Our constitutional purpose is to bring together the knowledge and expertise of our ten member libraries in order to build, manage and provide access to library collections and services that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Each member library is represented on NSLA's board by its chief executive, state librarian, or director-general. The Chair of the board is nominated by vote for a two-year term.

After fifty years of working together, the NSLA collaboration has become a driving force for innovation and professional development. Our association provides a mechanism for joint approaches to collecting, service delivery, research, advocacy, skills development and library standards, bringing the benefits of shared expertise and economies of scale to a collaborative program of work. The NSLA program is managed by the NSLA office, working with a series of professional networks and advisory groups from across the member libraries.