Pronunciation: [ˈɑːlɪsnə] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "ARLISNA" is unique and can be confusing to some. It is pronounced /ɑrˈlɪsnə/. The first syllable "ar" is pronounced with an open back unrounded vowel sound /ɑ/ as in car or bar. The second syllable "lis" is pronounced with a short i sound /ɪ/ followed by an "s" sound. The final syllable "na" is pronounced with a schwa sound /ə/. "ARLISNA" is actually an acronym for the "Art Libraries Society of North America".
ARLIS/NA (Art Libraries Society of North America) is a professional organization dedicated to the support, promotion, and enhancement of art librarianship and visual resources curatorship within North America. ARLIS/NA serves as an inclusive and collaborative network for professionals working in libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions that deal with art and visual resources.
The primary objective of ARLIS/NA is to advance the knowledge, practice, and understanding of art librarianship and visual resources curatorship. It achieves this through a wide range of activities, including conferences, workshops, publications, and online resources. These initiatives aim to provide its members with professional development opportunities, foster knowledge sharing, and facilitate collaboration within the art information community.
ARLIS/NA promotes the highest standards of excellence and expertise in the field and encourages its members to stay abreast of emerging technologies, methodologies, and best practices relevant to art librarianship. It advocates for the importance of art librarians and visual resources curators in preserving, organizing, and disseminating knowledge and information related to art and visual culture.
ARLIS/NA also advocates for diverse perspectives in art librarianship and recognizes the importance of inclusivity, equity, and diversity within its membership and in the field as a whole. The organization actively supports initiatives that promote access to information and resources for underserved communities and encourages ethical practices and professional conduct among its members.
Overall, ARLIS/NA is a national professional organization committed to fostering excellence, innovation, and collaboration in the field of art librarianship and visual resources curatorship.
