Section 1. Principal
Office
Section 2. Registered
Office
Section 1. Powers and
Qualifications
Section 2.
Number
Section 3.
Appointment
Section 4.
Term
Section 5.
Resignations
Section 6.
Removal
Section 7.
Vacancies
Section 8. Location of
Meetings
Section 9. Annual
Meeting
Section 10. Regular
Meetings
Section 11. Call of Special
Meetings
Section 12. Notice of Special
Meetings
Section 13. Waiver of
Notice
Section 15. Action by Majority
Vote
Section 17.
Designation
Section 18.
Powers
Section 19.
Term
Section 20.
Meetings
Section 21.
Quorum;
Action
Section 1.
Designation
Section 2.
Election
Section 3.
Term
Section 4.
Resignations
Section 5.
Removal
Section 6.
Vacancies
Section 7.
President
Section 8. Vice
President
Section 9.
Secretary
Section 10.
Treasurer
Section 11. Other
Officers
Section 12. Executive
Director
Section 1. Compensation of
Trustees
Section 2. Compensation of
Officers
Section 1.
Liability
Section 2.
Indemnification
Section 3. Prohibition Against
Self‑Dealing
Section 1.
Grants
Section 2. Execution of
Contracts
Section 3.
Loans
Section 4.
Gifts
Section 5.
Investments
Section 6. Voting of Securities Held by the
Corporation
Section 7. Books and
Records
Section 8.
Depositories
Section 9.
Signatories
Section 10. Annual
Audit
Section 11. Fiscal
Year
Section 12. Corporate
Seal
Section 13.
Notice
Section 14.
Proxies
BYLAWS
DIGITAL LIBRARY FEDERATION
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Principal Office
The
principal office of the Digital Library Federation (the
“Corporation”) shall be located in the District of
Columbia. The Corporation may from time to time have such other
offices as the Board of Trustees may determine or as the affairs
of the Corporation may require.
Section 2. Registered Office.
The
Corporation shall have and continuously maintain in the District
of Columbia, a registered office and a registered agent whose
office is located in such registered office. The registered
office may be, but need not be, located in the principal office
of the Corporation. The registered agent and the address of the
registered office may from time to time be changed by the Board
of Trustees.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERS
The Corporation shall have three or more categories of
membership, including Strategic Membership, Administrative
Membership, and Allied Membership. Admission to membership shall
be by invitation of the Board of Trustees. The trustees may
create, by amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, additional categories of voting or non-voting membership
or affiliation. The voting rights of the members (the
“Members”) shall be as set out in the Articles or
these Bylaws. The other categories, obligations, privileges and
rights of the Members shall be as set out in these Bylaws and the
resolutions of the Board of Trustees as adopted from time to
time. Members in the Strategic Membership and Administrative
Membership categories shall each have the right to appoint one
voting trustee. Members in the Allied Membership category may
each appoint one non-voting trustee. The Corporation may have
other categories of non-voting Members, such as (but not limited
to) vendors in the digital library field. The Board of Trustees
shall have the power, subject to the resolutions of the board on
the subject, to admit or terminate any organization or person as
a Member. The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be
the annual meeting of the Strategic, Administrative and Allied
Members. Notice of the purpose of a meeting to consider the
termination of a Member shall be given in accordance with Section
12 of Article III.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
Section 1. Powers and Qualifications.
The
policies of the Corporation shall be determined, and its affairs
shall be managed, by its Board of Trustees. Trustees need not be
citizens of the United States, nor residents of the District of
Columbia. At no time may the Board of Trustees be controlled,
directly or indirectly, by “disqualified persons”
within the meaning of Section 509(a)(3)(c) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”).
Section 2. Number.
The
number of trustees of the Corporation shall be not less than
three (3); notwithstanding such limit, the number of trustees
shall not be less than the sum of the number of Members in the
categories of Strategic Membership, Allied Membership and
Administrative Membership. Such number may be increased or
decreased from time to time by the Board of Trustees, subject to
such limits, by amendment to this Section 2; however, no decrease
shall, other than in the case of the termination of the
membership of any Member who has appointed a trustee, reduce the
term of any incumbent trustee.
