Library Networks and Regions

American Library Association (ALA) -- "provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all"

Boston Library Consortium (BLC) -- a cooperative association of sixteen academic and research libraries

Boston Massachusetts Regional Library System (BMRLS) -- regional group of public, school, academic, and special libraries located within the cities of Boston, Chelsea, and Malden

Central/Western MA Automated Resource Sharing (C/W MARS) -- 48 full-member libraries (academic, public, medical, and regional) and nearly 80 online affiliates (public and school system libraries)

Fenway Library Consortium (FLC) -- cooperating group of fifteen libraries in the Boston area

Massachusetts Library & Information Network (MLIN) -- created and maintained by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC); this site provides information about Massachusetts libraries, including directory information, library homepages and their services

Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) -- network serving 29 public libraries of the Greater Merrimack Valley

Metro Boston Library Network (MBLN) -- network for the public library systems of Boston, Chelsea, and Malden, and the Boston Public Schools

Metrowest Massachusetts Regional Library System (MMRLS) -- regional group of public, school, academic, and special libraries of the 36 cities and towns of the Metrowest region of Massachusetts

Minuteman Library Network (MLN) -- network of public and academic libraries serving west of Boston

NELINET -- cooperative of libraries in New England which promotes resource sharing and interlibrary cooperation, and provides training for use of OCLC and other information technology

North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE) -- consortium of 1 special, 10 college and 17 public libraries on the North Shore

Old Colony Library Network (OCLN) -- network serving the South Shore and Southeastern Massachusetts

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) -- computerized library network

Research Libraries Group (RLG) -- "devoted to improving access to information that supports research and learning"

ABLE Library Network/SEAL Library Network (SAILS) -- network serving areas south of Boston