Bylaws

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Bylaws of Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures
a division of the American Library Association

Article I. NAME

The name of this organization will be Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, a Division of the American Library Association (ALA).

 

Article II. MISSION

To cultivate and celebrate the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning.

 

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Members.

Any ALA member may become a member of Core upon payment of dues.

Section 2. Membership Types.

Core membership types are personal and organizational. The Board of Directors may establish additional membership types as needed.

Section 3. Rights.

Every personal member of Core has the right to vote, to hold office, and to volunteer.

Section 4. Dues.

The cost of annual dues will be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Membership year.

The association’s membership and fiscal year will be the same as that of ALA.

 

Article IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers.

The officers of the association will be the President, President-Elect, and Past President.

Section 2. Terms of office.

The officers will serve a one-year term in their respective offices. For the office of president, the officers will serve staggered three-year terms, moving through the roles of President-Elect, President, and Past President in sequence for one year per role.

Section 3. Responsibility and authority.

The officers will perform the duties pertaining to their respective offices and other such duties as may be defined by the Board of Directors.

 

Article V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Members.

The Board of Directors consists of the Officers, ALA Division Councilor, five Directors-at-Large, the chair of the Budget & Finance Committee, the chair of the Organization & Bylaws Committee, and the chair of the Advocacy Committee.

  1. ALA Division Councilor. The division councilor will be elected to a three-year term by the Core membership and will represent the division on the ALA Council.

  2. Directors-at-Large. Directors-at-Large will be elected to staggered three-year terms by the Core membership and are not eligible for re-election to consecutive terms.

  3. The chair of the Budget & Finance Committee will be an ex officio member, without a vote, and will be appointed to a single, two-year term by the Appointments Committee.

  4. The chair of the Organization & Bylaws Committee will be an ex officio member, without a vote, and will be appointed to a single, two-year term by the Appointments Committee.

  5. The chair of the Advocacy Committee will be an ex officio member, without a vote, and will be appointed to a single, two-year term by the Appointments Committee.

  6. The Executive Director will be an ex officio member, without vote, and is appointed by the ALA Executive Director in concurrence with the Board.

Section 2. Responsibility and Authority.

The Board of Directors will be the governing body of the association, will actively create and support its strategies, and will establish financial policies and be accountable for association assets.

Section 3. Meetings.

The Board of Directors will meet in conjunction with ALA conferences and at other times as determined by the President.

Section 4. Vacancies.

If the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect will become President completing that term of office prior to serving the following term as President. All other vacancies will be filled by interim appointments made by the President with the approval of the Board until the next election when the unexpired term(s) will be filled.

Section 5. Quorum.

A majority of the voting members of the Board will constitute a quorum.

 

Article VI. SECTIONS

Section 1. Authorization and Dissolution.

The Board can create or dissolve sections as necessary, based on the interests of members.

Section 2. Purpose.

Sections exist to provide continuing education, information and networking around a broad area unique to the members it serves.

Section 3. Organization.

Each section will be managed by its own volunteer leadership team in accordance with policies and practices established by the Board.

 

Article VII. INTEREST GROUPS

Section 1. Authorization and Dissolution.

  1. Division Interest Groups. The Board can create or discontinue interest groups as necessary, based on the interests of members.

  2. Section Interest Groups. The leadership team of a section, in consultation with the Board, can create or discontinue interest groups as necessary, based on the interests of members.

Section 2. Purpose.

Interest groups exist to provide continuing education, information and networking around a narrow topic unique to the members it serves.

Section 3. Organization.

Interest groups will be managed by at least one member volunteer in accordance with policies and practices established by the Board.

 

Article VIII. COMMITTEES & OTHER MEMBER GROUPS

Section 1. Authorization and Dissolution.

  1. Division Committees. The committees of the Board will be Budget & Finance, Organization & Bylaws Committee, and Advocacy. The Board can establish other standing, ad hoc, interdivisional committees, and other member groups as needed to carry out the work of the division.

  2. Section Committees. The leadership team of a section, in consultation with the Board, can establish standing, ad hoc, and other member groups as needed to carry out the work of the section.

Section 2. Appointments.

  1. Division Committees. The President-Elect will make appointments to division committees.

  2. Section Committees. The leadership team of a section will make appointments to its section committees.

Section 3. Terms.

Terms and reappointments will be codified under the policies and procedures of the division and will vary based on the type of committee, member group, and work to be done.

 

Article IX. NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Eligibility of Candidates.

Any candidate for office must be a personal member of the division.

Section 2. Nominating Committee.

The President-Elect will appoint a committee to prepare a slate of candidates for each election. No member of the Board of Directors may serve as a member of the Nominating Committee. Members of the Nominating Committee will serve a one-year term and will not be eligible for immediate reappointment.

Section 3. Nominations by Petition.

A candidate may be nominated by a petition signed by 40 personal members of the association and filed with the Executive Director before the ALA biographical form closes.

Section 4. Elections.

Elections will be held in accordance with ALA bylaws and procedures.

 

Article X. DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1. Annual Meeting.

An annual meeting may be called by the Board of Directors and held in conjunction with the ALA Annual Conference.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or upon the written request of 75 personal members of the division. At least 30 days notice will be given and only business specified in the meeting notice will be transacted. If a quorum is present, an affirmative vote of a simple majority of the voting members will be required to pass a motion. If a quorum is not present, a motion cannot be passed.

Section 3. Quorum.

Seventy-five personal members will constitute a quorum at either the annual meeting or a special meeting.

 

Article XI. VOTING

Votes of the membership or of the Board of Directors may be conducted via mail, electronically, virtually or in-person. A simple majority of personal members who cast votes is required for a vote to pass.

 

Article XII. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS.

Section 1. Proposals.

Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by a petition signed by 75 or more members of the division.

Section 2. Board Action.

A proposed amendment to the bylaws will be voted upon by division members after it has been approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Notice.

Notice of the amended text will be provided to members at least 30 days before consideration.

Section 4. Voting.

Votes to amend the bylaws will be conducted as per Article XI.

Section 5. Adoption.

Unless otherwise specified, a proposed amendment becomes effective when it has been approved.

Section 6. Editorial Changes.

The Board of Directors may make editorial changes to the bylaws that do not affect their substance and meaning. These changes will take effect upon such action.

 

Article XIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY.

The parliamentary authority used by the division will be the same as that used by ALA.