 06/30/2022 -
Cyndi Robinson, Staff liaison Deputy Director at Illinois Library Association
Term ends 06/30/2025