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LINK+ Resource Sharing Library Consortium Bylaws

Article I- Name
The name of this organization shall be LINK+. LINK+ is an unincorporated private, nonprofit association based in California.

Article II- Purpose
   A.To enhance and expand access to and increase the effective utilization of library collections, through collaborative partnerships, among LINK+ members and the creation of an electronic union catalog. In this regard, a primary interest of LINK+ is to realize the consortial benefits, with the participation of all its membership, in a program of online user initiated borrowing from member institutions.

   B.To provide a forum for the discussion of other collaborative activities such as shared collection development, visiting user programs, and cost sharing/reduction programs.

   C.To engage in ongoing activities such as:
  • Networking of directors of LINK+ member libraries,
  • Provision of opportunities for staff interaction in the areas of document delivery and collection development,
  • Participation in grant opportunities for consortial activities,
  • Provision of reciprocal borrowing privileges for users
Article III- Membership
  • Section 1- Membership.    The organization shall be open to any library of a separately incorporated institution in California, or contiguous states, that has the Innovative Interface, Inc. integrated library system, or is willing to undertake the programming required to effectively interface with the LINK+ union catalog. Such libraries receiving greater than one-third negative votes by the Members will be denied membership.

  • Section 2- Responsibilities of Members
       A.All members are expected to comply with the following:
    • Maintaining a contract for INN-Reach services from Innovative Interfaces, Inc.
    • Loaning and borrowing materials in a timely manner (adequate staffing for the goal of 24 hour turnaround)
    • Contracting, at the institutional level, courier service for Monday through Friday except holidays with the LINK+ designated courier service
    • Agreeing to and following established LINK+ policies and procedures
    • Supporting participation of LINK+ operational staff in scheduled Operations Group meetings (currently one annual meeting per year and participation in regional group meetings as needed) and serving on the Operational Steering Committee, if asked to serve
    • Committing to attending the Annual Business Meeting of LINK+ library directors
    • Willing to serve on and attend meetings of the LINK+ Executive Committee if asked to serve
    • Committing to LINK+ policy that members upgrade to the most current software version within 12 months of its release
       B.Members pay annual dues to LINK+, with the dues rate set at the Annual Business Meeting to support the work of the organization.
       C.Members are eligible to participate in all joint LINK+ programs, contracts, purchases and licensing agreements. Upon payment of the appropriate institutional fee(s) as set by the Members, or agreed to by the Members with the information producer or vendor, for that program, contract, purchase or agreement.

  • Section 3- Membership Payments.    LINK+ Fiscal Agent shall issue the annual dues invoices by 1 July. Dues are payable by 1 September each year. New members will be prorated based on when they join.

  • Section 4- Applications.    Non-member institutions may apply for membership in LINK+ at any time by contacting the Membership Officer. Applicants are reviewed and voted on by the Executive Committee and then if approved taken to the Membership. Such applicants receiving greater than one-third negative votes by the Members will be denied membership.

  • Section 5- Representation.    Member institutions shall be represented by the individuals who are the chief administrative officers (hereafter referred to as Directors) of the libraries. An Assistant Administrative Officer may represent the Member institution if that person has full decision-making authority for the meeting in question. When voting does take place, a simple majority of those Directors (or Designees) present and voting shall decide the issue. Exceptions are decisions with financial implications which require an affirmative two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Members.

  • Section 6- Voting    Voting may take place in person at the annual meeting or electronically through the Directors listserv.
  •    A.Annual Meeting: Votes will be taken by a show of hands by those attending in person. In the event that some members are participating virtually they will record their votes using the meeting software's method of recognition/voting. A time will be reserved for virtual attendees to identify themselves (name and institution) and voice their votes.
       B.Directors listserv: Ballot items will be announced via the listserv and will include voting instructions and deadlines.

  • Section 7- Withdrawal/Removal.    Members may withdraw from LINK+ any time during the year upon written notification to the Membership Officer. There will be no refund of dues or other participation fee(s). Members who consistently fail to meet the Responsibilities of Members (Art. III, Sect. 2) may be brought to the Membership for removal from LINK+. An affirmative two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Members is required to remove a Member.

Article IV- Governance
   A.There shall be two bodies that will oversee LINK+ activities- all of the Directors of Member libraries and the Operations Group,

   B.Directors of the Member libraries will meet at least once a year. Members may choose to attend virtually. Such meetings will approve LINK+ policies, will elect members of the Executive Committee, and will conduct any other business deemed appropriate by the Directors present at the meeting.

   C.Executive Committee, see Article V, Section 1.

   D.Operations Group shall consist of representatives from member libraries. The Operations Group has an Operations Steering Committee governed by the Operations Steering Committee Charge.

