An important item in the Terms of Reference needs to be emphasized – each Association is asked to provide us with the name of a liaison to FIRES who will disseminate information about FIRES to his/her Association. FIRES is a North American Library and we cannot succeed without the support of our member Associations.

Liaisons

• In support of the FIRES mission, we are asking for one individual from each member Association to serve as a liaison person between its members and FIRES.
• Each FEZANA member Association will nominate a member to be a liaison between the Association and FIRES.
  FIRES encourages each Association to start a library at the Association and catalog its contents. FIRES will upload all catalogs to the FIRES website.
• The liaison will disseminate information about FIRES to his/her Association.
• Liaison persons may be asked to assist their Associations in cataloging books, and periodically communicating FIRES progress through their
• Association newsletters or group e-mails.

Electronic Media

• The goal of FIRES is to post a catalog of all books and artifacts available in North America online. The online catalog will indicate the cities in which the item is physically available.
• FIRES will help member Associations to catalog their collection of books and artifacts so that it may be posted on the FIRES web site.
• FIRES will encourage storage, accessibility, and dissemination of all material through electronic media where possible.
• FIRES will provide an electronic forum where scholarly or other enquiries related to Zarathushti faith, culture, and history will be addressed.

Facilities and Equipment

• The ZAH Library will serve as the host facility to house the FIRES collection and will be expanded as needed with financial assistance from FEZANA member Associations.
• Equipment approved by FEZANA will be purchased by the Operating Committee and housed in Houston
• If equipment needs to be rented by FIRES on a short term basis the rental cost will be included in the operating budget.
• Maintenance including equipment repairs and upkeep will be included in the operating budget.

Use of Facilities

• FIRES will integrate the online catalogs of member Associations into a unified North American catalog of books available at various Associations.
• Books and artifacts donated to or purchased by FIRES will be marked accordingly and shown in the catalog separately from ZAH’s collection.
• Books and periodicals can be accessed during the operating hours of the ZAH Library.
• Interested persons may use the library outside of the regular operating hours by appointment.
• The Chairman will designate certain books as reference books that will not be available for borrowing.
• If a FEZANA member Association wants to borrow a set of artifacts or books donated to FIRES to exhibit at their Association, FIRES will work with the Association’s liaison to arrange the transfer of materials. All shipping and insurance costs will be borne by the Association.
• Individual members of an Association who wish to check a book or electronic media out of the FIRES library, will go through the appointed liaison of their own Association. The liaison will be responsible for the safe return of all books to FIRES
• Loan of books to individuals not belonging to a FEZANA member Association or to research scholars will be made by the Chairperson of the FIRES Operations Committee on a case by case basis

Donations

• The Advisory Board as well as the Chairperson of the FIRES Operations Committee will actively seek donations for FIRES.
• FIRES will gratefully accept monetary donations for purchase of books, electronic media, equipment, furniture, or other approved articles; and for FIRES operating funds.
• The Operations Committee will approve all donations of books or artifacts.
• All gifts to FIRES will be considered the property of FIRES and FIRES will not be able to return gifts to the donor at a later date.
• FIRES will give the donor a receipt for any gift but will not put a value on non-monetary gifts.
• Monetary donations to FIRES will be used for the purpose designated by the donor or, if not specified by the donor, will go into the FIRES general operating fund.

Budget

• The Operations Committee will propose a budget for the upcoming year and present it for approval at the FEZANA Annual General Meeting.
• Disbursement of budgeted funds will be co-ordinated through the FEZANA Treasurer.
• Should extra-ordinary expense items occur during the year, they will be sent to the FEZANA President for approval.

Advisory Committee

The following Advisory Committee members have been selected by FEZANA:

• Rustom Kevala (Florida)
• Roshan Rivetna (Zoroastrian Association of Chicago)
• Shernaz Joshi Verahrami (Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington)