PALNI awarded IMLS grant to develop PEARL open source reading list system

INDIANAPOLIS—The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is pleased to announce that it has received a $149,893 grant to develop an innovative open-source reading list system, Personalized Easily Accessible Reading Lists (PEARL). The grant is one of 85 awards given by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support libraries and archival services across the country and was made through the National Leadership Grants for Libraries and the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program. 

This two-year planning grant will enable PALNI to complete the development of a prototype for this new system, which will influence the way libraries, faculty, and students interact with educational resources.

About PEARL

PEARL is designed to make it easier for college and university faculty, instructional designers, and library staff to create and manage course reading lists that integrate library resources and open-access materials directly into learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas and Blackboard. By offering a flexible, cost-effective alternative to existing commercial software, PEARL will provide academic institutions with a powerful tool to enhance student access to learning materials.

“We are excited to take this step toward building a sustainable, open-source library service platform that can be widely adopted,” says Noah Brubaker, PALNI Associate Director. “PEARL will not only save students money by reducing the need for costly textbooks but will also ensure that all students have equitable access to the materials they need to succeed in their courses.”

Addressing the gap in access and affordability

With the rising costs of higher education, many students struggle to afford textbooks and other required materials. Library-based reading lists, like those that PEARL will facilitate, offer a solution by providing students with free access to essential course materials. This not only eases financial burdens but also helps improve student outcomes by ensuring all students have the resources they need to fully engage with their coursework.

For faculty and librarians, PEARL offers a streamlined way to organize and manage course materials, making it easier to select the best resources for their students. The system’s compatibility with various library services platforms and discovery systems means that it can be used by a wide range of institutions, from small colleges to large universities. Moreover, as an open-source tool, PEARL will be freely available to libraries and consortia, further lowering barriers to access and enabling more institutions to benefit from its capabilities.

Collaborative partners 

Other library groups and consortia have shown an interest in collaborating to extend PEARL’s engagement. PALNI will identify different types of institutions interested in testing or providing feedback on the PEARL prototype to work toward a system that will be flexible and usable for many types and sizes of institutions.

“This project is about more than just technology—it’s about ensuring that libraries can continue to play a central role in supporting education in the digital age,” added Lauren Magnuson, PALNI Development Coordinator and Head of Collections, Delivery and Access at California State University, San Marcos. “By making it easier to integrate high-quality, library-curated resources into online learning environments, PEARL will help bridge the gap between students and the knowledge they need to thrive.”

“PALNI is dedicated to collaborating with grant funders, consortium partners, and the open-source software community to develop agile, efficient, and scalable solutions that support the educational and affordability needs of our colleges, seminaries, and universities,” adds Kirsten Leonard, PALNI Executive Director. 

This project aligns with national efforts to build sustainable, open-source library service platforms, as well as PALNI’s mission of collaborating to provide high-quality support for student learning and effective teaching through shared institutional investments in expertise, services, resources, and partnerships. 

For future updates on the project, visit the PALNI website. 

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About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana

The Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) is a non-profit organization that supports collaboration for library and information services for 24 colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the state. From its inception in 1992, the PALNI collaboration has been a key avenue for its supported institutions to contain costs while providing more effective library services. More recently, PALNI has adopted a model of deep collaboration that pools resources and people as a tool to expand services while containing costs. Simultaneously, PALNI is expanding collaboration within its institutions and with external library partners to address challenges and build cost-effective services. Visit www.palni.org for more information.

PALNI Supported Institutions

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary | Anderson University | Bethel University | Butler University | Concordia Theological Seminary | Christian Theological Seminary | DePauw University | Earlham College | Franklin College | Goshen College | Grace College | Hanover College | Huntington University | Manchester University | Marian University | Oakland City University | University of Saint Francis | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary’s College | Saint Meinrad’s Seminary and School of Theology | Taylor University | Trine University | University of Indianapolis | Wabash College