Section 3. Appointment.
Trustees
shall be appointed by Members by notice in writing sent to the
chair of the Board, the secretary of the Corporation, or the
Executive Director.
Section 4. Term.
Except
as provided in Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this Article, a trustee
shall serve for a term ending at the end of the next annual
meeting following the date of appointment and until that
trustee’s successor is appointed or until that
trustee’s earlier resignation, removal or death.
Section 5. Resignations.
Any
trustee may resign at any time by notifying (a) the Corporation
by notice to the chair of the Board of Trustees, the secretary or
the Corporation or the Executive Director and (b) the Member
appointing that trustee, in writing. Such resignation shall take
effect at the time specified therein, but not later than the time
of delivery of notice to the Corporation.
Section 6. Removal.
A trustee appointed by a Member may be removed from office at any
time by the written action, and in the sole discretion, of that
Member. Removal or termination of a Member shall automatically
and at the same time constitute removal or termination of the
trustee, if any, appointed by that Member.
Section 7. Vacancies.
Vacancies
in the Board of Trustees shall exist in the event of the
resignation, removal or death of a trustee, or in the event of an
increase in the number of Members having the right to appoint a
trustee. Any such vacancy shall be filled, in the case of a
trustee appointed by a Member, by an appointment by that Member.
A trustee appointed or elected to fill a vacancy shall hold
office for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor. A
vacancy created by the election of a new Member shall be filled
by an appointment by the new Member.
MEETINGS
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 8. Location of Meetings.
All
meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held within or without
the District of Columbia and may be held by means of telephone,
video or internet conference.
Section 9. Annual Meeting.
The
annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held at such
time and place as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees
and designated in the notice or waiver of notice of the meeting.
In default of such determination and designation, the first
meeting in a calendar year shall be the annual
meeting.
Section 10. Regular Meetings.
Regular
meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at such time and
place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of
Trustees.
Section 11. Call of Special Meetings.
The
president may call, or upon the request of a majority of the
members of the Board of Trustees, the secretary shall call,
special meetings of the Board of Trustees.
Section 12. Notice of Special Meetings.
Notice
of special meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be in writing,
signed by the president or secretary, and shall be served
personally or sent to each trustee by mail, e-mail, telecopy or
telegram addressed to his or her last address notified by that
trustee to the Corporation at least seven (7) days before the
time designated for such meeting. Notice of special meetings
shall state the time and place of the meeting; the purpose or
purposes of such meetings need not be specified, unless otherwise
required.
Section 13. Waiver of Notice.
Whenever
notice is required to be given to any trustee, a waiver thereof
in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such
notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be
equivalent to the giving of such notice. Such waiver need not
specify the purpose or purposes of the meeting.
Section 14. Quorum.
A
majority of the voting trustees then serving, present in person
or by proxy, at a meeting, teleconference, videoconference, or
internet conference, shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Trustees,
unless otherwise required. However, if a quorum is not present
at any meeting of the Board of Trustees, those trustees present
may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other
than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be
present. A meeting of the Board may include guests.
Section 15. Action by Majority Vote.
Except
as otherwise required, any action by a majority of the voting
trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall
be deemed the action of the Board of Trustees.
Section 16. Action by Written Consent.
Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the
Board of Trustees may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by
all of the voting trustees.
COMMITTEES
Section 17. Designation.
The
Board of Trustees may from time to time designate a portion of
the board, but not less than two voting trustees, to constitute
an Executive Committee. The Board of Trustees may also from time
to time designate trustees and non-trustees to serve on such
other committee or committees as deemed appropriate and may adopt
other resolutions on the appointment by one or more categories of
Members of members of committees. The Board of Trustees shall,
in relation to any committee, have the power at any time to (i)
appoint a member of such committee as its chair, or terminate
such an appointment, (ii) subject to any resolution adopted under
the preceding sentence, fill vacancies or change the membership,
or (iii) discharge a committee.
