Overview
LYRASIS was established in 2009 by the merger of PALINET and SOLINET and joined shortly thereafter by NELINET, a move that was unanimously recommended by the Boards and overwhelmingly approved by members of all three networks. The impetus for the merger was the recognition of the shared mission of the three organizations and the unprecedented opportunities to expand education, leadership development, technology, and savings for members, while adding critical new initiatives needed for the future.
LYRASIS took effect on April 1, 2009, after successfully completing the merger process begun of PALINET and SOLINET in February 2008 and NELINET joined in October 2009. With the advent of the merged organization, LYRASIS becomes an acknowledged leader – regionally and nationally – in innovation, collaboration, and effective support for libraries and cultural heritage organizations in helping them fulfill their education, information, and community-building missions.
LYRASIS is considered one of the oldest library networks in the United States, since it was formed by continuation of the PALINET Pennsylvania non-profit corporation dating back to 1936, and renamed LYRASIS, with the SOLINET and NELINET corporate entities integrated into the revised PALINET 501(c)3 organization.
The current membership of LYRASIS includes more than 4,000 libraries and cultural heritage organizations of all types and sizes - academic, research, public, school, corporate, medical, law, and special - located in twenty-nine states, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and in three other countries. Currently, LYRASIS serves over half of US states and welcomes new members from anywhere in the world.
LYRASIS headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, with an office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Boston, Massachusetts. Leadership consists of a Chief Executive Officer and a President, held by Kate Nevins and Cathy Wilt respectively. The Board of Trustees consists of 17 members – seven from the Boards of SOLINET and PALINET and three from NELINET.
