The membership of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) voted at its Spring 2026 Association Meeting to invite the UNLV University Libraries to join ARL, effective July 1, 2026. Maggie Farrell, dean of libraries at UNLV, accepted the invitation from ARL. UNLV is the first Nevada institute to join the elite group of public and private research libraries from across the U.S. and Canada.
“We are thrilled to join ARL and proud to be the first institution in Nevada to achieve this distinction. This milestone reflects UNLV’s continued growth as a Carnegie R1 Institution and the essential role our University Libraries play in supporting that research mission,” said Farrell. “ARL membership connects us to a global network of leading research libraries, strengthening our capacity to advance research, scholarship, and innovation at UNLV and beyond.”
The vote to approve the membership of UNLV followed a review of the University Libraries that considered both qualitative and quantitative data, a site visit to the university, site visit team recommendations, library documentation, and an ARL Membership Committee review. The ARL Membership Committee and the ARL Board enthusiastically supported UNLV's candidacy for membership.
“We are pleased to welcome UNLV to membership in ARL,” said ARL President Melissa Just, dean of libraries, University of Southern California. “We look forward to their participation in the Association’s work.”
The ARL is a nonprofit membership organization of research libraries and archives in major public and private universities, federal government agencies, and large public institutions in Canada and the US. ARL champions research libraries and archives, develops visionary leaders, and shapes policy for the equitable advancement of knowledge.
“The Association is made stronger by new members in the same way new members are made stronger by the Association,” said ARL Membership Committee Chair Stanley Wilder, dean of libraries, Louisiana State University.
UNLV Libraries advance student success, research, and community engagement by connecting people with knowledge, technology, and expertise. The Libraries provide access to extensive physical and digital collections, expert research support, and innovative learning environments across five locations: Lied Library, Architecture Studies Library, Teacher Development & Resources Library, Music Library, and the School of Medicine Library. From Special Collections & Archives documenting the history of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada to hands-on and immersive spaces such as the Makerspace, Multimedia Studios, and Dreamscape Learn, the Libraries foster discovery, creativity, and academic achievement for a diverse and growing research community.
