THE MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is the Massachusetts Library Association.

ARTICLE II

Mission and Object

The Mission of the Association shall be:

The Massachusetts Library Association advocates for libraries, librarians, and library staff, defends intellectual freedom and provides a forum for leadership, communication,

professional development and networking to keep libraries vital.

The Object of the Association is:

To insure that every person in the Commonwealth has reasonable access to library resources and services of the widest scope and highest quality through academic, special, institutional, public, school and other library and media centers;

To uphold the rights, promote the responsibilities and encourage the professional development of the Commonwealth’s media specialists and librarians, and;

To safeguard the rights of library users, libraries and librarians in matters touching upon intellectual freedom and censorship in accordance with the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States and the Library Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE III

Members

Section 1. Any person, library or other organization interested in the work of the Association may become a member of the Association.

Section 2. Any individual may become a personal Member by payment of annual dues and shall be entitled to vote, to hold office, to serve on committees, and to receive all publications and appropriate mailing of the Association.

Section 3. The Association may, at any business meeting, designate individuals deemed to have made outstanding contributions to the Association or to the profession as honorary members. Honorary members shall be Personal Members, dues-free, for life.

Section 4. Any individual, having paid the required amount for life membership before July 1, 1971, is a Personal Member, dues-free, for life.

Section 5. Any institution or other organization may become an Institutional Member by payment of annual dues and shall be entitled to all publications and appropriate mailings of the Association. Institutional Members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. Representatives of Institutional Members may serve on standing or ad-hoc committees but may not vote.

Section 6. The Executive Board may, or upon petition of twenty-five members shall, present to the membership at any annual meeting a proposed dues schedule to be voted into effect for the forthcoming year by a two-thirds vote, provided that a copy of the proposed schedule has been sent to each member with the Call of the Meeting. If the membership fails to act upon the schedule at any given annual meeting, the schedule in effect at that time shall continue in effect until changed by action of a subsequent annual meeting.

Section 7. Members whose dues are unpaid on November 1 of each year and who shall continue in such delinquency for one month after notice of same has been sent, shall be dropped from membership. Lapsed members may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year.

Section 8. The membership year shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30 of the following year.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice-President/President-Elect, a Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2. The President and the Vice-President/President-Elect shall perform the duties prescribed by the bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association.

Section 3. The duty of the Recording Secretary shall be to keep the minutes of the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall control all funds of the Association and shall make disbursements as authorized by the Executive Board.

Section 5. In the case of a vacancy in any office, the Executive Board may appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term of that office. No person shall be elected to the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

Section 6. Officers will present reports at the Annual Meeting. After the close of the fiscal year, officers will submit an annual report in writing to the President. Reports will be distributed to members after July 1.

ARTICLE V

Elections

Section 1. A Nominating Committee shall be created yearly by the President prior to the Annual Meeting; the Committee shall serve until after the votes are counted the following year. It shall be composed of the upcoming Past President as of July 1 and two other personal members appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. Any members of the Nominating Committee may serve as Chairperson. Appointments shall be made with consideration given, insofar as possible, to obtaining representation from differing types of libraries, geographical areas and levels of experience. Announcement of the names of Committee members shall be made at the annual meeting. Written notice of the names of the Committee, along with a request for suggestions for nominees, shall be sent to the membership by July 15.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall name one or more candidates for each of the following elective offices: Vice-President/President-Elect and Secretary (ballot voted in on even years); Vice-President/President-Elect and Treasurer (ballot voted in on odd years). The Committee shall report the names of all candidates to the Executive Board not later than its meeting in October and to the membership not later than December 15.

Section 3. Two or more candidates for ALA Councilor shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee, and one shall be elected every three years in accordance with ALA bylaws. In case of a vacancy, the Executive Board may appoint a replacement until the next election.

Section 4. Two or more candidates for the New England Library Association (NELA) Representative shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee, and one shall be elected annually to this position, with duties to be assumed at the convening of the NELA Annual Conference.

Section 5. Any member may present the Executive Board by January 10 a petition signed by 25 or more members proposing additional nominations for any office of the Association, or for ALA Councilor according to the ALA bylaws. Nominations presented by petition must be presented to the membership not later than the February issue of the BAY STATE LIBRARIES.

Section 6. All officers shall be elected by plurality ballot for a two-year term or until their successors are elected; their term of office shall begin July 1. The Nominating Committee shall act as the Committee on Elections.

Section 7. The Committee on Elections shall mail ballots to each member by March 1. In order to be valid, ballots must be received by the Committee by the date indicated on the ballot before the annual meeting, and the tabulations included in the Committee on Elections Annual Report and reported in the next issue of the BAY STATE LIBRARIES. In case of a tie vote for any office, an election will be held at the annual meeting among the tied candidates. New officers shall be announced at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

Section 1. An annual meeting shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Board or shall be called upon written request of 25 members of the Association.

Section 3. The purpose of any meeting shall be included in the call; at least 30 days’ notice shall be given.

Section 4. Fifty members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII

The Executive Board

Section 1. The officers of the Association, the Chairpersons of Sections, the ALA Councilor, and the Chairpersons of Standing Committees, except the Nominating Committee shall be voting members of the Executive Board. Non-voting members shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, the Publications Manager, and the Executive - Manager. Members of the Executive Board must be personal members of the Association. Each section or committee may have only one vote.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the Association between its meetings, shall make recommendations to the Association, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Association, and none of its acts shall conflict with motions taken by the Association. Following the election of new officers, the incoming Executive Board will review the Mission Statement and goals and revise as appropriate.

Section 3. The President shall call regular meetings of the Executive Board. Special meetings can be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Board. In each case the President shall send to each member of the Board before the meeting an agenda of the matters to be discussed.

Section 4. Meetings by Telephone: Meetings by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting

are able to hear each other at the same time may be considered. Such

participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 5. Action Without a Meeting: Any action required or permitted to be taken at any board meeting may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing,

setting forth the action as taken, shall be signed by all of the voting members

with respect to such subject matter at the time of the actual vote if the

vote is conducted by fax or at the time of the next board meeting if the

vote is conducted by email or telephone. Such consent shall have the same

force and effect as a vote of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII

The Executive Manager

Section 1. The Executive Board may employ an Executive Manager under annual renewable contract.

Section 2. The Executive Manager shall collect dues, shall maintain financial and historical records of the Association, furnish duplicate records monthly to the Treasurer, shall perform those duties normally performed by a Corresponding or Recording Secretary, except those reserved to the Recording Secretary in Article IV, Section 2 of these bylaws, and shall perform such other duties as are required by the Executive Board.

Section 3. The Executive Manager shall present the financial records of the Association, after the close of the fiscal year, to an independent auditor chosen by the Executive Board. The report of the Auditor shall be presented by the Treasurer to the Executive Board for its acceptance as soon as possible in the next fiscal year.

ARTICLE IX

Committees

Section 1. The President, as Chairperson, the officers and the immediate Past President shall constitute the Committee on Administration together with such additional members as may be appointed by the forgoing. The Committee shall exercise general supervision over the publications of the Association and prepare an annual budget for adoption by the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Education Committee shall study and evaluate problems and assist in the formulation of programs relating to education for librarianship; shall promote librarianship as a career; shall stimulate continuing education of members; and shall present annually to the Executive Board a list of scholarship grants and loans.

Section 3. The Intellectual Freedom Committee shall study, promote awareness of and make recommendations to the Executive Board on all matters relating to intellectual freedom and censorship for the purpose of protecting the rights of library users, libraries and librarians in accordance with the First Amendment.

Section 4. The Personnel Issues Committee shall study, promote awareness of, and make recommendations to the Executive Board on all personnel issues affecting the membership. These shall include librarians’ professional rights and responsibilities, working conditions for library employees, affirmative action and other related employment practices.

Section 5. The Jordan Miller Fund Committee (formerly known as the Round Table of Children’s Librarians of the Massachusetts Library Association) shall act to expend - a sum annually for storytelling as specified in the will of Mrs. Bertha Miller in establishing “The Alice M. Jordan Memorial Fund.”

