By-Laws

Amended
By-Laws of Thorson Memorial Library, Elbow Lake, Minnesota

ARTICLE I
Identification

The name of the organization is the Thorson Memorial Library, located in Elbow Lake, Minnesota. The Thorson Memorial Library is a member of the Viking Library System.

ARTICLE II
Oath of Office and Purpose

You do swear to support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Minnesota, to discharge faithfully the duties of this office to the best of your judgment and ability; to represent the library both to the people and to the governing officials; to see that adequate funds are obtained for good library service; to promote use of all library resources in the area; to improve existing library service to those not previously served.
So help you God.

ARTICLE III
Board of Directors

Section1. Number and qualifications
The governing body of the library, the Library Board, is composed of 7 members. The Elbow Lake City Council shall appoint members to the Library Board. No more than one member of the city council may be appointed to the library board. A majority of the appointed directors (at least four), must reside in the city of Elbow Lake. Up to three members may reside elsewhere within Grant County, Minnesota.

Section 2.    Term of OfficeThe term of office of trustees shall be 3 years. No trustee shall serve more than three full consecutive terms. A former board member can be reappointed after a lapse of one year. If a member is appointed to serve an unexpired term of office and serves more than half of the term, it shall be considered a full term of office.

The term of office of trustees shall be 3 years. No trustee shall serve more than three full consecutive terms. A former board member can be reappointed after a lapse of one year. If a member is appointed to serve an unexpired term of office and serves more than half of the term, it shall be considered a full term of office.

Section 3. Disqualifications, Vacancies

Any member who moves out of the political subdivision they represent shall be responsible for notifying the secretary of the Library Board. Upon receipt of such notification, the position shall be declared vacant. It shall be the duty of the President to notify the appointing official of the vacancy, and, by direction of the board, suggest names to the city council of person which may qualify to fill the position.

Section 4.    Officers

Officers of the board shall be a president, vice president, secretary and a treasurer. Officers shall be elected at the regular annual meeting. An officer may succeed themself. Vacancies in office shall be filled by vote at the next regular meeting of the board after the vacancy occurs.

The duties of the officers are as follows:

The president shall preside at meetings and perform such other duties as custom and law devolve upon the president.
The vice president shall assume the duties of the president in the event of the absence or disability of the president.
The secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the board meetings.
The treasurer shall be responsible for the accounting of library receipts and expenditures and the signing of vouchers for disbursements from the library fund.

ARTICLE IV
Meetings

Section 1.
The Library Board shall meet monthly, except for the months of July and December at a set time and date established annually by the board of trustees.  Meetings will be held at Thorson Memorial Library.  If necessary, changes to the place and time of a meeting will be determined at the preceding meeting. The January meeting shall be the annual meeting.

Section 2.   Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called by the president, or upon written request of 4 members, for the transaction of business as stated in the meeting request.

Section 3.    Quorum
A quorum for transaction of business shall consist of a simple majority or 4 board members.

Section 4.    Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition, shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the meetings.

ARTICLE V
Duties of the Board of Trustees

  1. Determine and adopt written policies to govern the operation and program of the library.
  2. Select and appoint a competent and qualified library director.
  3. Determine the purposes of the library and secure adequate funds to carry out the library’s program.
  4. Know the program and needs of the library in relation to the community; keep abreast of standards and library trends.
  5. Establish, support, and participate in a planned public relations program.
  6. Assist in the preparation of the annual budget.
  7. Know local and state laws; actively support library legislation in the state and nation.
  8. Establish among the library policies those dealing with book and material selection.
  9. Attend all board meetings and see that accurate records are kept on file at the library.
  10. Attend regional, state and national trustee meetings and workshops, and affiliate with the appropriate professional organizations.
  11. Be aware of the services of the state library extension agency.
  12. Report regularly to the governing officials and the general public.

 

ARTICLE VI
Duties of the Librarian

  1. Act as a technical advisor to the board; recommend needed policies for board action; recommend employment of all personnel and supervise their work.
  2. Carry out the policies of the library as adopted by the board.
  3. Suggest and carry out plans for extending the library’s services.
  4. Prepare regular reports embodying the library’s current progress and future needs.
  5. Maintain an active program of public relations.
  6. Prepare an annual budget for the library in consultation with the board and give a current report of expenditures against the budget at each meeting.
  7. Know local and state laws; actively support library legislation in the state and nation.
  8. Select and order books and other library materials and weed out items no longer needed.
  9. Attend all board meetings other than those in which their own salary or tenure are under discussion. If the library director is unable to attend a monthly annual meeting a library employee designee will attend in their stead.
  10. Affiliate with the state and national professional organizations and attend professional meetings and workshops.
  11. Make use of the services and consultants of the state library extension agency.
  12. Report regularly to the library board, to the officials of local government, and to the general public.

ARTICLE VII
Amendments

These by-laws may be amended ay any regular meetings of the board with a quorum present, by majority vote of the members present, providing the amendment was stated at the preceding meeting or was sent to the members at least thirty days prior to the meeting.

These by-laws will be in force upon adoption of the library board of the Thorson Memorial Library on the ___ day of _______