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FRIENDS OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES ROUND TABLE

 

  BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I: Name

 

The name of this organization shall be the Friends of School Libraries of Texas Interest Group of the Texas Library Association (FOSLOT) of the Texas Library Association (TLA).

 

ARTICLE II: Objectives

 

The objectives of the FOSLOT, Texas Library Association (TLA) are to:

  • Promote advocacy for school libraries throughout the state.

  • Develop resources and programs that will assist school libraries and school library friends groups.

  • Create methods of communication for friends groups.

  • Disseminate successful programs and practices.

  • Join national organizations such as Friends of Libraries USA to develop Friends Groups.

  • Increase the Special Projects fund.

 

ARTICLE III: Membership

 

Any member of TLA may select membership in the FOSLOT.

 

ARTICLE IV: Administration

Section 1. Officers

  1. The elected officers of FOSLOT are Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Councilor and Alternate Councilor. The Immediate Past-Chair also serves as an officer.

  2. Qualifications of Officers.

  1. All officers must be active members of TLA.

  2. The Chair shall have served in another TLA office prior to election.

  1. Officers shall assume office immediately following the TLA Annual Conference and shall serve a term of one year or until a successor is elected. The Councilor and Alternate Councilor serve for three years or until a successor is elected.

  2. The officers of the FOSLOT shall perform those duties usually attached to their offices and all duties as prescribed in the TLA Bylaws and Standing Rules.

    1. Chair – Shall:

      1. Attend Annual Assembly and Annual Conference of TLA;a.

      2. Preside and vote at meetings of the Executive Board and business meetings of FOSLOT;

      3. Appoint committees and designate chairs of committees;

      4. Be responsible for the overall conference planning;

      5. Coordinate all activities of FOSLOT;

      6. Report and approve expenditures and check “General Ledger” sheets from TLA Office for accuracy;

      7. Make an annual financial report at the FSLIG business meeting during TLA Annual Conference;

      8. Provide the FOSLOT Bylaws and other information to the incoming officers;

      9. Appoint the Program Committee and serve as Chair.

    2. Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall:

      1. Attend Annual Assembly and Annual Conference of TLA;

      2. Assume the office of Chair if that office is vacant;

      3. Attend and vote at meetings of the Executive Board;

      4. Assist the Program Committee

      5. Perform such duties as assigned by the Chair.

    3. Secretary shall:

      1. Attend Annual Assembly and Annual Conference of TLA;

      2. Attend and vote at meetings of the Executive Board;

      3. Prepare minutes of all meetings;

      4. Prepare publicity releases;

      5. Perform such duties as assigned by the Chair.

    4. Unit Councilor and /or Alternate Councilor shall:

      1. Attend Annual Assembly and Annual Conference of TLA;

      2. Represent FOSLOT on the TLA Council;

      3. Report to FOSLOT on the actions of the TLA Council;

      4. Attend and vote at meetings of the Executive Board;

      5. Perform such duties as assigned by the Chair.

    5. Immediate Past Chair shall:

      1. Attend Annual Assembly and Annual Conference of TLA;

      2. Attend and vote at meetings of the Executive Board;

      3. Perform such duties as assigned by the Chair.

Section 2. Elections

  1. A Nominating Committee [elected by the Executive Board of the FOSLOT at TLA Annual Assembly shall present a slate of candidates for all offices at the TLA Annual Conference.  [The Chair may not be involved in the appointment of the Nominating Committee and may not serve on the committee as ex officio or otherwise.]  (There shall be at least two candidates for the office of Councilor.)  Nominations may be made from the floor.

  2. The person receiving the most votes cast shall be councilor. The person receiving the second most highest votes cast shall be alternate The Election of officers will take place at the Business Meeting of the of FOSLOT at TLA Annual Conference.

Section 3. Executive Board

  1. The officers of the FOSLOT shall constitute the Executive Board.

  2. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of FOSLOT between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the membership, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.  The Executive Board shall be subject to the Bylaws of the TLA and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by TLA.

Section 4. Vacancies

  1. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chair, the Vice Chair/Chair-elect shall become Chair for the remainder of that term and also serve the term to which the Chair-elect had been elected.

  2. If a vacancy occurs in any of the other elected offices, the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall fill the vacancy by appointment until the next general election.

  3. If a vacancy occurs in both the Chair and Vice-Chair positions, the President TLA shall appoint a new Chair, who shall proceed as outlined above.

  4. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board, regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held at TLA Annual Assembly and TLA Annual Conference.       

  5. Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the Chair or shall be called with the written request of three members of the Executive Board.

 

ARTICLE V: Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held in conjunction with the TLA Annual Conference and TLA Annual Assembly with 10 members constituting a quorum.

 

ARTICLE VI: Standing Committees

 

  1. Bylaws Committee shall review the Bylaws of the FOSLOT

  2. Program Committee shall be appointed by the Vice-Chair prior to annual conference

  3. Special Projects Committee shall be appointed by the Chair following annual conference

  4. The Chair of the Special Projects Committee must have previously served on the Executive Board of FOSLOT  or Executive Committee of the Texas Association of School Librarians.  The five-person committee will be responsible for allocating funds from the Friends of School Libraries Interest Group Special projects fund.  Two members of this committee will rotate off of the committee each year.  The Chair will serve as the Chair Elect for one year prior to assuming the Chairmanship duties.  This fund, established by Mary D. Lankford at the inception of the FOSLOT, may be used for any activity that promotes school libraries.  These activities may include, but are not limited to: Annual Membership dues for the FOSLOT, Friends of Libraries USA; programming activities, seeing special grants for FOSLOT; publication and printing expenses and advocacy activities.  The initial fund of $1,000.00 shall be increased by grants, donations, and fund raising through various projects. 

ARTICLE VII

  Other Committees

Ad hoc Committees

Committees may be created as needed by the Executive Board or the Chair. The Chair shall appoint the members and designate the chair of each committee. The committees shall serve until their charges have been completed and reports have been accepted or until such time as the Executive Board designates.

ARTICLE VIII: Amendments to the Bylaws

Bylaws may be adopted or amended at any general membership meeting of the FOSLOT by a majority vote of the members present, provided such changes are consistent with the Bylaws and Standing Rules of the Texas Library Association.

ARTICLE IX: Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the FOSLOT 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 FOSLOT may adopt.
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