Regional Interest Groups

Capital District Library Council interest groups and membership committees are created to provide a means of communication among the staffs of CDLC members or other interested individuals. The term “membership” is used to indicate that the Council does not appoint these groups or committees and that participation is informal. The sole criterion for membership is an interest in the work of the group or the committee.

The following interest groups currently exist. Follow the links or contact CDLC for more information.

Guidelines for CDLC Interest Groups and Membership Committees

Any group of individuals can petition the CDLC Board of Trustees for recognition as an "interest group" or a "membership committee." The Board will evaluate the request based on satisfaction of the criteria cited below. The Board reserves the right to periodically review interest groups or membership committees to determine if they are still active and in compliance with the stated guidelines. The Board of Trustees must approve exceptions to the following guidelines.

CDLC Responsibility:

The main role of CDLC is to facilitate the communication necessary for these committees to function. CDLC will provide routine administrative support such as maintaining mailing lists, distributing information, or providing meeting facilities. Announcements or other information for distribution must be submitted to CDLC at least ten working days before any meeting. Material will be distributed to committee members and to CDLC Directors for staff information.

Committee Recognition:

Each interest group or membership committee must submit the following information when petitioning the Board for recognition:

a "statement of purpose" which includes the name of the group or committee
a list of individuals interested in forming the committee
an outline of how the committee will proceed to organize its activities

Committee Responsibility:

Each interest group or membership committee must fulfill the following obligations to continue to be recognized:

designate a liaison to the Council. This can be the chair, secretary, or a designated coordinator if no officers are elected. The liaison will provide information about the committee's meetings and activities and will submit a written annual report by May 1.
in conjunction with CDLC staff the committee will update and revise the membership roster annually.

Committee Structure:

Membership on the committee is open to all staff of CDLC members. Each committee will identify the operational procedures that will be followed. These procedures will include:

the mechanism for selecting an individual to chair or coordinate the committee's activities and the length of time an individual will have this responsibility. If officers are elected the method of conducting elections, terms of office, etc. must be identified.
the frequency of meeting (minimum of two per year)
the method for recording and publicizing the committee's activities and identifying new members

Financial Responsibility:

CDLC will absorb routine expenses related to the committee's activities, such as mailing costs, duplication of materials, or use of CDLC meeting rooms. The interest group or membership committee may not incur any financial obligations or use the CDLC name in any legal or financial arrangement without prior Board approval. For example, any conferences, contracts with outside speakers, or sale of publications must be reviewed and approved by the Board before they can be undertaken by a group or committee.

Approved by the CDLC Board of Trustees 1/19/96