TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I NAME & PURPOSE
ARTICLE II BOARD OF TRUSTEES
ARTICLE III MEETINGS
ARTICLE IV LIBRARY DIRECTOR
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES
ARTICLE VI GENERAL
ARTICLE VII REVIEW AND REVISION OF BYLAWS
ARTICLE I NAME & PURPOSE
1.1 Name
This organization shall be called "The Board of Trustees of the Yeadon Public Library" existing by virtue of the provisions of Section 411 of the Library-Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Code of the Borough of Yeadon and exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under the said statutes.
ARTICLE II BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2.1 Members
To be eligible for the position of board member, the individual should display an active interest in the library, a willingness to advocate for library issues, and the capacity to fulfill the duties as outlined in the handbook for library trustees. All Trustees shall be persons of at least eighteen (18) years of age. The board shall consist of a minimum or five (5) and a maximum of seven (7) members.
2.2 Officers
The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President and/or Co-Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer, nominated and elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the board which shall take place in January of each calendar year.
2.3 Term
Officers shall serve a term of two years from the annual meeting at which they are elected and until their successors are duly elected. Officers may serve a maximum of 3 consecutive terms.
2.4 Duties
(a) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association; he or she shall set meeting agendas with the Library Director; call special meetings; appoint all committees and representatives; act as liaison between the Library Director and the Board between meetings; sign appropriate library documents; preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees; shall have general and active management of the business of the Association; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect subject to the right of the Board of Trustees to delegate any specific powers as allowed by law; and shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts. He or she shall be Ex-Officio member of all committees and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of the President.
(b) The Vice President shall in all cases act as the President in his or her absence or incapacity; in emergency situations or in the absence of a Treasurer, he/she will also take over the Treasurer's duties by co-signing checks; and shall perform such other duties as he or she may be required to do by the Board from time to time.
(c) The Secretary shall be secretary of the Board of Trustees and shall record all votes and minutes of all proceedings; shall give and cause to be given notice of all meetings to the Board and Association members; and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office including correspondence.
(d) The Treasurer shall be bonded in an amount determined by the board; shall maintain accurate and audited financial records, monitor control, receipt, and assets of funds; give a complete report at each regular meeting on receipts and expenditures, and at other times when requested by the Board; and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Trustees or the President, under whose supervision he or she shall be. The office of the Treasurer shall be responsible for securing documents and all signatures necessary for orderly transference of authority to his/her successor immediately following the election. The treasurer's accounts shall be examined annually by an auditor, who, satisfied that the Treasurer's annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of the fact at the end of the report.
2.5 Vacancies
If the position of Trustee becomes vacant, by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, the vacancy will be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Trustees. A Trustee position is declared vacant if the Trustee is absent for two consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Trustees without proper excuse, or a total of five (5) in a calendar year. A Trustee may resign such position at any time, such resignation to be made in writing and to take effect from the time of its receipt by the Board or Association, unless some later time may be fixed in the resignation, and then from that date. The acceptance of the resignation shall not be required to make it effective.
2.6 Removal
Any Trustee may be removed from office with the assignment of cause by a 2/3 majority vote of the Board of Trustees at any duly convened meeting of the Board of Trustees, provided that written notice of the intention to consider removal of such Trustee has been included in the notice of the meeting. No Trustee shall be removed without having the opportunity to be heard at such meeting, and no formal hearing procedure shall be required.
2.7 Income
By Pennsylvania State law, library trustees receive no salary or other compensation and may receive reimbursement only for approved necessary expenses.
2.8 Quorum
A majority (half plus one) of the Trustees in office shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the acts of a majority of the Board of Trustees. Once a quorum is present at a meeting, there shall continue to be a quorum for all purposes of the remainder of the meeting notwithstanding the withdrawal of one or more members.
ARTICLE III MEETINGS
3.1 Meeting Schedule
The regular meeting shall be held on the fourth Thursday of each month, and if postponed for any reason, then on the following Thursday or an otherwise designated date approved by the board. The regular meetings are open to the public.
3.2 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting shall be for the purpose of the election of officers and the presentation of any pertinent annual reports, shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in January of each year.
3.3 Conduct of Meetings
Conduct of meetings: The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the board in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the by bylaws or the special rules of order of this board.
3.4 Order of Business
The order of business for regular meeting shall include, but not be limited to the following items, which shall be covered so far as circumstances will permit:
Call to order
Public presentation to or discussion with the board.
Disposition of minutes of previous regular meeting and nay intervening special meeting.
Treasurer's financial report of the library.
Director's report
Committee reports
Communications
Unfinished business
New business
Announcements
Adjournment
3.5 Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the direction of the president, or at the request of three members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting. Twenty-four hours notice shall be required.
ARTICLE IV LIBRARY DIRECTOR
4.1 Appointment
The Board shall appoint a library director and who shall be executive and administrative office of the library on behalf of the board and under its review and direction. The position will be a paid position on such terms as the Board shall deem appropriate.
4.2 Description
The director shall recommend to the board the appointment and specify the duties of other employees and shall be held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff, for the care and maintenance of library property, for an adequate and proper selection of books in keeping with the stated policy of the board for the efficiency of library service to the public and for its financial operation within the limitations of the budgeted appropriation. The director shall attend all regular board meetings, except those at which his/her appointment or salary is to be discussed. The director shall be a non- voting, ex-officio member of all committees.
4.3 Removal
The Library Director may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Board of Trustees in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Library Director's contract.
4.4 Vacancy
If the position of the Library Director becomes vacant, by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, the Board of Trustees may appoint a new Library Director by affirmative vote of the majority of the Board. The Board of Trustees declares vacant the position of Library Director, if he or she is declared incapacitated by order of court, is convicted of a felony, or does not fulfill such other requirements of qualification as the Board of Trustees may specify.
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES
5.1 Establishment of the committees
The president shall appoint standing and ad hoc committees of one or more members each for such specific purposes as the business of the board may require from time to time. The president shall appoint the chairperson of such committees and such Chairperson may select additional committee members. The ad hoc committees shall be considered to be discharged upon completion of the purpose for which it was appointed and after the final report is made to the board.
5.2 Procedure for Committee Reports
All committees shall make a progress report to the library board at each of its meetings.
5.3 Powers of Committee
No committee will have other than advisory powers unless by suitable action of the board, it is granted specific power to act. Any committee having budgeted funds may expend up to the given limit. At no time shall any committee incur any indebtedness without first obtaining authority from the board.
ARTICLE VI GENERAL
6.1
An affirmative vote of the majority shall be necessary to approve any action. The President may vote on all matters.
6.2
Any rule or resolution of the board, other than bylaws, may be suspended at any meeting by a majority vote, or they may be amended or rescinded by two-thirds of the board.
ARTICLE VII REVIEW AND REVISION OF BYLAWS
7.1 Amendment of Bylaws
These Bylaws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Trustees at any regular or special purpose meeting duly convened after written notice to members of the Board of Trustees for that purpose. Any such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and shall contain the complete text of the present Bylaws and the complete text of the proposed amendments.
7.2 Review of Bylaws
Bylaws and policies shall be reviewed in depth in even years and a cursory review in odd years.
Reviewed on 4/25/02
Revised on 05/11/06