Section 18. Powers.
Each
committee shall have, and may exercise, such powers as authorized
by the Board of Trustees. The designation of any such committee
and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to
relieve the Board of Trustees, or any individual trustee, of any
responsibility imposed upon the board or such trustee by
law.
Section 19. Term.
Members
of a committee shall serve for a term of up to three years or
until their earlier resignation, removal with or without cause,
or death, or, in the case of a trustee member of a committee,
until the term of that trustee comes to an end, or until the
committee shall sooner be terminated.
Section 20. Meetings.
Meetings
of a committee may be held within or without the District of
Columbia, and may be held in person, by teleconference,
videoconference or internet conference. A majority of any such
committee may fix the time and place of its meetings. Each
committee shall keep records of its actions, and report such
actions to the Board of Trustees and the president.
Section 21. Quorum; Action. A majority of the
then serving trustee members (whether voting trustees or not) of
any committee, present in person or by proxy, in a meeting or by
teleconference, videoconference, or internet conference, shall
constitute a quorum. Any action of the majority of those present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be deemed the
action of the committee, except when a committee has only two
members, in which case any action must be by unanimous consent.
A meeting of a committee may include guests.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Section 1. Designation.
The
officers of the Corporation shall consist of a president, vice
president, secretary, and treasurer, and may include one or more
additional vice presidents, and such other officers and assistant
officers as may be deemed necessary, each to have such duties and
authority as are provided in these Bylaws, or as the Board of
Trustees may from time to time determine. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of
president and secretary.
Section 2. Election. Officers
shall be elected, for any position the term of the incumbent in
which is then expiring, by the Board of Trustees at the annual
meeting of the board. In the first year of the Corporation, the
trustees may elect officers on an interim basis and may within
that year elect new officers.
Section 3. Term.
Officers
shall serve for a term of one year (subject, in the first year of
the Corporation, to the preceding sentence), until the next
annual meeting of the Board of Trustees and until their
successors are elected and qualified, or until their earlier
resignation, removal or death. Any officer may be elected to
succeed himself or herself.
Section 4. Resignations.
Any
officer may resign at any time by notifying the Board of Trustees
in writing. Such resignation shall take effect at the time
specified therein. Acceptance by the Board of Trustees of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective.
Section 5. Removal.
Any
officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by a
majority vote of the Board of Trustees at any regular or special
meeting.
Section 6. Vacancies.
A
vacancy in any office caused by resignation, removal, or death of
an officer may be filled for the unexpired term of that officer
by the Board of Trustees at any regular or special
meeting.
Section 7. President.
The
president shall have general supervision over the affairs of the
Corporation, and shall perform all duties incident thereto. The
president shall have such other power as may from time to time be
assigned by the Board of Trustees.
Section 8. Vice President.
The
vice president, or if there shall be more than one, the vice
presidents in the order so determined by the Board of Trustees,
shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the
duties and exercise the powers of the president, and shall
perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board
of Trustees may from time to time prescribe.
Section 9. Secretary. The
secretary shall (i) act as secretary of all meetings of the Board
of Trustees and of such other committees as the Board of Trustees
shall specify, (ii) keep the minutes thereof in the proper book
or books, (iii) see that the reports, statements, and other
documents required by law are properly kept and filed and (iv) in
general, perform all the duties incident to the office of
secretary and such related duties as may from time to time be
assigned by the Board of Trustees or the president. The books,
records and papers in the hands of secretary shall at all times
be subject to the inspection, supervision and control of the
Board of Trustees and the president. At the expiration of his or
her term of office, the secretary shall turn over to his or her
successor in office all books, records, papers and other
properties of the Corporation. Any assistant secretary may act
in the absence or inability to act of the secretary.
Section 10. Treasurer.
