All Indiana Libraries Become Group Affiliate Members of SOLINET Library Cooperative

On July 7, 2008, the Indiana State Library made an important announcement that it had provided Group Affiliate membership for all Indiana libraries in the not-for-profit library cooperative, the Southeastern Library Network, Inc., familiarly known as SOLINET. Established in 1973 and located in Atlanta, Georgia, SOLINET has grown from 99 charter members to more than 3,400 members in 2008, its 35th anniversary, making it one of the world’s largest library partnerships.

Through the leadership and vision shown by the Indiana State Library, this membership brings over 1,350 Indiana multi-type libraries into the SOLINET consortium, including about 80 academic and 32 institutional libraries, 238 public libraries, over 1,000 K-12 libraries, museums, archives, and dozens of special libraries in companies, organizations, and other groups.

Membership in SOLINET will strengthen and support the Ball State University Libraries by positioning us better to facilitate and accomplish our strategic plan. Through our SOLINET membership, we can avail ourselves of a wide range of exemplary benefits, including accessing cost-effective programs and services at deep discounts, increasing our buying power for digital and other informational resources, being able to attend SOLINET’s nationally recognized classes for training and professional development, as well as the potential to participate in the SOLINE interlibrary loan network.

To view a 15-minute presentation about SOLINET and its benefit for Indiana’s libraries, click on www.solinet.net/News/Indiana%20Libraries.aspx.