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Become a LIBER member

LIBER is the voice of European research libraries. Through our Strategy, we’re Powering Sustainable Knowledge in the Digital Age. Join us to ensure that your library stays ahead in a fast-changing world.

 

We collaborate with our network of 420+ libraries to reach the goals of our powerful 2023-2027 Strategy. We apply our influence to ensure that research library priorities rank highly on the agendas of our universities and the European Union, and we actively develop current and future library leaders through our conferences, workshops and seminars.

We are proud to be members of LIBER and to be a part of such a diverse community of information professionals from across Europe. Although every member library will be different, the challenges and opportunities we face are often shared. LIBER’s events, resources, working groups and programmes provide opportunities to share our learning and experiences, identify collective solutions, and foster collaborations and partnerships through which we can all benefit. This work has never been more important than it is now.

Matthew Greenhall Director of Libraries, Museums and Galleries, University of Liverpool

LIBER keeps us connected to the forefront of academic librarianship. Active participation in its community allows us to build strong and lasting partnerships with libraries across Europe.

Through LIBER’s network and strategic guidance, we are better equipped to develop support services that meet the evolving needs of higher education and research.

Dunja Legat Director, Maribor University Library

Membership of LIBER is a valuable asset to us at Essex and we are proud to be members. As a University deeply rooted in international collaboration and with a growing research profile, membership enables the Library to develop our position as a key partner in research and show leadership in international relationships. The opportunities for networking, collaboration and development across Europe, that the LIBER community presents, are extremely important to us and offer enormous value.

Jonathan White Director of Library and Cultural Services and University Librarian, Library and Cultural Services, University of Essex

Being a LIBER member is both a great honour and a significant responsibility. LIBER is the voice of European research libraries — and we, the member libraries, are LIBER. Our diversity is a major strength: it not only enables us to support one another but also allows us to offer different solutions to similar challenges.

Participation in Working Groups, the Annual Conferences, or the Winter Event provides valuable opportunities to share ideas and build collegial friendships. Being part of such a professional network is essential for tackling the challenges we face today

Dóra Kalydy Deputy Director General, Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Why join LIBER?

Read all the benefits of joining LIBER on our Services page.

  • Networking — Explore and engage with a broad network of research libraries, members consisting of library directors and professionals from all corners of Europe. We are also active globally and convene with experts from many international associations and libraries worldwide.
  • Learning & Knowledge Exchange – Be part of the vibrant LIBER community, learn, and share your knowledge in our Working Groups, Taskforces, webinars, and consultations. Participants also benefit from our resources — reports and case studies.
  • Conferences & Events – Join us for presentations, workshops, and networking at our in-person events, Annual Conference, Architecture Seminar, or Winter Event. 
  • Leadership Development Programmes – We run the LIBER Journées and Emerging Leaders, and Middle Management programmes, which equip library staff and directors develop and enhance their leadership skills. 
  • Advocacy & Representation – We speak for research libraries and ensure that their priorities rank highly on the agendas of our universities and the European Union. 

Other ways to make the most of LIBER include:

  • Scholarships & Grants – LIBER members are eligible to apply for several of our scholarships and grants, e.g., Emerging Leaders Programme Scholarship, Journées Scholarship, and the Annual Conference Fund. 
  • Discounts – Members enjoy a 25-50% discount on registration fees at many of our events.
  • Voting Rights — Vote on key issues or be nominated to the Executive Board. The next Meeting of Participants will be held at our 2025 Annual Conference (voting is only for Participants in the institutional and organisational categories).
  • Publication Opportunities – Share your work and best practices in LIBER Quarterly, our Open Access journal.
  • Member & Network News – LIBER Quarterly Mailing, LIBER Insider, LIBER Events Mailer 

How to Join

Research libraries, library organisations and companies or consortia supplying services to research libraries are welcome to join LIBER. To apply, please fill in the form at the very bottom of this page. See more in the rules and regulations.

 

LIBER Annual Contribution Fees

 

Inclusivity is a core value of LIBER. We aim to keep annual fees affordable for a majority of Europe’s research libraries.

 

We therefore have three fee tiers. Participants are invoiced based on the most recent national GDP per capita data, as published by the International Monetary Fund. This reflects different financial realities among LIBER institutions.

