Members Govern HathiTrust
HathiTrust, as a co-managed and co-funded collaborative of academic and research libraries, relies on its members to govern its programmatic, financial, and strategic directions. Membership established the governance model in 2012 and comprises the following entities:
An Executive Committee of the Board
The Program Steering Committee
The governing bodies operate under the HathiTrust Bylaws. In addition to the formal governing bodies, multiple working, advisory, and task-based groups further enable member libraries to participate in and guide the direction of HathiTrust. As necessary, members vote on various policies or changes using the weighted voting system established in 2011.
Finances
The budget of HathiTrust is a separately maintained budget held within the University of Michigan budget system and managed by the Executive Director with oversight from the Executive Committee. Some additional financial components of the operation are represented by commitments in kind by participating members. The University Library’s financial procedures are subject to audits by the University of Michigan Office of University Audits.
Succession Plan
Support for HathiTrust resources and services is provided by the HathiTrust partnering institutions. The University of Michigan is the current host of the infrastructure where digital content deposited by the partners is preserved and made accessible. Support for this infrastructure is part of the base-funded responsibilities of the University of Michigan Library, and ongoing funding for the Library is provided to that end. Content is deposited by institutions on a perpetual, non-exclusive basis, but is owned by the depositing institution. Hardware, software and services purchased by the University of Michigan or resources created by the University of Michigan are done so on behalf of the partners with a commitment to constant sharing and transparency. Should the funding or organizational imperatives of the University of Michigan Library change, the Library will develop a succession plan and will devote multi-year funding to support of the transition to another host institution.