Sec. 2. In the discharge of this purpose the Association shall do all possible to further the aims of the American Library Association and to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities.
b. Specialized library agencies, which are those organizations which provide materials and services of a unique nature to meet the information needs of citizens whose access to traditional library services and materials is limited because of sensory, physical, health, and/or behavioral conditions.
c. Multitype library cooperatives, which are combinations, mergers, or contractual associations of two or more types of libraries (academic, public, special, or school) crossing jurisdictional, institutional, or political boundaries, working together to achieve maximum effective use of funds to provide library and information services to all citizens above and beyond those which can be provided through one institution. Such cooperative organizations or agencies may be designated to serve a community, a metropolitan area, a region within a region, or may serve a statewide or multistate area.
d. Independent librarians are individuals who work outside of traditional library settings.
b. Representation and interpretation of the role, functions, and services of state library agencies, specialized library agencies, and multitype library cooperatives within and outside the profession, including contact with national organizations and government agencies.
c. Development of policies, studies, and activities in matters affecting state library agencies specialized library agencies, and multitypes library cooperatives relating to (1) state and local library legislation, (2) state and other grant-in-aid and appropriations, and (3) relationships among state, federal, regional, and local governments, coordinating such activities with other appropriate ALA units.
d. Establishment, evaluation, and promotion of standards and service guidelines relating to the concerns of the Association.
e. Identifying the interests and needs of all citizens, encouraging the creation of services to meet these needs within the areas of concern of the Association, and promoting the use of these services provided by state library agencies, specialized library agencies, and multitype library cooperatives.
f. Stimulating the professional growth and promoting the specialized training and continuing education of library personnel at all levels in the areas of concern of this Association and encouraging membership participation in appropriate type-of-activity divisions within ALA.
g. Assisting in the coordination of activities of other units within ALA that have a bearing on the concerns of this Association.
h. Granting recognition for outstanding library service within the areas of concern of this Association.
i. Acting as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information and encouraging the development of materials, publications, and research within the areas of concern of this Association.
Sec. 2. Any person or institution engaged in library work or interested in libraries and librarianship is eligible for membership upon becoming a member of the American Library Association and selecting membership in this Association.
Sec. 3. Members of this Association may become members of its sections, forums, membership activity groups, and discussion groups.
Sec. 4. Only personal members of this Association may vote or serve as officers or on committees of the Association.
Sec. 5. The membership year of this Association shall be the calendar year.
Sec. 2. Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the duties of the officers are such as provided in the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.
b. The vice-president/president-elect shall perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president. In addition to regular duties, the vice-president shall perform such duties as the Board of Directors may assign to that office. The vice-president shall present and justify the Association's budget.
c. The past president shall serve as adviser to the president and the Board of Directors.
Sec. 4. The term of office for elective and appointive positions of the Association filled annually shall be the period beginning with the adjournment of the annual conference and ending with the adjournment of the next succeeding annual conference. Terms of office for elective positions occupied longer than one year shall be calculated from the adjournment of the annual conference.
Sec. 5. There shall be an executive committee whose members shall be the past president, the president and the vice-president/president-elect, and the ALA divisional councilor. The executive committee shall be responsible for management of the Association between annual and midwinter meetings of ALA. The Division Executive Director shall be an ex officio member of the committee. All decisions of the committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its next regular meeting.
Sec. 2. Voting members of the Board of directors shall consist of the officers, four directors-at-large, the ALA divisional councilor, the chairperson of each section, and the representative-at-large of the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section.
Sec. 3. The executive director and the editor of the Association publication shall be ex officio non-voting members of the Board. Other non-voting members may be appointed by the president.
Sec. 4. The directors-at-large shall be elected from the membership of the Association for two-year terms which shall expire in alternate years and which shall not overlap so as to insure continuity of policy. They shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. Chairpersons of sections shall serve a one-year term concurrent with the year they chair the section; the representative-at-large of the Libraries Service Special Populations Section shall serve a two-year term.
Sec. 5. Voting members of the Board of Directors who fail to attend Board meetings at two consecutive ALA conferences shall be deemed to have vacated their positions following a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Association.
Sec. 6. Any act of the Board of directors, accomplished or contemplated within the authority granted in preceding sections of this article, may be reviewed by the Association membership at regular or special conferences. The Board shall execute any directive, recommendation, or proposal adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the members present and constituting a quorum, unless such directive, recommendation, or proposal is in conflict with other articles of these bylaws or with the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Library Association.
Sec. 2. The Nominating Committee shall present the names of candidates for elective Association offices in accordance with ALA procedures. In making its selections, the Nominating Committee shall keep in mind the following objectives: (1) the importance of developing leaders among the new members of the association; (2) the desirability of rotating offices among the various sections interests of the Association; (3) the representation of various interests of the Association; (4) the representation of a geographical distribution of its members. Members of the Nominating committee may not be nominated.
Written consent must be obtained from each candidate nominated. Candidates must be members, in good standing, of the ALA and the Association.
