IATUL Constitution

Constitution of the International Association of Technological University Libraries

This Constitution is interpreted in English law and the definitive copy is held in the President's files.

This Constitution replaces the Statutes adopted by the membership in December 1965. Members voted to adopt this Constitution in April 1968 and voted again in December 1968 to modify the final paragraph (12 Dissolution) to the present wording. An amendment concerning membership was taken in February 1979 and is to be found under paragraph (4) (e) in the statutes.

Amendments to articles (4) and (8) were proposed at a General Assembly of IATUL, held in Oxford on 19th April 1985 and subsequently ratified by postal ballot of voting members. The text of this Constitution was confirmed by the Board of Directors of IATUL at a meeting held in Aachen on 14th October 1985.

Amendments to articles 4 (a), 4 (b) and 4 (e) were proposed at a General Assembly of IATUL held in Pretoria, South Africa on 5th June 1998 and subsequently ratified by postal ballot of voting members. The text of this Constitution was confirmed by the Board of Directors of IATUL at a meeting held in Chania, Crete on Friday 21st May 1999.

Amendments to articles 3 (b) and 3 (e) were proposed at a General Assemby of IATUL held in Brisbane, Australia on Friday 7th July 2000 and subsequently ratified by a postal ballot of voting members.

An amendment to article 4 (a) was proposed at a General Assemby of IATUL held in Delft, The Netherlands on Friday 1 June 2001 and ratified by members.

1. Name and Style
The Association shall be known in the English language, its medium of official communication, as the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES. In other languages it may be known by a direct translation or by a preferred variant, e.g. Internationale Vereinigung der Bibliotheken Technischer Universitäten or Association Internationale des Bibliothèques d'Universités Polytechniques. The official abbreviation of the name of the Association for all purposes and in all languages, shall be IATUL. IATUL is a non-profit institution.

2. Affiliation
IATUL shall be affiliated to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions/La Fédération Internationale des Associations de Bibliothèques et Institutions (IFLA/FIAB). This relationship, which has subsisted since 1955, the year of the foundation of IATUL, shall continue until determined by either or both parties.

3. Purpose
The purpose of IATUL shall be to promote effective co-operation among its member university libraries.

4. Membership
The Board of Directors of IATUL (vide infra, para. 6) shall be empowered to admit individuals or institutions to the following categories of membership, as appropriate:

(a) Ordinary Membership
available to university libraries/information services of institutions which offer masters or doctoral degrees in egineering, science or technology.

(b) Associate Membership
available, subject to confirmation by the Board, to libraries/information services interested in supporting the aims and objectives of IATUL.

Categories (a) and (b) shall pay the regular annual dues of the Association and shall have the right to vote on all questions remitted to the membership ad hoc or by the present Constitution or by rules drafted by the Board in extension or interpretation of these Articles and approved by the membership.

(c) Honorary Membership
which the Board may confer upon individuals who have served the Association, or international librarianship, with particular distinction; and

(d) Sustaining Membership
available, subject to confirmation by the Board, to commercial organisations interested in supporting the aims and objectives of IATUL.

The list of Sustaining Members shall be reviewed annually by the Board which shall also determine the subscription (if any) to be levied on each such member together with the privileges to be enjoyed and obligations to be imposed on each member.

5. Applications for Membership
Applications for membership of IATUL shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Association. Membership will commence with the calendar year. If application is made in October, November or December, there will be no charge for membership in that year. Membership shall not become effective until payment of first dues.

6. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer (the foregoing being the Officers of the Association), the Immediate Past President, who shall serve in that capacity for a period of one year, and at least three other persons to be elected by the membership. Members of the Board shall be elected for a term of three years, and shall be eligible for immediate re-election to one additional term. The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the Association.

7. Policy, Exercise of Authority and Conduct of Affairs
The Board shall meet at least twice a year, and shall be responsible to the membership for the broad policy of IATUL and the conduct of its affairs, save that the financial liability of the Board shall not exceed the sum of the subscribed capital and guarantees of the Association. Matters falling within the competence of the Board which, in the judgement of the President, require immediate decision, or discussion of authorisation more frequently than twice a year, shall be handled by the EXECUTIVE BOARD, consisting of the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer, for any one of whom, in an emergency, any other Officer or Member of the Board may substitute. The Board shall decide on the admission of new members. For the furtherance of general policy or particular objectives the Board may appoint STANDING COMMITTEES and may invite representatives of any category of membership to serve upon them.

8. Regional Groups
The Board may establish regional groups in different parts of the world. Each such group may elect its own regional board and, consistent with the central purpose of IATUL, may conduct regional publications and programmes. The proceedings of regional boards and reports of regional activities shall be rendered in English to the Board of Directors of IATUL.

Each regional group may elect a correspondent to represent the group's interest to the Board of Directors of IATUL. The president of IATUL may invite a correspondent to attend a Board Meeting.

9. Conference
A Conference, consistent with the general aims of IATUL, shall be called by the Board at least once in three years. This Conference may be held in association with other bodies of like interest.

10. Board Vacancies and Election Machinery
Notice of any vacancy of the Board of Directors of IATUL shall be circulated by the Secretary to Ordinary and Affiliated Members, who may propose representatives for election. This call for nominations will be made in the first quarter of the calendar year. Four full weeks, shall be allowed to members for nominations to be made by e-mail or airmal post. These shall name the candidate, who must be the official representative of his or her institution, and shall show evidence of the candidate's consent. The nomination must have a proposer and seconder, who must both be the official representative of a member institution. The decision as to who shall be invited to join the Board will be made by the Board and presented to the General Assembly for approval at the annual conference. New Board Members will be expected to take up their office on the 1 January of the following year.

11. Changes in Constitution
Any proposal for the modification or extension of the present Constitution, whether originating from the Board of Directors or otherwise, must be submitted for the consent of members and must allow a full four weeks for deliberation. Dissent by more than one quarter of the voting membership shall invalidate any such proposal.

12. Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of IATUL, the Board shall decide upon the disposal of funds, provided such funds may be disposed of only for non-profit charitable or educational purposes, in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. 

Bylaws of the Board
(Adopted at the Board Meeting held on 26th August 1970)

The following Bylaws are adopted by the Board to clarify Article 6 of the Constitution, "Board of Directors" and are thus designated with the number of that Article and a letter for each Bylaw.

6. (a) The number of the Board Members shall be eight except during the calendar year when the immediate Past President shall be a ninth member, as provided in Article 6 of the Constitution.

6. (b) All Board Members shall be elected for three-year terms, effective January 1 of the year designated by the Board.

6. (c) In cases where a Board Member is elected or re-elected President, Secretary or Treasurer (i.e. a Member of the Executive Board) s/he may serve a further term regardless of his or her previous length of service as a Board Member.

6. (d) In cases where a Board member resigns or is unable to serve during his or her term, the Board will elect a replacement in accordance with Article 10 of the Constitution.

6. (e) When an Officer resigns or is unable to continue to serve in his or her office, the Board will elect either one of its members or the official representative of a member library to replace him or her. The term of the new Officer shall follow the principle set forth above in Bylaw 6 (c) if he/she is already a member of the Board.