AACRL Incorporates

On October 23 Alabama Association of College and Research Libraries President Tim Dodge walked into the Lee County Courthouse and then into the Judge of Probate's office to file the State of Alabama Domestic Non-Profit Corporation Articles of Incorporation for AACRL. This fulfills the mandate of the (national) Association of College and Research Libraries that all 42 state and regional chapters be either incorporated or merged with state library associations by December 31, 2000.

The directive to incorporate or merge went out about three years ago from the national Association to address the issue of liability: in the unlikely event someone was injured at a meeting or workshop hosted by a state chapter of ACRL, a lawsuit could be avoided if all state chapters were either merged with a state library association or incorporated as an independent non-profit organization. 

The actual incorporation process turns out to be quite simple. Two copies of the Articles of Incorporation need to be filed in the county where the corporation's office is located. There is a $20 filing fee for the Secretary of State and a variable Judge of Probate's filing fee that happens to be $30 for Lee County.

Although the composition of the AACRL Executive Board changes each year, the Secretary of State requires a street address and an official registered agent for a non-profit organization. Since AACRL has no physical office and since I am AACRL President this year, it is appropriate that I serve as the registered agent. For incorporation purposes, AACRL's office is currently located in my house in rural Waverly, Alabama. It is possible to change the registered agent for a modest fee to the Secretary of State. Perhaps the AACRL Bylaws now need a provision allowing for the periodic changing of the registered agent. In addition to serving as registered agent, I am also the official incorporator of AACRL and one of three directors. President-Elect Jean Thomason (Samford University) and Treasurer Susan Herring (University of Alabama in Huntsville) are also listed as directors.

AACRL has met the December 31 deadline for incorporation or merging with state library associations mandated by ACRL. Still to be determined is the need for a financial audit for federal and state income tax purposes.

As of this writing, I am waiting for final confirmation of non-profit incorporation status from the Alabama Secretary of State. 
 
 

Submitted by Tim Dodge