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Iowa Academic Library Alliance

Alliance Committees

Coordinating Committee

The Alliance will be guided by a Coordinating Committee as defined pursuant to Section 2 of the bylaws. The Coordinating Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Membership on matters concerning organization, operation, and priorities of the Alliance but does not exercise authority over any individual Member Library and has no authority over the Alliance other than those granted to the Coordinating Committee in the IALA by-laws.

(Memorandum of Agreement)

Members

Shared Purchasing Committee

Role
The overall objective of the Shared Purchasing Committee is to establish a structure and ongoing process for pursuing the joint purchasing of information resources and services among the member institutions of the Iowa Academic Library Alliance participating in shared purchasing.

Responsibilities

  • Develop a plan, structure, and process for an annual opt-in joint purchase of information resources and services that will complement the State Library/Alliance partnership and the base database package that serves public and academic libraries statewide.  This annual opt-in purchase will only involve Alliance member libraries.  Once the plan has been developed, make recommendations to the Coordinating Committee; if those are approved, make the recommendations a reality.
  • Oversee, maintain, and assess the annual opt-in joint purchase process. 
  • Work with the Communications Committee to periodically survey/gather information from the Alliance member libraries about information resource needs and issues; assess this information for group purchase possibilities; make recommendations as appropriate to the Coordinating Committee; if those are approved and if participating members approve, contact and negotiate as appropriate with vendors and carry out the group purchasing process. 
  • Oversee, maintain, and assess any ongoing or one-time joint purchase done under the sponsorship of the Alliance.
  • Work with the Communications Committee to regularly communicate with Alliance member libraries about shared purchasing opportunities, news, issues, and concerns.
  • Serve as a point of contact between vendors and Alliance member libraries.  Maintain relationships with vendors; convey overall Alliance needs and issues to vendor representatives at least once annually.
  • The Coordinating Committee Chair or Coordinating Committee Liaisons may, at their own discretion, invite members of the Shared Purchasing Committee to regularly attend meetings/task forces.

Membership
The Shared Purchasing Committee will have a minimum membership of 2 people from each type of academic library for a total of 6 members.  A committee chair will be appointed by the Coordinating Committee.

November 13, 2017

Members

MOBIUS Partnership

In January 2022, the Iowa Alliance signed a memorandum of understanding with MOBIUS, a library consortium based in Missouri, to provide third-party management of the Iowa Alliance’s group purchasing activities (databases, ebooks, etc.).  MOBIUS provides these services in exchange for annual fees paid by participating Iowa Alliance members.  The fees are based on library materials/services expenditures as reported to IPEDS.  The fees are usually invoiced on or shortly after July 1.

Questions about the partnership can be directed to Kevin Engel. 

Specific questions related to MOBIUS and/or MOBIUS-managed resources that are available to Iowa Alliance members should be directed to Christina Virden.

 

Additional Resources

Role
The overall objective of the Communication Committee is to establish an effective distribution model to facilitate the dissemination of information among the membership, the Coordinating Committee, organization Task Forces and outside stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Develop a comprehensive communication strategy. This may include but is not limited to the website, email, listserv(s), and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.
  • Assess communication needs and modalities regularly to determine the suitability and effectiveness of the current strategy.
  • Create, update, and maintain the organization’s website.
  • Make recommendations to the Coordinating Committee regarding format and policies pertaining to the website and any other modes of communication.
  • Maintain and update the organization’s email distribution list for accuracy and currency.
  • Gather and distribute meeting minutes/announcements resulting from Coordination Committee, membership, or task force meetings.
  • Inform the membership of events, developments, or news that effect the Alliance or the library profession as designated by the Coordinating Committee.
  • The Coordinating Committee Chair or Coordinating Committee Liaisons may, at their own discretion, invite members of the Communication Committee to regularly attend meetings/taskforces.

Membership

The Communication Committee will have a minimum membership of 2 people from each type of academic library for a total of 6 members. A committee chair will be appointed by the Coordinating Committee.

November 13, 2017