Organization
Resource Sharing Alliance, or RSA, is a consortium formed in the early 1980’s by libraries in central and west central Illinois to share a common library automation system. As of 1 July 2024, RSA is an Illinois Intergovernmental Instrumentality (municipal instrumentality). RSA facilitates sharing of materials among its member libraries, providing patrons with access to materials from 170+ library branches covering over 13,500 square miles of Illinois.
Executive Summary (as of the end of FY26, 30 June 2026)
Number of Members: 133
Total Count of Member Buildings: 172
Public Libraries: 98 + Branches: 19
School Libraries: 30 + Branches: 20
Academic Libraries: 3
Special Libraries: 2
RSA Public Library Population Served Counts:
Under 2,000 served: 34 (smallest library serves 596 people)
2,001 to 4,000 served: 27
4,001 to 10,000 served: 21
10,001+ served: 16 (largest library serves 113,150 people)
RSA Non-Public Library Student Enrollment or User Counts:
1 to 200 students: 8 (smallest enrollment: 104)
201 to 500 students: 11
501 to 1,000 students: 8
1,001+ students: 3 (largest enrollment: 1,568)
RSA Statistical Data for FY26:
Number of Titles in System: 1,050,032
Number of Items in System: 4,028,731
Number of Patrons in System: 309,287
Annual Circulation: 5,132,872
Number of holds successfully filled for patrons: 576,898
Number of items transited between RSA member libraries to fill patron holds: 413,665
Circulation of items transited between libraries: 655,565
Reciprocal patron checkouts (patron checkouts in libraries other than their own): 643,249
What are the Benefits of Being in RSA?
Download a printable sheet on the Benefits of Being an RSA Member
RAILS vs RSA: How are these Organizations Different?
RAILS and RSA Differences Document
Organization History Archive
RSA Independence Project Archive