Tiers 2026

  • Tier A (above $35,000 U.S.)

In 2026, Tier A includes: Andorra; Austria; Belgium; Cyprus; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malta; Monaco; the Netherlands; Norway; San Marino; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom.

  • Tier B ($20-35,000 U.S.)

In 2026, Tier B includes: Croatia; Czech Republic; Estonia; Greece; Hungary; Latvia; Lithuania; Poland; Portugal; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain.

  • Tier C (below $20,000 U.S.)

In 2026, Tier C includes: Albania; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Georgia; Moldova; Montenegro; North Macedonia; Romania; Serbia; Turkey; Ukraine.

Institutions

This represents:

Individual national and university research libraries, libraries of institutions conducting teaching and research at a post- graduate level, public libraries with major research collections and national archives.

All research libraries in countries that are a Member State of the Council of Europe are eligible to apply for membership.

 

Your benefits will be:

Attend the LIBER Annual Conference at a 50% Discount; Join our Leadership Seminars; Join and Chair Working Groups; Be Appointed to the Executive Board; Participate in Official Votes (e.g., to appoint Executive Board members).

 

Annual Fee (2026)

Tier A – € 1,261
Tier B – € 691
Tier C – € 330

Annual Fee (2027)

Tier A

€ 1,303

Tier B

€ 714

Tier C

€ 341

Organisations

This represents:

Library organisations consisting of national libraries and/or the libraries of institutions of higher education institutions. In countries where no organisation of research libraries exists, participation in the Organisation category can be obtained by a more general library organisation, working for professional purposes. Two fees are listed: for organisations in countries with a population above or below 25 million.

In case a library organisation only represents libraries of a certain region in the country concerned, and that region has a population under 25 million, the fee for countries with a population under 25 million can be used for that organisation. This is for decision by the LIBER Executive Board.

All library organisations in countries that are a Member State of the Council of Europe are eligible to apply for membership.

 

Your benefits will be:

Attend the LIBER Annual Conference at a 50% Discount; Join our Leadership Seminars; Join and Chair Working Groups; Be Appointed to the Executive Board; Participate in Official Votes (e.g., to appoint Executive Board members).

 

Annual Fee (2026)

Tier A – € 3,289 / € 1,645
Tier B – € 1,514 / € 1,387
Tier C – € 330

Annual Fee (2027)

Tier A

€ 3,398 / € 1,699

Tier B

€ 1,564 / € 1,433

Tier C

€ 341

Associates

This represents:

  • Organisations with an explicit, formal public purpose supplying services to research libraries
  • Non-European libraries and library organisations

 

Your benefits will be:

Attend the LIBER Annual Conference at a 50% Discount; Join LIBER Journées Leadership Programme at a member fee; nominate for the LIBER Quarterly Editorial Board.

 

Annual Fee (2026)

Tier A – € 1,546
Tier B – € 919
Tier C – € 818

Annual Fee (2027)

Tier A

€ 1,597

Tier B

€ 949

Tier C

€ 845

Additional Information

 

LIBER Contribution Fees are charged per calendar year. It is not possible to join LIBER for part of any given year.

In line with LIBER’s rules and regulations, cancellation of participation in LIBER for the following calendar year must be given to the LIBER Office no later than 1 October of the current year.

If no notice to cancel is given by 1 October of the current year, your participation in LIBER will be automatically extended to the following year.

In October of the current year, Annual Fees for the following year will be indexed to adjust for inflation. For this purpose, the Dutch Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) consumer price index is used. More information can be found in the Indexing Proposal as approved by the Meeting of Participants on 7 July 2022.

Annual Fee 2024

 

Member category Tier A Tier B Tier C
Institutions €1,176 €644 €307
Organisations €3,067 / €1,531 €1,412 / €1,294 €307
Associations €1,442 €857 €762
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  • Join LIBER

    Join us to ensure that your library stays ahead in a fast-changing world. We collaborate with our network of over 420 libraries to reach the goals of our powerful 2023-2027 Strategy. We apply our influence to ensure that research library priorities rank highly on the agendas of our universities and the European Union, and we actively develop current and future library leaders through our conferences, workshops and seminars.

    More information on types of membership and fees can be found on the LIBER website.
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  • If your library's original name is in English, repeat the name here