What Iowa Library Association does

The Iowa Library Association (ILA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional membership association founded on September 2, 1890, in Des Moines, Iowa, and currently headquartered at 400 E Court Ave., Ste 126. It is the second oldest state library association in the United States. ILA serves approximately 1,300-1,600 members including librarians, library workers, trustees, students, and community "friends of libraries" across roughly 500 Iowa communities, spanning public, academic, school, and special library segments. The organization also operates the Iowa Library Association Foundation (ILAF), a 501(c)(3) arm that has awarded more than $147,000 in scholarships, continuing education workshops, and endowed speaker funding since 1986.

ILA's core "products" are membership services, the annual statewide conference (scheduled for Cedar Rapids, October 7-9, 2026), the Catalyst Newsletter published six times per year, 15 professional subdivisions (e.g., Iowa Association for School Librarians, Iowa Small Library Association, Iowa Health Sciences Library Association, Iowa Chapter of ACRL), 9 active committees, a legislative advocacy program with bill tracking and Lobby Day, and foundation-administered scholarships. Its underlying technology footprint is operational rather than product-oriented: an online membership management portal for join/renew/profile management, the SCHED application for conference scheduling, and email-based newsletter distribution. The association does not develop, license, or sell software or data products.

Revenue is generated across four streams: tiered personal and student membership dues (ranging from $10 student to $220 top salary tier, with a $10 across-the-board increase effective January 2026), four-tier corporate memberships ($140 Affiliate to $1,100 Patron) plus a new invitation-only Sustaining Partner program launched with Library Furniture International in 2025, annual conference registration fees plus exhibitor and sponsor revenue, and tax-deductible donations to ILAF. GTM is community-led: recruitment and retention occur via the website and renewal cycle, with the annual conference functioning as the principal in-person engagement, advocacy, and corporate sales event.

Name

Iowa Library Association

Legal name

Iowa Library Association

Website

https://iowalibraryassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Iowa Library Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit professional association founded in 1890, serving approximately 1,300-1,600 librarians, library workers, trustees, students, and friends across 500 Iowa communities through membership, advocacy, annual conferences, subdivisions, and foundation scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Civic Education & Community Engagement (Voting, Local Government) (EDAAAFAC), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Library association services
• Professional membership organization
• Library advocacy services
• Continuing education library
• Annual library conference

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: ILA generates revenue through membership dues paid by librarians, library workers, trustees, students, and friends. Dues are structured based on salary levels for personal members and tiered corporate membership levels. The organization is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) organization.
2. Annual Conference Fees: Revenue is generated through exhibitor registrations, sponsor fees, and attendee registrations for the annual conference. The 2026 conference will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on October 7-9, 2026.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate membership and sponsorship revenue from organizations serving the library industry, including sustaining partners, premium sponsors, and exhibitors.
4. Foundation Donations: The ILA Foundation (ILAF), a 501(c)(3) organization, receives tax-deductible donations to fund scholarships, continuing education workshops, and the Endowed Speaker at annual conferences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Iowa Library Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) professional membership association that delivers services to Iowa's library community. Core offerings include annual membership (personal, student, and corporate tiers), the annual statewide library conference held each October, the six-times-yearly Catalyst Newsletter, 15 professional subdivisions, foundation scholarships, and statewide legislative advocacy including Lobby Day and a legislative bill tracker.