The
treasurer shall (i) collect and keep an account of all moneys
received and expended for the use of the Corporation, (ii)
deposit sums received by the Corporation in the name of the
Corporation in such depositaries as shall be approved by the
Board of Trustees, (iii) present reports of the finances of the
Corporation at each annual meeting and when called upon by the
president and (iv) perform such related duties as shall be
directed by the Board of Trustees, or the president. The funds,
books and vouchers in the hands of the treasurer shall at all
times be subject to the inspection, supervision, and control of
the Board of Trustees and the president. At the expiration of
his or her term of office, the treasurer shall turn over to his
or her successor in office all books, records, monies and other
properties of the Corporation. Any assistant treasurer may act
in the absence or inability to act of the treasurer.
Section 11. Other Officers.
Other
officers elected or appointed by the Board of Trustees shall, in
general, perform such duties and have such powers as shall be
assigned to them by the Board of Trustees or the
president.
Section 12. Executive Director.
The
chief operating officer of the Corporation shall be the Executive
Director. The Executive Director shall not be a trustee or an
officer of the Corporation and shall not have the power to vote
in meetings of the board or of the Executive Committee, but shall
have the ability to attend all meetings of the board and of the
Executive Committee except such meetings or portions of meetings
when the board or that committee shall be in executive session.
Nor shall the Executive Director be a member of any other
committees of the board, but shall have the ability to attend all
such meetings except those of the Executive Director Review
Committee.
ARTICLE V
COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Compensation of Trustees.
Trustees
shall not receive any compensation for their services as such;
however, the Board of Trustees may authorize reimbursement for
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services
for the Corporation. Nothing herein contained shall be construed
to preclude any trustee from serving the Corporation in any other
capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor. The
approval of the Board of Trustees shall be required for the
hiring by the Corporation of such a person as an employee or
independent contractor.
Section 2. Compensation of Officers. Officers
shall not receive any compensation for their services as such;
however, the Board of Trustees may authorize reimbursement for
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services
for the Corporation. Nothing herein contained shall be construed
to preclude any officer from serving the Corporation in any other
capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor. The
approval of the Board of Trustees shall be required for the
hiring by the Corporation of such a person as an employee or
independent contractor.
ARTICLE VI
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 1. Liability.
In
the absence of fraud or bad faith, the trustees of the
Corporation shall not be personally liable for its debts,
obligations or liabilities.
Section 2. Indemnification. The
Corporation shall indemnify any trustee or officer, or former
trustee or officer, against expenses incurred in connection with
the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which he or she
is made a party by reason of being, or having been, such trustee
or officer, to the maximum extent permitted by law. Such
indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights
to which such trustee or officer may be entitled, under these
Bylaws, any agreement, vote of the Board of Trustees or
otherwise. The Corporation shall purchase and maintain liability
insurance at appropriate levels for its officers and
trustees.
Section 3. Prohibition Against
Self‑Dealing.
Anything
contained in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Corporation shall in no event indemnify any person otherwise
entitled to such indemnification if such indemnification would
violate any provision of Chapter 42 of the Code.
ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Grants.
The
Board of Trustees may prospectively or retroactively authorize
any officer of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation, and in the administration of an approved program, to
make any grants or contributions or provide financial assistance
to any qualified individuals or organizations. The Board of
Trustees may receive grants made to the Corporation from any
source.
Section 2. Execution of Contracts.
The
Board of Trustees, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws,
may prospectively or retroactively authorize any officer or
officers, in the name, and on behalf of the Corporation, to enter
into any contract, or execute and deliver any instrument as may
be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Corporation. Any
such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section 3. Loans.
The
Board of Trustees may authorize the president or any other
officer of the Corporation to (i) obtain loans and advances at
any time for the Corporation from any bank, trust company, firm,
corporation, individual or other institution, (ii) make, execute
and deliver promissory notes, bonds or other certificates or
evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation and (iii) pledge and
hypothecate, or transfer, any securities or other property of the
Corporation as security for any such loans or advances. Such
authority conferred by the Board of Trustees may be general or
confined to specific instances. No loans shall be made by the
Corporation to any trustee or officer thereof.
Section 4. Gifts.
The
Board of Trustees may accept on behalf of the Corporation any
contribution, gift bequest, or devise for the purposes of the
Corporation.
