VICULA is the association of independent not-for-profit colleges and universities operating in the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the regional accrediting body Southern Association of Colleges and Schools: Commission on Colleges. Each institution is represented in the organization by its library director or her/his designated representative. VICULA engages in staff training, information sharing, resource sharing through interlibrary loan, cooperative purchasing of electronic and other resources, shared resources, and works to improve the library resources available to patrons of the independent colleges in the Commonwealth. VICULA is closely aligned to the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) in working on shared initiatives for resource sharing, staff improvement, archival and special collections sharing and cooperative acquisitions. The Association holds two meetings annually focused on shared information on library trends and initiatives and bringing together member institution staff for focused development in various areas like resource sharing, reference support, academic departmental liaison outreach, development and funding strategies, etc.