NDSA:Principles of Collaboration

Scope

The name of this organization is the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA), also referred to as the Alliance. The mission of the NDSA is to establish, maintain, and promote the capacity to preserve our nation's digital resources for the benefit of present and future generations. The Library of Congress (LOC), as an outgrowth of the December 2000 congressional charge that established the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), shall support the Alliance by serving as the Secretariat. Established on July 15, 2010, the Alliance is an organization of government agencies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and businesses committed to serving as digital stewards of America's national digital collection and employing standards, systems, and cooperative relationships that advance digital stewardship.

Coordinating Committee

The Coordinating Committee is dedicated to the advancement of Alliance activities and furthering communication within the Alliance. The Coordinating Committee works with the Working Groups to articulate a long-term, strategic vision for the Alliance. The Committee assists the Alliance Members in evaluating the effectiveness of the Working Groups and eliminating unnecessary duplication of effort between the Working Groups. Participants in the Coordinating Committee will act as liaison with one or more of the Working Groups. The Coordinating Committee will recommend for the creation of new Working Groups or to disband Working Groups that are no longer actively serving the needs of the Alliance. The Coordinating Committee is responsible for updating eligibility standards for membership in the Alliance as necessary. Coordinating Committee members may be nominated by Participants in the Alliance or may self nominate. Coordinating Committee members are elected by a simple majority of all votes cast over an open voting period, typically two weeks. The number of Coordinating Committee members shall be no more than nine (9). Coordinating Committee members shall serve in staggered appointments of one, two or three years through December 31, 2013, or their resignation. Any member may resign at any time by notification in writing to the Alliance through the office of the Secretariat. Vacancies on the Coordinating Committee shall be filled by special election.

Officers

The Coordinating Committee shall designate the facilitator for the next year at the last session of the year. There will be no officers.

Secretariat

The Secretariat shall (a) act as secretary of all meetings of the Alliance and of such other committees and working groups as the Alliance shall specify, (b) keep the minutes thereof, and (c) coordinate the planning of annual meetings and other events (with a program committee). All minutes, reports, and other documents of the Alliance will be filed and maintained at the Library of Congress. The role of Secretariat is fulfilled by staff of the Library of Congress, Office of Strategic Initiatives, National Digital Information and Infrastructure Preservation Program (NDIIPP).

Committees and Working Groups

Alliance Members designate Participants to serve on committees and Working Groups. Each committee shall have, and may exercise, such powers as authorized by the Alliance.

Committee and Working Group members shall serve for a term ending on December 31, 2013, or their resignation. Any member may resign from a Working Group at any time by notification in writing to the Co-chair of a particular Working Group. Any participant may choose to continue to serve on a Working Group for the next term of membership.

Meetings

All meetings of the Alliance, and any committee or working group, may be held in person, or by means of telephone or video conference. The Secretariat will coordinate the planning of the Annual meeting of the Alliance.

Regular meetings of the Alliance committees and working groups may be held at such time and place as shall be determined by consensus of committee and working group members, in coordination with the Secretariat.

To maintain transparency, notes from all meetings will be available to all members online.

Voting

The Alliance will vote to elect members of the Coordinating Committee, ratify and alter the principles of collaboration, or upon any other issue deemed necessary by the Membership. Members will be given a two-week period to vote electronically. A simple majority of the voting Member representatives shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Votes shall be cast by the designated Program Representative of any Member organization. In the event of a tie vote, the Secretariat will cast the deciding vote.

Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote provided all members have been offered a reasonable opportunity to vote.