The American Library Association Institutional Repository is an open access repository for the permanent retention and preservation of digital-born records of the ALA and its members. While ALA staff and members are able to upload records and enter in appropriate metadata, administrative functions are limited to ALA Archives staff. For any issues that the user cannot address him/herself, please contact the ALA Archives for help.
Only records of archival value should be deposited into ALAIR. This means records of enduring administrative, legal, and research value, such as:
- Official records: constitutions, by-laws, minutes, transcripts, rosters, reports, agendas
- Historical files documenting policies, decisions, committee reports, speeches, events
- Publications: programs, articles, newsletters, press releases, journals
- Audio-visuals: images, photographs, videos, and sound recordings
For all records that are uploaded, users must read and agree to a non-exclusive disclosure license that will automatically appear during the submission process. Please be aware of any external rights beyond the user and the ALA when uploading records, especially publications. An embargo can be placed on records or publications that should not be made readily available until a later date.
Any digital records that may not be appropriate for ALAIR, but still retain administrative, legal or research value, can be taken in by the ALA Archives and placed on the Archives server for permanent retention and preservation. This might include records that have sensitive information that should not be open access, records with copyright concerns, correspondence and case files with privacy concerns, and complex office or personal file structures. For questions in regards to what to deposit into ALAIR, please contact the ALA Archives at ala-archives@library.illinois.edu or at 217-333-7841.
(Created 2014)