Article V- Officers
  • Section 1- Executive Committee.   There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of seven Directors, assistant Directors or equivalent. Two Directors shall represent academic libraries. Three Directors shall represent the public libraries. Two Directors shall represent either an academic or a public library. The Chair of the Operations Steering Committee will be an ex officio non-voting member.
    • A.   Election/Terms.   The election for the Executive Committee shall take place at the Annual Business Meeting. The Executive Committee Directors will be elected to serve two years with the exception of those chosen for the Chair Elect, Chair, and Nominations Officer cycle. One of the Directors shall be elected Chair Elect, one elected Recorder, and one elected Membership Officer. The Chair Elect will succeed to the Chair. The out-going Chair will serve as Nominations Officer. Directors of the Executive Committee may be re-elected for two additional terms.
    • B.   Duties.   Duties of the Executive Committee shall include: review of applications for membership with recommendations to the Members, review of annual dues, if any, with recommendation to the Members, review of all additional matters as deemed appropriate with recommendations to the Members, and conduct the business of the Organization.
    • C.   Vacancies.   Any permanent vacancy occurring in the Executive Committee shall be filled by a Director elected by the Members either through an electronic ballot or at the next LINK+ Members meeting after the vacancy arises; the Director so elected will complete the term and roles of the Director being replaced on the Executive Committee.
    • D.   Meetings.   The Executive Committee shall meet as needed to conduct the business of the Organization. The date, time, place, and agenda of such meetings shall be communicated by the Chair to the Executive Committee members in advance of the meetings. These meetings may be conducted virtually. Executive Committee meetings shall be open to any interested Director, except under extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the Chair.

  • Section 2- Chair of the Executive Committee.   The Chair of the Executive Committee shall: prepare, and distribute in advance, the agenda for the Annual Business Meeting; chair all Executive Committee meetings; report at each Annual Business Meeting on the actions of the Executive Committee; serve as the liaison with the Operations Group and the Operations Steering Committee; serve as the Chief Official representative of LINK+ to external constituencies; and serve as the Official Liaison between LINK+ and the Fiscal Agent in matters relating to the contractual relationship and budgetary matters.

  • Section 3- Membership Officer.   The Membership Officer shall: serve as the contact person for information and libraries wishing information about membership in LINK+, shall receive, review for completeness and appropriateness, and maintain records of all applications; shall take the application to the Executive Committee for review, and if approved shall make recommendation to the Members, shall manage the electronic vote for prospective Members, shall follow up with the Fiscal Agent to ensure that proper membership invoicing takes place (if annual dues), and shall inform the Operations Steering Committee Chair of the membership information for the LINK+ Web page.

  • Section 4- Recorder.   The Recorder shall record actions taken at meetings of the Executive Committee and the Annual Business Meeting and provide any necessary follow-up to ensure that necessary subsequent steps have been taken regarding such actions; prepare and submit information to the Operations Steering Committee Chair for posting on the LINK+ Web page, and keep the official archives of the Organization.

  • Section 5- Nominations Officer.   The Nominations Officer is the Out-going Chair of the Executive Committee and shall prepare the slate of candidates for the Executive Committee Members according to Article V, Section 1, A.
Article VI- Committees
  • Section 1-  The Executive Committee may appoint ad hoc Committees as needed.

  • Section 2-  Operations Group

  • Section 3-  Operations Group Steering Committee

Article VII- Host Institution and Fiscal Agent
  • Section 1- Host Institution   
  •    A.Innovative Interfaces, Inc (III), acts as the Host Institution for LINK+. In this capacity, III serves, when appropriate, as the contact point for technical information regarding LINK+.
  • Section 2- Fiscal Agent   
       A.An institution, or other organization, shall be designated by the Members (or the Executive Committee acting for them) as Fiscal Agent. The Fiscal Agent will work with the Membership Officer to invoice and collect LINK+ membership dues, according to the schedule outlined elsewhere in these Bylaws (Article III, Sect. 3). The Fiscal Agent will provide and file the annual financial report of the Organization.
Article VIII- Amendments
  • Section 1.   These Bylaws may be amended or rescinded by an affirmative two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Members. Properly proposed and considered amendments, as specified in this Article of the Bylaws, may be voted on by either electronic mail or paper mail ballot.

  • Section 2.   Amendments may be proposed by any Member of LINK+. Proposals should be in writing, paper or via electronic mail, to the Chair of the Executive Committee.

  • Section 3.   Any proposed amendment must be placed on the agenda and be distributed prior to the meeting in which it is considered or sent out either by electronic mail or paper mail two weeks prior to the corresponding electronic mail or paper mail ballot.

Article IX- Adoption
  • Section 1- Adoption.   The present Bylaws shall be effective immediately upon their adoption by an affirmative two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Members. Following their adoption, the Bylaws shall be posted to and regularly updated on the LINK+ Web pages.

Article X- Dissolution
  • Section 1- Dissolution.   Dissolution of this organization is possible only after a paper mail ballot, which requires an affirmative two-thirds majority of the votes cast by the Members; such results can only be announced at the Annual Business Meeting. Upon dissolution of the organization, any remaining assets or liabilities of the organization will be distributed equally to the Members in good standing at the time of such dissolution.

Article XI- Parliamentary Authority
In the absence of provisions in these Bylaws, the provisions of the latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority.


Last updated: November 14, 2022