The membership of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) voted today at its Fall 2025 Association Meeting to invite the Clemson University Libraries to join ARL as the Association’s 126th member, effective January 1, 2026. Christopher Cox, dean of libraries at Clemson, accepted the invitation.
“We are thrilled to be invited to join ARL, which represents the best of the best research libraries in the country,” said Dean Cox. “ARL membership has been a goal for us for a while. Membership will provide Clemson Libraries’ faculty and staff with access to incredible resources and professional development opportunities, which will enable us to do even more to support Clemson University and its research mission.”
The vote to approve Clemson’s membership followed a review of the University Libraries that considered both qualitative and quantitative data, a site visit, site visit team recommendations, library documentation, and an ARL Membership Committee review. The ARL Membership Committee and the ARL Board enthusiastically supported Clemson’s candidacy for membership, highlighting the library’s impact on research at Clemson, an R1 university; AI leadership; development of a more welcoming and inclusive library; and the enthusiasm of the staff for the library to participate fully as an ARL member.
“We are pleased to welcome Clemson University Libraries to membership in ARL,” said ARL President Rhea Ballard-Thrower, university librarian and dean of libraries at University of Illinois Chicago. “The Clemson Libraries staff are eager to take advantage of opportunities to learn, develop their careers, and lead through ARL. We look forward to Clemson’s participation in the Association’s work.”
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (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.
About Clemson University Libraries
Clemson University Libraries provides research and information resources and services to the students, faculty, staff, and community patrons of Clemson University, a public, land-grant, research university located in Upstate South Carolina. With more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 6,600 faculty and staff, Clemson offers degree programs in more than 100 majors.
Clemson Libraries has more than 100 employees at seven branch locations on the main campus and at other locations throughout the state. The libraries’ mission is to empower students, faculty, researchers, and staff by fostering information and digital literacy, promoting experiential learning, offering high-quality research support, and cultivating a vibrant learning environment.