The executive director shall arrange for publication and distribution of the official ballot in cooperation with the ALA following a schedule in line with that followed in the election of ALA officers.
Sec. 3. Additional nominations may be made through petitions signed by no fewer that twenty-five personal members and filed with the executive director, not less than three months before ballots are to be mailed, in accordance with ALA procedures. Nominees by petition must be personal members of the Association; their written consent must be on file with the Nominating Committee.
Sec. 4. The election shall be held in accordance with ALA procedures. A plurality of all votes cast shall constitute an election. In case of a tie vote, the Election Committee of the ALA shall decide the winner by lot. All elections shall be certified by the ALA Elections Committee.
Sec. 5. All personal members of the Association shall be eligible to vote on the elective positions of the Association.
Sec. 2. Vice-President/President-Elect. A vacancy in the office of vice-president/president-elect shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors, to complete the term of vice-president only, the next president to be elected at the next general election.
Sec. 3. President and Vice-President/President-Elect. If vacancies occur in the offices of both president and vice-president/president-elect within the same term, the Association's Board of Directors shall elect a director-at-large or the immediate past president to serve in an acting capacity for the remainder of the terms. When a regular election is next held, both the president and vice-president/president-elect shall be chosen.
Sec. 4. Directors-at-large and ALA Divisional Councilor. A vacancy in the office of director-at-large or the ALA divisional councilor shall be filled by appointment by the president, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors, to complete the term of office or until the next general election, whichever occurs first.
Sec. 5. Committee Members. Vacancies among the members of committees shall be filled by the original appointing authority.
Sec. 2. Meetings of the Boards of Directors shall be held at the ALA Midwinter meeting, annual ALA conference, and at other times at the call of the president or of three members of the Board.
Sec. 3. Committee meetings or subcommittee meetings may be held at any time in the course of the annual conference of the American Library Association and at such other times as the chairperson may decide, upon the approval of the Board of Directors.
Sec. 4. Sections, membership activity groups, and discussion groups shall meet during the course of the annual conference of the American Library Association, and at such other times as the chairperson may decide, upon the approval of the Board of Directors. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, sections may hold joint meetings with other sections.
Sec. 2. There shall be an executive director of the Association who shall be appointed by the executive director of the American Library Association with the concurrence of the Board of Directors of the Association and who shall be accountable to and under the supervision of that officer. The executive director shall be responsible for the general administration and execution of the Association's affairs in accordance with the general policies properly established by the American Library Association, the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Library Association and these bylaws.
Sec. 3. The president of the Association shall annually give a formal review of performance of the executive director. A report of the review will be given to the ALA Executive Office for informational purposes.
Sec. 2. All sections will be an integral part of the Association and shall exist for the purpose of discussion, planning, and cooperative action in connection with the mutual problems and interests of the members engaged in similar activities, providing that all efforts of sections shall be related to the policies and work of the Association. The name of the section should clearly indicate its area of interest.
Sec. 3. Each section shall be responsible for its own affairs and the expenditure of funds which have been budgeted and approved by the Board of Directors of the Association. With the approval of the Section's membership and with the permission of the Board, the section may make assessments or charge fees for special projects. It shall elect its own officers who shall be members of the Executive Committee and establish committees or other units relating to its own affairs.
Sec. 4. Each section shall adopt bylaws and amendments which shall be approved by the Board of Directors before they are submitted to the section's membership for approval.
Sec. 5. Sections may be merged with approval by the Board of Directors. A section may be discontinued, preferably by its own initiative, with approval by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 6. The chairperson of each section shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors of the Association.
Sec. 7. The Executive Committee of a section shall direct the affairs of the section. The chairperson of the section, as its presiding officer, shall report to the Board of Directors of the Association at Midwinter and Annual conferences, and shall make such appointments as the section's Executive Committee, or membership shall deem necessary.
Sec. 8. Programs, publications, and other activities of the section intended for an audience greater than its own members require the approval of the Board of Directors of the Association, as well as the approval of the section Executive Committee, prior to implementation.
Sec. 2. Each membership activity group shall be an integral part of the Association and shall exist for the purpose of discussion, planning, and action in some discrete area of concern not contrary to the purposes and interests of the Association and not already existing within an area of interest of another unit of the Association. Such groups may be dissolved by the Board of Directors of the Association if the need no longer exists, preferably at the initiation of its members.
Sec. 3. The membership activity group shall elect a chairperson annually at its meeting during the annual conference of the American Library Association. The group may also create task forces which shall organize and carry out specific activities deemed desirable in furthering the purposes and interests of the group.
Sec. 4. Programs, publications and other activities of a membership activity group for which Association funds are budgeted or are intended for audience greater than its own membership require the approval of the Board of Directors of the Association. With the approval of the group's membership and with the permission of the Board, the group may make assessments of charge fees for special projects.
Sec. 5. All reports of the membership activity group shall be made to the president and Board of Directors of the Association.
Sec. 2. Each discussion group shall be an integral part of the Association and shall exist for the purpose of discussion of some discrete area within the scope of the Association. Such groups may be dissolved by the Board of Directors of the Association if the need no longer exists, preferably at the initiation of its members.
