Original Categories of participation (1995)

The principles of organization express the common interests of DLF members in trying to strike a balance between providing leadership while being open to broad input, engaging the appropriate partners while remaining agile, and advancing a strong program while allowing for ample comment and criticism. Drawing on these principles, the structure of DLF participation might best be described in terms of partners and allies:

Strategic Partners. All current participants in the DLF are Strategic Partners. The DLF is open to the participation of new partners who meet the following criteria:

• they demonstrate that they are operating digital libraries in the sense of DLF's working definition of digital library; and
• they demonstrate how they can, through the contribution of skilled staff and by other means, enhance the capacity of the DLF to provide leadership in the development of digital libraries.

Strategic Partners have a voting seat in the DLF Board, which is the governing board of DLF. They have rights to participate in DLF projects and rights of admission to all DLF meetings and workshops. Acceptance of new partners is subject to approval of a simple majority of the Board. The annual fee for Strategic Partners is currently $20,000. Strategic Partners also contribute to the DLF capital fund in the amount of $25,000 over 5 years. The annual fee is set each year at the spring meeting Board meeting. Strategic Partners establish a payment plan for their contributions to the capital fund upon entry to the DLF.

DLF Allies. The DLF and organizations with intersecting interests in digital libraries have found, and will continue to need to find, substantial ways to work together. A variety of working relationships already exists between the DLF and other organizations and will no doubt continue to emerge. However, there is also the need for more formal relationships or alliances, which may take a variety of forms. In some cases, a form of direct participation in the DLF may be appropriate. With RLG and OCLC, for example, the DLF has fashioned a special arrangement whereby these organizations sit on the DLF Steering Committee "with voice but without vote." In other cases, special forms of cooperation may be better suited to achieve mutual objectives with non-partner digital libraries. Similarly, the DLF will need and have opportunities to craft special relationships with technology vendors, publishers, and other commercial and non-profit organizations. The DLF will evaluate the opportunities for and merits of formal alliances on a case-by-case basis, with the intention of building over time a set of clear principles for such relationships that will strengthen its ability to provide leadership in the development of digital libraries.

For further information, please consult the DLF Organization page.

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