Bylaws

Joint IGeLU/ELUNA Interoperability SIWG

Mission, means and procedures

The objective of the Interoperability Special Interest Working Group is to achieve essential interoperability features in all Ex Libris products and, where appropriate, from third party vendor products perspectives. See the Key goals for Interoperability in Ex Libris products.

Recent user feedback on Interoperability issues highlights the importance of this group and anonymous initial survey results are available here.

The group aims to achieve its objective through monthly calls, constant communication with Ex Libris technical contacts, liaisons with IGeLU and ELUNA Product Working Groups with regard to issues and enhancements, and discussion of architecture and strategy.

Communication with the wider community will take place on a general mailing list, which will be available soon.

Tasks and responsibilities

  • Advocate to achieve the key interoperability goals

  • Conduct surveys and improve visibility of the activities of the group

  • Keep customers informed about roadmap of API development for various products

  • Communication with Ex Libris

  • Communication with IGeLU and ELUNA Steering Committees

  • Communication with IGeLU and ELUNA PWGs and SIWGs

  • Communication with third parties

  • Coordinate/communicate Interoperability enhancement procedures

  • Coordinate and organise monthly closed group calls

  • Manage open and closed mailing lists

  • Manage and edit Interoperability SIWG section on the websites

  • Organise Interoperability programme for annual IGeLU and ELUNA conferences

Roles

The roles of Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator have a formal status. They serve as official representatives and contacts with the IGeLU and ELUNA Steering Committees and Ex Libris. They are expected to attend the regular IGeLU and ELUNA official conference calls and face-to-face meetings at the annual conferences. All other roles are less formal and may be shared among members of the Working Body.

  • Coordinator (has to be from an IGeLU member institution)

    • Responsible for communication with Ex Libris and Steering Committees and overall coordination. Primary responsibility for announcements on the mailing lists and to Steering Committees.

  • Deputy coordinator (can be from either IGeLU or ELUNA institution)

    • Supports and replaces Coordinator in communication with Ex Libris and Steering Committees and overall coordination. Secondary responsibility for announcements on the mailing lists and to Steering Committees.

  • Communications officers

    • All members of the SIWG are jointly responsible for monitoring and normal communication with customers via mailing list.

  • Enhancement coordinators/PWG and SIWG liaisons

    • Coordinate communication about feasible Interoperability enhancements with Ex Libris and the PWGs and SIWGs

Working body

Only IGeLU and ELUNA member staff can participate in the Working Body of the joint IGeLU/ELUNA Interoperability SIWG. The tasks of this Working Body consist mainly of coordination, communication and organisation. The Working Body communicates internally using a closed mailing list and closed calls.

IGeLU and ELUNA should be equally represented in the Working Body as much as possible. IGeLU and ELUNA should be represented by no fewer than 3 working body members at any given time.

There are separate selection procedures for Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator on the one hand, and other Working Body members on the other.

Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator procedure

The Coordinator and the Deputy Coordinator should represent different user groups (one from IGeLU, the other from ELUNA). The Coordinator and the Deputy Coordinator serve for a two year term. There is no maximum number of terms for any Coordinator or Deputy Coordinator.

The current Deputy Coordinator will automatically succeed as Coordinator after the term of the current Coordinator ends, unless the Deputy Coordinator declines.

If the Deputy Coordinator accepts the Coordinator position for the next term, then a new Deputy Coordinator has to be appointed. All IGeLU and ELUNA member staff can volunteer for the position of Deputy Coordinator, also current Working Body members and the previous Coordinator, but only if they represent the User Group whose turn it is to provide the Deputy Coordinator.

If the Deputy Coordinator does not accept the Coordinator position for the next term, then both a new Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator have to be appointed. Both need to represent the other User Group than the one that the previous Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator were affiliated with. In this case all IGeLU and ELUNA member staff can volunteer for the position of Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator, also current Working Body members, but only if they represent the User Group whose turn it is to provide the Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator.If there are more than one candidate for the positions of Coordinator and/or Deputy Coordinator, a formal election will be organised.

Working body procedure

Working body members can serve for a term of two years, or longer if no new candidates come forward.

Working body members can at any time volunteer for a subsequent term.

There is no maximum number of terms for any working body member.

All IGeLU and ELUNA member staff can volunteer for SIWG Working Body membership. If there are more candidates than the total number of vacant positions, a formal election can be organised.

The total number of Working Body members can be determined and changed by the current Working Body any time. Initially the maximum number of Working Body members will be set at 8. It is the intention to have an equal division of Working Body members from IGeLU and ELUNA.

For the sake of continuity every other year half of the members can be replaced; the old Coordinator can stay on as member.

Elections

All IGeLU and ELUNA member institutions must be able to vote if elections are to be held for Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator or Working Body positions. Therefore elections will be organised online and  independently of annual conferences.

All IGeLU and ELUNA member institutions can vote for all candidates, irrespective of their User Group affiliation.

For the Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator positions every IGeLU and ELUNA member institution will have one vote per position.

For the other Working Body positions every IGeLU and ELUNA member institution will have one vote for an IGeLU candidate and one vote for an ELUNA candidate.