Why Join CRL?
CRL empowers over 200 academic and research libraries by providing access to rare and essential resources beyond the capacity of any single institution. Students, faculty, and researchers at voting member institutions enjoy full benefits, with select access for Global Affiliates.
Exclusive Access to Scholarly Resources
CRL houses over five million primary source materials, including:
- North America's largest circulating newspaper collection
- 38,000+ journals and 800,000 international dissertations
- Rare microfilm and paper collections spanning Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, and Southeast Asia
- Expanding digital archives with over 20 million curated pages
- Generous loan periods for convenient borrowing
Research & Collections Support
- On-Demand Digitization – Request digitization of materials
- Unlimited Document Delivery – Articles from 100,000+ serials & newspapers, plus 50,000+ journals from the Linda Hall Library
- Demand-Based Purchases – Acquire foreign dissertations, newspapers, and archival records
- Enhanced Discoverability – Seamless access via local records and web-scale services
- Individualized Consultations – Custom resource recommendations
Expanding Partnerships & Preservation
- Collaborations – Expanding digital content with key partners
- Preservation Initiatives – Supporting digital and print preservation through data analysis and collective efforts
- Shared Print Program – Ensuring long-term accessibility of critical collections
- Webinars & Forums – Engaging discussions on collection-building and digital investment
Join CRL and access a world of scholarly resources that power groundbreaking research.
Interested in becoming a member of CRL?
Since 1949, CRL membership has empowered academic and research libraries to expand their collections beyond individual capacity. As a member, you'll gain access to rare and unique primary sources curated by experts from leading North American universities.
At its heart, CRL is more than a resource—it’s a collaborative library community dedicated to preserving knowledge and ensuring long-term access to vital research materials. Join us and strengthen the future of scholarly research.
Member Benefits
Events and Webinars
Webinars about CRL initiatives in digitization, licensing, and shared print efforts are open to library staff and researchers at all member institutions.
Use our Reading Room
Library staff from CRL member institutions are welcome to make an appointment to visit the CRL collections facility when in the Chicago area.
Services
The Center for Research Libraries supports academic and independent research libraries by providing shared resources, expert services, and programs.
Licensing Tools and Resources
Tools and Resources for Licensing are designed to support our members with valuable information, best practices, and streamlined tools for navigating and working through the licensing process.