CARLI membership is open to all institutions that are recognized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and that are an ILLINET member. Governing member institutions must be not-for-profit, and must be incorporated in Illinois (not designated as out-of-state by the IBHE.) Each CARLI member library member must demonstrate the ability to meet the core needs of its students, faculty and staff and must willing to participate actively in the resource sharing mission of the consortium.
Cultural and research libraries with missions that complement and enhance CARLI's primary services and have the potential to contribute to the advancement of CARLI and its academic members, but don’t meet these criteria may petition the CARLI Board for membership by submitting the Membership Questionnaire and Application. Cultural and research libraries must be ILLINET members, must be not-for-profit, and must be incorporated in Illinois.
For-profit institutions of higher education that are incorporated in Illinois OR not-for-profit, out-of-state institutions of higher education as designated by the IBHE (even those with a physical presence in Illinois), are not eligible for membership.
Each member library retains autonomy over its staff, operations, and budget. However, participation in CARLI requires collaboration and commitment to the Consortium.
Governing members are eligible to participate in all CARLI products, services, and programs, at fullest level of central support and may participate in all CARLI committees, task forces, and user groups. Governing members receive ILDS delivery service at no cost, and receive priority status on waiting lists to join I-Share and other premium services. Each Governing Member institution has a vote in the governance of the consortium. Governing members pay an annual fee calculated by student FTE enrollment and institution type. Annual membership fees range from a minimum of $2200 to a maximum of $16,391 for FY25.
Participation in I-Share, while limited to Governing members, requires a separate application process and institutions must meet additional criteria beyond those required for Governing membership. Participation in I-Share is granted at the discretion of the CARLI Board of Directors and is neither guaranteed nor implied by an institution’s CARLI Governing Member status. In addition to Governing membership fees, I-Share participants incur one-time costs and ongoing costs.
Staff at non-member libraries are eligible to participate in CARLI email discussion lists except those lists specifically limited to members. Non-members may also attend CARLI workshops, training events and forums when space is available.