Product overview

The Iowa Library Association is a membership-based professional organization (501(c)(6) nonprofit) founded in 1890, serving approximately 1,300-1,600 librarians, library workers, trustees, students, and library supporters across Iowa. Rather than offering a technology product, ILA provides professional services including membership with advocacy representation, an annual conference, the Catalyst newsletter, subdivision networking groups, foundation scholarships, and legislative advocacy. The organization is structured around committees, subdivisions, and a foundation arm (ILAF) that awards scholarships for library education and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iowa Library Association Membership Personal, student, sustaining, and corporate membership tiers for librarians, library workers, trustees, students, and library supporters across Iowa. Includes political advocacy, access to the annual conference, the Catalyst newsletter, subdivision participation, leadership development, and networking.
• ILA Annual Conference Annual statewide conference held each October for Iowa library professionals, providing continuing education sessions, keynote speakers, networking, exhibitions, and association awards. Generates revenue through attendee registrations, exhibitor booths, and sponsor fees.
• Catalyst Newsletter Member newsletter published six times per year, providing industry news, advocacy updates, association announcements, and continuing education insights for ILA members and corporate subscribers.
• ILA Foundation Scholarships Scholarship programs administered by the ILA Foundation (ILAF), including the Tillson Scholarship to University of Iowa, ILAF Scholarship to University of Northern Iowa, ILA Conference Scholarships, Susan Lerdal Memorial Scholarship, and Biblionix Public Librarian Scholarship for library professionals and students.
• ILA Subdivisions 15 specialty interest groups for ILA members focused on specific library disciplines or service areas (school, health sciences, small libraries, youth services, leadership, local history, etc.), offered at add-on dues of $5-$10 per year.
• Legislative Advocacy Services Statewide political advocacy for Iowa libraries and librarians, including Lobby Day, Legislative Day at the Capitol, development of legislative priorities, and an online Legislative Bill Tracker for members to monitor relevant state legislation affecting library funding, censorship, and operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $147,000 awarded in scholarships and grants since 1986
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Library Furniture International (LFI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LFI is ILA's first Sustaining Partner (2025), an exclusive by-invitation-only program for organizations with superior reputation and proven value-added services. LFI provides custom furniture and shelving solutions for libraries, schools, and universities, with over 20 years of experience partnering with library institutions.
• Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Partnership announced November 2023 provides free 1-year SLI membership to all ILA members. Libraries committing to SLI's certification process receive a discount. SLI helps libraries build communities that thrive amid climate change challenges through sustainable practices.
• American Library Association (ALA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership offering joint ILA-ALA student memberships for $46. ILA members receive access to national ALA resources, scholarships, and advocacy support alongside state-level benefits.
• Amperage FundraisingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner providing fundraising services to libraries.
• ArchivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner providing archival services.
• FEH DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner and Premium Gold Sponsor of the 2026 ILA Annual Conference. Architecture firm providing design services.
• OPN ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner and Premium Gold Sponsor of the 2026 ILA Annual Conference. Architecture firm serving educational and library clients.
• Perma-BoundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner providing binding and book services to libraries.
• Emporia State University School of Library and Information ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member partner - university program providing library science education.
• Martin Gardner ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing architectural services.
• BiblionixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner and Bronze Thursday Sponsor for the 2026 ILA Annual Conference. Provider of library solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Library Journal: National trade publication covering the library profession, including awards (Mover & Shaker) recognized within ILA's programming. Adjacent media player in the same library professional ecosystem rather than a direct association competitor.
• Sustainable Libraries Initiative: Partner organization offering sustainability certification and resources for libraries. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem player with which ILA has a flagship partnership providing free SLI membership to ILA members.

Direct peers

• Wisconsin Library Association: Neighboring Midwest state library association offering parallel advocacy, conference, and member services to Wisconsin library professionals. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and operational structure.
• Minnesota Library Association: Another regional state association serving Minnesota librarians with comparable programs including advocacy, annual conference, subdivisions, and foundation scholarships.
• Kansas Library Association: Smaller Midwest state library association with a directly comparable structure — membership dues, annual conference, advocacy, and subdivisions — serving Kansas library professionals.
• Illinois Library Association: Direct state-level peer providing advocacy, conferences, and member services to Illinois librarians. Operates with a comparable mission, structure, subdivision model, and revenue mix (dues, conference, sponsorships).
• Indiana Library Federation: Midwest state library association comparable in mission and operational model, providing advocacy, continuing education, and annual conference services to Indiana librarians.
• Nebraska Library Association: Adjacent state library association operating with similar member services, legislative advocacy, and annual conference programming for Nebraska library professionals.
• Missouri Library Association: Regional peer state library association offering equivalent membership, advocacy, conference, and professional development services to Missouri library workers.

Broad incumbents

• American Library Association: The national umbrella library association that ILA partners with for joint student memberships. ALA provides overlapping advocacy, professional development, and publishing services but at a national rather than state level, making it the closest functional analog at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IowaLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/IowaLibAssoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-library-association

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Iowa Library Association