[Koha] Update from Koha Foundation Steering Group

[Auld, Andrew]

Koha Community Update: Foundation Steering Group Progress

1 November 2024

Dear Koha Community,

We’re pleased to share updates from the recent Foundation Steering Group
meetings that we have had since the Steering Group was formed at Kohacon in
Montréal. These sessions have focused on building a transparent governance
structure for Koha’s future within the Open Library Foundation (OLF),
aligning with both our values and the community’s democratically driven
spirit. Below, we outline some key topics discussed, with the intention
that the wider Koha community can stay informed and engaged in this process
of moving towards joining the OLF.
Commitment to Community-Driven Representation

We understand the importance of having representatives on this Steering
Group, and also on the eventual Governance Committee, that reflect the
diverse perspectives of the Koha community. All of us are dedicated to
ensuring that those who volunteer to represent Koha in the Foundation
remain aligned with the community’s values and the open-source mission that
guides our work together.
Inclusive Governance Structure

As part of our work with the OLF, we are establishing key roles — which
include the legally necessary roles of Manager, Treasurer, and Secretary —
required to help Koha operate within a solid framework. Our aim is to
ensure that active, meaningful participation from the community remains
central to governance decisions and membership guidelines.
Financial Oversight and Independence

Each entity within the OLF, such as Koha, is fully accountable for its own
finances and activities as what is called a ‘Single Member Limited
Liability Company’ (SMLLC). The OLF provides support, but each SMLLC
operates independently. To help with banking and financial management, we
are considering practical solutions, such as appointing a U.S.-based
Treasurer to simplify banking processes.
Improved Community Communication and Transparency

We are drafting guidelines to ensure clear communication about who
represents the community, how decisions are made, and when input from the
community is necessary. Our goal is to make sure that every voice is heard
and that our governance structure reflects the collective will of the
community.
Protecting Koha’s Charitable Mission

We are dedicated to preserving Koha’s charitable status, aligning our
activities and tax considerations with both legal standards and community
values.
Next Steps and Community Engagement

We are pleased to be welcoming some additional members to the Steering
Group who work in Libraries in different parts of the world. This is to
address the current imbalance of the Steering Group in favour of Koha
Support Companies.

Our next meeting will focus on finalising the Steering Group’s guidelines
and defining roles that will be needed in the Koha Foundation Committee. We
encourage everyone who is passionate about Koha to join us in these
discussions by giving us your feedback, as we build a robust foundation for
the project’s future.

We remain committed to open, community-led governance. Please stay tuned
for updates, and reach out with any questions or suggestions. Together,
we’re building a strong future for Koha!

Best regards,

Koha Foundation Steering Group

The Koha Foundation Steering Group is currently made up of the following
members:

Andrew Auld - PTFS Europe, UK andrew.auld at ptfs-europe.com MM @aulda
(currently acting as Chair of the Steering Group)

Peter-Paul Kloppenborg - BSZ, Germany paul.kloppenborg at bsz-bw.de MM
@paulkloppenborg (currently acting as Secretary of the Steering Group)

Aleisha Amohia - Catalyst, New Zealand - aleisha at catalyst.net.nz - MM
@aleisha

Brendan Gallagher - ByWater Solutions, USA - brendan at bywatersolutions.com -
MM @bag

David Cook - Prosentient Systems, Australia - dcook at prosentient.com.au - MM
@dcook

Éric Bégin - inLibro, Canada - eric.begin at inlibro.com - MM @eric

Esa-Pekka Peskitalo - National Library of Finland -
esa-pekka.keskitalo at helsinki.fi - MM @keskitalo

George Williams - NEKLS, USA - gwilliams at nekls.org - @georgehwilliams

Nick Clemens - ByWater Solutions, USA - nick at bywatersolutions.com - MM
@kidclamp

Sonia Bouis - Université Lyon 3 and Kohala, France -
sonia.bouis at univ-lyon3.fr - MM soniab

Thomas Dukleth - USA - td-koha-foundation at agogme.com - MM @thd

Tomas Cohen Arazi - Theke, Argentina - tomascohen at theke.io - MM @tcohen



-- 

Andrew Auld

Commercial Director

PTFS Europe

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