What is ABLD?

The Academic Business Library Directors (ABLD) is an organization of business library directors and  librarians from universities across the United States and Canada. ABLD serves as a forum for members to discuss shared challenges and opportunities, exchange information, and collaborate on issues affecting academic business libraries. Areas of focus include leadership and administrative trends, vendor relations, collection development, emerging technologies, and advocating for products and services that meet the needs of the academic business library community. 

Who is eligible for ABLD membership?

Membership is open to any academic business library directors, library leaders, business subject librarians, and other librarians who have substantial leadership, management, or budgetary responsibilities for business library collections, staffing, operations, or resources that support business school research and curriculum in the United States or Canada. Additionally, membership is based on organization affiliation, and there can only be one individual member from any organization represented in ABLD at a time.  For more information, visit our Membership Eligibility page.

How many members does ABLD have?

ABLD membership is capped at 50 members. Our current membership list is available here. 

How is ABLD governed?

ABLD is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors composed of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair,  Treasurer, Vendor Relations Liaison, Meeting Host, and Past Meeting Host. Together, the Board provides leadership for the organization, oversees its activities, and supports engagement among members and industry partners. Additional information about the Board's responsibilities and governance structure is available in the ABLD bylaws.

What are the expectations of ABLD members?

Each ABLD member is required to actively participate in the work for the group throughout the year. There are many opportunities for participation that range in scope and focus. ABLD members are expected to attend at least one in-person annual meeting every three years. At a minimum, ABLD members are expected to complete an annual “Year In Review” on the state of their library/library work.

What is Ticker?

Ticker: The Academic Business Librarianship Review is an open access journal that is produced and published by ABLD. The journal provides a forum for the exchange of research, best practices, and innovative thinking in business librarianship and business library management. Ticker seeks articles from all members of business librarianship. For more information on the journal, its editorial board, and processes for submitting manuscripts, please visit the Ticker website.