In the 1970s, the Indiana library community established a statewide library information network to assist libraries in providing better service to the citizens of Indiana. The network provided regionally-based support to local libraries for the purpose of sharing resources. The Central Indiana Area Library Services Authority (CIALSA) was established in 1974 as part of this network to provide supportive services to the libraries of central Indiana.
CIALSA member libraries were located in the eight central Indiana counties of Marion, Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Shelby, Johnson, Morgan, and Hendricks and included approximately 140 member library corporations representing over 250 individual libraries.
Public, school, academic, governmental, law and medical, and other special libraries comprised the membership. CIALSA was a multi-type cooperative with both publicly and privately supported libraries being eligible for membership. Approximately 50 percent of the membership consisted of the “special” libraries from business, industry, health, government, and law.
One of the most important services offered to member libraries for their patrons by CIALSA was an interlibrary loan. CIALSA subsidized member library use of the interlibrary loan system through a contract with the . It also negotiated discount purchasing agreements for its members and provided a consultation service, an extensive continuing education program of workshops and seminars, and book repair and bindery services.
The Central Indiana Area Library Services Authority was dissolved in the mid-2010s.
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