Sec. 3. The group shall elect a chairperson annually at its meeting during the annual conferences of the American Library Association. The chairperson shall see that the group's activities are limited to discussion of common interest within the purpose of the group.
Sec. 4. All reports of the discussion group shall be made to the president and the Board of Directors of the Association.
Sec. 2. Committee chairperson shall be appointed by the president. Members of Committees shall be appointed by the president in consultation with the committee chairperson. Vacancies on committees shall be filled in the same manner.
Sec. 3. Standing committees are established to carry on the work of the Association. The vice-president/president-elect shall appoint committee members to fill the vacancies due to occur during his or her term as president. Members shall be appointed to committee assignments for two-year terms which shall expire on alternate years and which shall overlap so as to insure continuity. Members may be reappointed for a second term but not for a third consecutive term.
Sec. 4. Special committees as authorized in Section 1, shall be appointed to study and evaluate various aspects of policy, programs or projects and will recommend courses of action to the Board of Directors of the Association. A special committee may exist as long as there remains concern by the Board for the committee's area of interest.
Sec. 5. Ad hoc committees shall be appointed to perform limited functions. The life of ad hoc committees shall not exceed two years, unless it is reauthorized by the Board of Directors of the Association.
Sec. 6. Joint committees, either standing or special, may be established with other organizations when functions of the proposed committee cannot appropriately be delated to a single division or section committee. The establishment of a joint committee shall be recommended to the Committee on Organization of the American Library Association. Joint committees with organizations outside of the American Library Association shall be established only as provided for in the Bylaws of the American Library Association.
Sec. 7. Interdivisional committees may be established in order to promote projects or programs in which there is overlapping interest among two or more divisions of the American Library Association. Such committees shall be composed of members representing all cooperating divisions.
Sec. 8. All committees shall have not less than (3) members. The president shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the Nomination Committee.
Sec. 9. Subcommittees may be formed by a parent committee to carry out specific duties. Subcommittee must report to the parent committee for action and may be abolished by decision of the parent for the action and may be abolished by decision of the parent committee. The chairperson of the parent committee shall be an ex officio member of all subcommittees without vote except in the case of a tie.
Sec. 2. Each personal member of the Board of Directors, any section, forum, membership activity group, discussion group, any committee or subcommittee, and other subordinate units of the Association shall have one vote in the respective body.
Sec. 3. Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, questions under consideration shall be decided by majority vote.
Sec. 4. Votes by mail may be authorized by the Board of Directors or on petition of twenty-five (25) personal members of the Association. The Board of Directors shall set a time limit during which votes will be recorded but if no such time limit is set, no vote will be recorded but if no such time limit is set, no vote shall be counted unless received within sixty (60) days from the day the text vote on the matter involved. In no case shall the voting period be less than thirty (30) days.
Sec. 2. A quorum of the Board of Directors and any committee or subcommittee shall consist of one more than half of the voting members. The president may authorize a direct vote by mail or telephone. In these instances, one more than half of the voting members voting alike shall decide a matter. Vacant positions shall not be counted in constituting a quorum.
Sec. 3. A quorum of a section meeting shall be that established within its own bylaws. The chairperson of any section, with the permission of the president, may authorize and direct a vote by mail, and in these instances a majority of the members replying shall decide the matter.
Sec. 4. Mail votes shall be conducted under the same requirements as votes at meetings, except that for votes by the Association those voting shall constitute a quorum and a plurality of votes cast shall be required.
Sec. 2. The president, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, may designate a liaison person with other divisions of the American Library Association and other associations sharing our concerns.
Sec. 2. The Comptroller of the American Library Association shall be ex officio Treasurer of this Association and its fiscal affairs shall be under the direction of that office, subject to such conditions as the Board of Directors of this Association (in accordance with the American Library Association's executive director) may properly impose. The treasurer shall disburse all Association funds, and the president, or his designated representative, shall be responsible for determining the validity of all charges against these funds.
Sec. 2. Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (latest revised edition) shall govern the transaction of Association affairs and the transaction of the affairs of any of its subordinates bodies in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws of the Association or with the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Library Association.
Sec. 2. The text of any proposed bylaw adoption, amendment, or repeal shall be filed in writing with the president and the executive director at least sixty days prior to the regular annual meeting at which it is to be acted upon or considered. The executive director shall send copies of all such proposals to the Board of Directors within fifteen days of receipt, and notice to all members of the Association within thirty days prior to the annual meeting. Said notice may be given in the official organ of the Association, or if necessary, by direct mail as provided for in Article XV, Voting.
Sec. 3. A bylaw, an amendment to, or repeal of, an existing bylaw may be proposed by the Board of Directors, a committee authorized for that purpose by the Board of Directors or the president of the Association, by the majority vote of the members present at a business meeting, or by a petition signed by no fewer than twenty-five members. Such proposed bylaw, amendment, or repeal shall be filed and presented for adoption in accordance with the preceding sections of this article.