Constitution

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be The Information Alliance.

Article II: Purpose

The Information Alliance is a partnership founded on the principles of collaboration, cooperation, and resource sharing. Its purpose is to enhance information access and services for the member institutions. Information Alliance members facilitate bibliographic and physical access to holdings, share library collections (including digital information resources), share library staff expertise, develop new services, and seek funds to support collaborative projects. The Information Alliance helps members achieve individual and library goals through collaboration.

Article III: Membership

The University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville are founding members of The Information Alliance. Other libraries with common interests in collaboration may be invited to join the organization.

Article IV: Governance

The Library Directors of the member libraries have overall responsibility for Information Alliance initiatives and budgetary decision-making. An Executive Committee is appointed by the Library Directors for staggered two-year terms. The Executive Committee leads planning activities, communicates with the Library Directors and librarians working on Alliance projects, develops meeting agendas, makes local arrangements for meetings, and reports on Alliance activities. Ad-hoc groups appointed by the Library Directors and counterparts make decisions about specific projects.

Information Alliance projects address issues common to the member libraries. Activities range from formally described projects with a specific focus and charge, to informal consultation among counterparts. Projects that require budgetary support are proposed to the Executive Committee at any time during the year. The Executive Committee recommends funding or revision, and seeks budgetary support from the Library Directors. Project reports are given at Information Alliance meetings, and via electronic means.

Article V: Meetings

Meetings of The Information Alliance are held twice each year. Librarians from the member institutions participate in the meetings with their counterparts. Meeting agendas include information-sharing about developments in each library; reports about Information Alliance Projects; and discussion of issues affecting the members. Issues requiring decisions may be discussed at the semi-annual meetings.