Section 5. Investments.
The
Corporation shall have the right to invest and reinvest any funds
held by it according to the judgment of the Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is restricted to the prudent investments
which a trustee is or may hereafter be permitted by law to
make.
Section 6. Voting of Securities Held by the
Corporation.
Stocks
and other securities owned by the Corporation shall be voted, in
person or by proxy, as the Board of Trustees may specify. In the
absence of any direction by the Board of Trustees, such stocks
and securities shall be voted as the president may
determine.
Section 7. Books and Records.
There
shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation correct
books of accounts of all the business and transactions of the
Corporation.
Section 8. Depositories.
The
funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall from time
to time be deposited to the order of the Corporation in such
banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of
Trustees may select.
Section 9. Signatories.
All
checks, drafts and other orders for payment of money out of the
funds of the Corporation, and all notes and other evidences of
indebtedness of the Corporation shall be signed on behalf of the
Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be
determined by the Board of Trustees. In the absence of such
determination by the Board of Trustees, such instruments shall be
signed by the Executive Director and countersigned by the
Administrative Member.
Section 10. Annual Audit.
The
Board of Trustees may require an annual audit to be made of the
books and accounting records of the Corporation.
Section 11. Fiscal Year.
The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution
of the Board of Trustees.
Section 12. Corporate Seal.
The
Corporation shall have a corporate seal with its name, year of
incorporation, and the words “Corporate Seal, District of
Columbia” inscribed thereon. The seal shall be in the
custody of the secretary and used by him or her, or any other
officer so authorized by the Board of Trustees, by causing it, or
a facsimile thereof, to be impressed, affixed, or reproduced
otherwise on any instrument or document as may be required or
recommended. The presence or absence of the seal on any
instrument, or its addition thereto, shall not affect the
character, validity or legal effect of the instrument in any
respect.
Section 13. Notice.
Any
consent, notice, waiver or writing required or permitted under
these Bylaws may be, unless otherwise specifically required, by
e-mail, letter, telecopy or telegram sent to the last business or
home address of the intended recipient notified to the
Corporation, provided that there is a written record of receipt
of the notice sent.
Section 14. Proxies.
A
voting trustee, in the case of a meeting of the board or a
committee, may give a written proxy to another person, including
but not limited to a colleague at that trustee’s
institution. Any proxy must be in writing. A proxy may be
general or may be confined to one or more specific matters that
may come before the meeting. A proxy must state whether it
applies to a meeting of the board or of a committee, name the
committee, and identify the date of the meeting, and no proxy may
apply to more than one meeting. A proxy may give complete voting
discretion to the proxyholder or limit that voting discretion in
any manner. If a proxy is exercised in a meeting, the proxy must
be given to the secretary or chair of the meeting for retention
in the records of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OR BYLAWS
These Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation,
or any one or more of the provisions thereof, may be, subject to
the resolutions of the board on this subject, adopted, amended,
repealed or new provisions adopted by the majority vote of the
trustees then in office at a meeting of the Board of Trustees
expressly called for that purpose. Notice of the intent to
adopt, amend, repeal and adopt any new such provision shall be
given in accordance with Article III, Section 12
hereof.
ARTICLE IX
EFFECT OF PROVISIONS OF LAW AND ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION
Each of the
provisions of these Bylaws shall be subject to and controlled by
specific provisions of the District of Columbia Nonprofit
Corporation Act or the Articles of Incorporation which relate to
their subject matter, and shall also be subject to any exceptions
or more specific provisions in these Bylaws dealing with the
subject matter appearing in any Bylaw, as amended from time to
time.
SECRETARY’S CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, as Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
Digital Library Federation, a corporation formed and existing
under the laws of the District of Columbia (the
“Corporation”), do hereby certify that the foregoing
is a true and complete copy of the Bylaws of this Corporation as
submitted to and adopted by the Board of Trustees through the
date appearing below.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunder subscribed my name and
affixed the seal of the Corporation on May 27,
2005.
Wendy Pradt Lougee
Secretary
return to top >>