Library Support Organisations

Since 2013, the Government has implemented a grant programme entitled Development of the Material and Technical Base of Public Libraries. The programme aims to equip accredited community libraries with modern facilities, including professional furniture and free internet access, as well as to support the renewal and expansion of library book collections.

The Writers’ Union of Armenia is a public non-profit organisation that brings writers together. Established in 1932, it collaborates with government bodies, publishers, libraries, museums, and academic and scientific institutions. The Union organises literary anniversaries, awards, exhibitions, discussions of newly published works by its members, presentations, and other cultural activities. Since 2008, it has also organised Book Giving Day, which is celebrated annually in Armenia on 19 February.

Established in 1998, the National Publishers’ Association is a non-governmental organisation that brings together publishing houses in Armenia. Its activities include organising book fairs, participating in international events, delivering presentations, and donating books to major libraries.

GLBF assists public libraries in Bulgaria to facilitate the inclusion of Bulgarian citizens in the global information society and improve their quality of life by creating conditions for free and equal access to information, internet, modern technologies and electronic services; promoting information literacy, lifelong learning, civic participation, social cohesion, local and community development; supporting social integration of disadvantaged groups and equal educational opportunities for all. Through participation in international organizations and programs, the Foundation promotes intercultural dialogue and the contacts between professional organizations and individual libraries both in the member states of the European Union and in countries outside it.

Consortia Canada is an informal group of library consortia representing all library types (public, post-secondary, health, special, and K-12 schools) working together to license electronic resources that are useful and relevant to members across the country. With a “made in Canada” approach, Consortia Canada’s primary goal is to contribute to the collection and organization of information and knowledge in digital form for the benefit of all Canadians.

The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) is dedicated to expanding digital content access for academic research and learning. CRKN negotiates licenses for digital content, supports digitization initiatives, and manages the Canadiana collections. The organisation works collaboratively to enhance scholarly communication, improve access to information, and promote open access and digital preservation efforts across Canada.

The Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL) is a collaborative consortium of university and college libraries in Atlantic Canada. It aims to enhance the quality of library services and resources through collective action, shared expertise, and resource sharing. CAAL focuses on areas such as open access, digital preservation, and the development of innovative library services to support teaching, learning, and research across its member institutions.

The Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) is a consortium of 21 university libraries in Ontario. It collaborates to enhance research, teaching, and learning by providing shared digital infrastructure, resources, and services. Key initiatives include Scholars Portal, which preserves and provides access to digital information, and Collaborative Futures, which focuses on improving library management systems across the province. OCUL also negotiates licenses for electronic resources and supports professional development for library staff.

The Partenariat des Bibliothèques universitaires du Québec (PBUQ) is a collaborative network of Quebec university libraries that works to enhance information management and access. PBUQ develops and manages shared platforms and services such as digital research data repositories and geospatial data platforms. Its initiatives focus on collaboration, innovation, and supporting academic and research communities across the province.

Established in 2001, with the main objective of supporting and strengthening an educational and cultural project offered by national public libraries  and public libraries of Bogotá.  Its work is aimed at four strategic directions: 1. Promote, advise and formulate librarianship, educational and cultural projects. 2. Manage, collect, and execute economic and/ or in kind resources. 3. To perform strategic alliances with public administration and private company for the successful development of projects. 4. Produce links with citizenship through educational process and appropriations of projects.

SINABI is a network of libraries spread throughout the country, consisting of the National Library and the Network of Public Libraries; it also has a Portal (www.sinabi.go.cr) and a Bibliobus. The SINABI is organized in the National Directorate of SINABI, Headquarters of the National Library and Headquarters of Public Libraries (67 public libraries). SINABI also administers the ISBN National Agency and the ISSN National Agency. It establish policies, programs, projects and actions aimed at the development of the National Library System that promote education, research, recreation and national culture for the efficient provision of services.