ELISA is a network for all the Edinburgh-based libraries and information services. There are over 130 such services in the city, and these include the university, college and school libraries, the professional and specialist libraries, health and community information services, as well as the city's public library service. ELISA aims to help these organisations work together to benefit all of Edinburgh's residents and visitors. Edinburgh's Festival of Libraries is a chance to celebrate this huge wealth of knowledge and information available to everyone for free!

There is a core planning team who are overseeing the overall organisation of the Festival:

Anne Donnelly, Edinburgh University Library
Brenda Woods, Edinburgh City Libraries & Information Services
Carol Stobie, National Library of Scotland
Christine Chambers, Edinburgh City Libraries & Information Services
Iain Young, Heriot Watt University Library
Joanna Schlesinger, City of Edinburgh Corporate Communications
Wendy Ball, ELISA Development Officer

This programme of events also has various supporters whose help ensured the plans became a reality.