The CARLI E-Resources program provides a wide array of electronic resources and services that make it possible for member libraries to expand and enhance their collections in a more efficient and affordable manner.
The goals of the CARLI E-Resources program are to:
The CARLI Electronic Resources Licensing Principles outline the philosophical assumptions that provide the foundation for the CARLI Electronic Resources program. These principles guide CARLI’s efforts in negotiating with publishers and vendors for a wide variety of electronic content on behalf of the membership.
Vendors interested in working with CARLI should first review CARLI's E-Resources Brokering Values.
The program provides complimentary access to core electronic resources for the benefit of all CARLI members. CARLI-funded resources include content to which CARLI has perpetual rights, and databases licensed as annual subscriptions.
CARLI pays the full annual subscription cost for these e-resources for all Governing member libraries:
The program acquires Permanent Acquisitions available at no cost to Governing member libraries.
CARLI contracts with commercial database providers to supply members with discounted pricing for a broad range of library resources to support their individual curricular and research needs. 97% of CARLI Governing member libraries participate in e-resources brokering, amounting to nearly $16 million in subscriptions in for 2020.
Member libraries pay only the subscription costs for selected resources, with no service fees or restrictions on participation. CARLI assumes the costs associated with:
All Governing Members may participate in CARLI E-Resources Brokering. For additional information about CARLI E-Resources, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page. For information about the database brokering program or on becoming a CARLI member, contact the CARLI Office.
CARLI staff conduct training sessions for participating libraries, as well as other educational programming specifically related to e-resources. Information about upcoming training sessions and events is available from the CARLI calendar; from the E-Resources Contacts email list; and from the Collections and Content interest group email list.
March 26, 2019 Usage Statistics Forum
April 6, 2022 Accessibility Forum
CARLI staff and the Commercial Products Committee host webinars on E-Resources topics of general interest. All member library staff are welcome to attend. Past topics have included usage statistics for electronic resources, license agreement review, and license negotiation strategies.
Content provided through the E- Resources program is hosted on vendor-maintained platforms. CARLI digital collections, such as Saskia Fine Art Images and the Illinois Digital Sanborn Maps, are hosted a ContentDM server by OCLC.
CARLI staff are available to assist with technical issues relating to your electronic resources brokered through CARLI. We can contact e-resources vendors on your behalf, help with access issues or questions, and notify vendors of IP range changes. For assistance, please email the CARLI Office.
The Commercial Products Committee, in conjunction with CARLI staff, has created a page devoted to providing links to or copies of the current VPAT (Voluntary Product Assessment Template) documents for all CARLI vendors. This page provides important information for evaluating efforts being made by vendors toward accessibility.