What is MALiA?

The Mid Atlantic Library Alliance, usually referred to as MALiA, is a consortium of over 225 public, academic, school, and special libraries. Originally founded in southwestern Virginia, the organization has grown to include libraries throughout Virginia as well as member institutions in Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida. MALiA is open to all libraries, regardless of location, and we welcome new members at any time.

The MALiA consortium’s primary purpose is to provide value-added services to its member libraries. These services include:

  • Negotiating favorable vendor contracts with substantial discounts on books, periodicals, library supplies, library furnishings, and services.
  • Providing quality professional development for librarians, media specialists, and library staff members.
  • Providing shared library resources for children and young adult librarians like a traveling Cricut cutting system, and an Ellison die cutting machine.
  • Awarding scholarships to member library staff employees who are pursuing masters degrees in library and information science, and other educational opportunities.
  • Supporting the interests and concerns of libraries with state government through legislative lobbying and other political action initiatives.