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Center for Research Libraries

EIN 36-2167788 · Chicago, IL

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong91 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FOSTER AND ADVANCE SCHOLARLY AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THROUGH COST-EFFECTIVE, COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE RELIABLE ACCESS THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND ELECTRONIC MEANS OF COLLECTIONS AND CONTENT OF RESEARCH LIBRARY MATERIALS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

Income
$8.8 million
Spending
$7.8 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
30 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 85%
Employees
60
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$394,005, president - past

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 91 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $1.3 million spent. ACQUISITIONS - THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING THE ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING OF COLLECTION MATERIALS, INCLUDING SURVEYING OF MEMBERS ON COLLECTION NEEDS, SELECTION AND SUBSCRIPTION COSTS, ORDERING, TRANSPORTING AND RECEIVING MATERIALS.
  2. $1.3 million spent. CATALOGING AND METADATA - THIS PROGRAM INVOLVES PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF PRELIMINARY AND FINAL CATALOG RECORDS, FINDING AIDS FOR THE CENTER'S COLLECTION MATERIALS AND METADATA FOR ELECTRONIC RESOURCES INCLUDING THOSE PRODUCED AND/OR ACQUIRED BY THE CENTER.
  3. $1.3 million spent. SERVICE AND DELIVERY - THE CENTER DELIVERS AN ESTIMATED 33 MILLION PAGES OF COLLECTION MATERIALS TO MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AND OTHER CLIENTS EACH YEAR. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE RECEIVING AND PROCESSING REQUESTS FOR THE CENTER'S COLLECTION MATERIALS FROM MEMBER LIBRARIES AND CLIENTS, RETRIEVAL AND PREPARATION OF MATERIALS FOR DELIVERY, SHIPPING, FULFILLMENT OF ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT DELIVERY REQUESTS, RECEIPT AND RE-SHELVING OF RETURNED MATERIALS AND FULFILLMENT AND PROCESSING OF MEMBER PURCHASE REQUESTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS.
  4. $3.3 million spent. AREA MATERIALS PROJECTS (AMPS) - THIS PROGRAM INVOLVES SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR THE AREA MATERIALS PROJECTS AND OTHER SELF-FUNDED AREA STUDIES PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CENTER FOR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION AND PROCUREMENT OF MATERIALS FOR PRESERVATION, MICROFILMING AND DIGITIZATION AS WELL AS CONVERSION AND CATALOGING OF THOSE MATERIALS.CONVERSION OF MATERIALS - THE CENTER PRESERVES UNIQUE AND AT-RISK CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MATERIALS THROUGH MICROFILMING AND DIGITAL CONVERSION. MATERIALS ARE ORGANIZED, ANALYZED, COLLATED AND SHIPPED TO AND FROM SERVICE PROVIDERS BY THE CENTER AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. FILM AND DIGITAL COPIES ARE PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED.COLLECTIONS STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE - THE CENTER MAINTAINS ACTIVE AND INACTIVE COLLECTIONS CONSISTING OF AN ESTIMATED FIVE MILLION VOLUMES OR EQUIVALENTS IN ITS REPOSITORY FACILITY. THESE COLLECTIONS ARE IN PAPER, MICROFORM AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA. ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH STORAGE AND PHYSICAL MAINTENANCE OF THE CENTER'S FILM AND PAPER COLLECTIONS INCLUDE SORTING, SHELVING, LABELING, HOUSING, BINDING CONSERVATION WORK. ALSO INCLUDED ARE THE COSTS OF MAINTAINING, MONITORING AND IMPROVING THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING DEDICATED TO COLLECTIONS STORAGE, INCLUDING CLIMATE CONTROL AND OTHER FUNCTIONS.LICENSING NEGOTIATIONS - THE CENTER IDENTIFIES ELECTRONIC DATABASES AND DATASETS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST TO MEMBER INSTITUTIONS; NEGOTIATES WITH THEIR PUBLISHER AND VENDORS TERMS FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION AND PURCHASE OF THOSE DATABASES ON BEHALF OF THE CENTER MEMBERS; AND PROVIDES TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL AT MEMBER LIBRARIES INFORMATION ON THE VALUE, LIMITATIONS, AND TERMS OF ACCESS FOR THOSE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE CENTER ALSO INVOICES MEMBER LIBRARIES FOR THEIR PURCHASE/SUBSCRIPTION TO THE ELECTRONIC RESOURCES, AND DISBURSES FUNDS DUE TO THE PUBLISHERS/VENDORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1950.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.