Section 6. The Legislative Committee shall study and keep the Association informed of the legislative aspect of library affairs. Any legislation contemplated by the Association of any proposed state or federal legislation affecting libraries shall be reviewed by the Committee which shall make recommendations to the Executive Board. The Committee shall see that public hearings and other meetings of a legislative nature in Massachusetts are attended and reported to the Executive Board.

Section 7. The Membership Committee shall seek to enlist a large and active membership in the Association from all types of libraries.

Section 8. The Conference Committee shall be responsible for program plans and presentation of same, at least two months before each meeting of the Association, for Executive Board approval. It shall act as host for all Association meetings.

Section 9. The Public Relations Committee, through the utilization of all types of media, shall promote public awareness of libraries and of the profession, shall communicate the goals, services and programs of the Association, and shall serve as the channel through which all standing committees and special committees shall release their publicity. It shall present to the Executive Board for approval the ways and means best to effect this change. The Public Relations Committee, with the President, shall hire the Publications Manager.

Section 10. The President-Elect, prior to June 1 of the year in which he/she assumes the duties of President, shall appoint the chairpersons of all standing committees for a one-year term to begin July 1; the Committee on Administration shall serve for staggered two-year terms. The President, with the Public Relations Committee shall hire the Publications Manager.

Section 11. Special committees may be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Administrative Committee.

Section 12. Members of all committees shall be personal members of the Association and shall be selected, insofar as possible, for differing types of libraries and geographical areas and from members having differing levels of experience. The President and the Vice-President/President-Elect shall be ex-officio members of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

Section 13. The Chairpersons of all committees shall report to the Executive Board. Each Committee Chairperson shall submit an annual report, in writing, to the President by June 15. Reports will be distributed to members after July 1.

Section 14. Committees may not raise or disburse funds without prior approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 15. The Investment Committee shall study and make recommendations to the Executive Board on issues affecting the investment of Association funds. For purposes of continuity, the Investment Committee shall be comprised of the current and immediate past officers of the Association and the Executive Manager. The President may appoint additional members to serve on the Investment Committee. The Investment Committee shall meet at least twice per year.

ARTICLE X

Sections

Section 1. Twenty-five or more members of the Association having similar interests in common may organize into a Section of the Association upon approval by the membership of a petition presented to any annual meeting.

Section 2. Said petition must state the purpose of and need for the proposed section, and must be presented to the Executive Board at least 60 days before it is submitted to an annual meeting to allow the Board to prepare a recommendation.

Section 3. Members of any section must also be personal members of the Association.

Section 4. Sections may charge dues, limit their own membership, issue publications and carry on activities consistent with their own interests. All Section funds, regardless of source, shall be in the custody of the MLA Treasurer and shall be disbursed by the Treasurer as directed by the Executive Board upon the recommendation of the Section officers. All Section Chairs shall serve as voting members of the Executive Board.

Section 5. If the number of members of any Section shall fall below 25 for three consecutive years, the Section may be disbanded by majority vote of the Association at any subsequent business meeting. Any Section funds shall be transferred to the General Fund of the Association.

Section 6. Each Section Chairperson shall submit an Annual Report, in writing, to the President by June 15. Reports will be distributed to the members after July 1.

ARTICLE XI

Affiliation with Other Associations

Section 1. The Association may affiliate with other associations by majority vote at any annual meeting of those present and voting.

Section 2. The Association will provide its publications, minutes and reports to other library-related associations within Massachusetts (e.g. Massachusetts Library Trustee Association) and to the New England Library Association and will maintain such associations on its mailing list. The Association will accept publications, minutes, and reports from such associations and will maintain a file of these documents in a place to be determined by the Association President.

ARTICLE XII

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE XIII

Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws can be amended at any meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Executive Board not later than 60 days and to the membership not later than 30 days before the meeting.

ARTICLE XIV

Association Year

The Association’s fiscal/administrative year shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30 of the following year.

Revised May 1995; April 1996; March 26, 1997; May 11, 2005.