Media and Related Technologies 
Round Table

                                                               HISTORY of the Round Table  •  MRT HOME

BYLAWS  

ARTICLE I.  NAME

The name of this Round Table shall be the MEDIA AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES ROUND TABLE hereinafter referred to as M(RT)2 of the Texas Library Association hereinafter referred to as TLA.

ARTICLE II.  OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Round Table is to promote and improve media services in all types of libraries in Texas: academic, public, school, special, and multi-type.  Specifically:

  1. to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas among library personnel about media, related technologies, and media services;

  2. to promote effective cooperation among libraries and library personnel in the area of media and related technology;

  3. to advance standards of excellence for media services and personnel administering those services;

  4. to promote communication among producers, distributors, and library personnel in the areas of bibliographic control, formats, intellectual freedom and copyright;

  5. to increase awareness of the and cooperation with other associations and organizations which have similar or allied interests;

  6. to provide opportunities for the professional and career development of personnel administering media services in academic, public, school, special, and multi-type libraries;

  7. to promote the use of media and related technology which will meet the information, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of the citizens of Texas; and

  8. to provide a chair of the Texas Media Awards Committee in alternate years.

ARTICLE III.   MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

Any member in good standing with TLA may become a member of M(RT)2 upon payment of annual Round Table dues.

Section 2.

Members shall be able to:

  1. run for office;

  2. vote in M(RT)2 elections;

  3. participate in general membership meetings; and

  4. receive all mailings of M(RT)2.

Section 3.

No individual may hold office or serve as a member of any committee within M(RT)2 unless the person is a member in good standing of TLA and M(RT)2.

ARTICLE IV.   ADMINISTRATION

Section 1.   Officers

  1. The elected officers of M(RT)2 shall be a Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Councilor andCouncilor Alternate.  They shall constitute the Executive Board.

  2. Officers, except the Councilor and Councilor Alternate, assume office immediately following the Texas Library Association Annual Conference, thus serving a term of one year.

  3. The Councilor and Councilor Alternate shall serve for three years or until successors are elected.

Section 2.  Vacancies

  1. If there is a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Chair-Elect shall become Chair for the remainder of that term and the succeeding one.

  2. If there is a vacancy in the office of Chair-Elect, the Executive Board shall elect one of its members to fulfill the duties of Chair-Elect for the remainder of that term. A new Chair and a Chair-Elect will be chosen at the next election.

  3. If there is a vacancy in the office of Councilor, the Alternate shall serve the remainder of the term.

  4. If there is a vacancy in the office of Alternate Councilor, the Chair shall appoint a member to fulfill the duties of Alternate Councilor for the remainder of the term.  The appointee shall not be a member of the Executive Board.

Section 3.        Duties

a. The Chair shall:

  1. be the official representative of M(RT)2;

  2. preside at all M(RT)2 meetings;

  3. appoint committees and designate committee chairs, except Nominations and Elections Committee;

  4. coordinate the work of all committees except the Nominations and and Elections Committee;

  5. submit requests for payment to TLA;

  6. submit a budget for the Round Table to the TLA Budget Committee and then to the M(RT)2 Executive Board for approval;

  7. make an annual financial report at the meeting of M(RT)2 at the TLA Annual Conference and Annual Assembly;

  8. submit a list of Round Table member names to the TLA President-Elect for consideration as members of the Texas Media Awards Committee.

b.    The Chair-Elect shall:

  1. preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair;

  2. assume the office of Chair if that office should be vacated; and

  3. chair the Program Committee.

c.  The Secretary shall:

  1. record all minutes of all M(RT)2 meetings;

  2. read or distribute minutes of the previous M(RT)2 meeting at the current meeting;

  3. submit a copy to the chairman of minutes of all meetings within one month after such meetings. Instant minutes must be submitted to TLA within 24 hours and more complete minutes within one month.

d.  The Councilor shall represent M(RT)2 on the Council of TLA. The Alternate Councilor will serve in the absence of the Councilor.

ARTICLE V.            NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.  Nominations

The Executive Board, with the exception of the Chair, shall appoint a Nominations and Elections  Committee. The Nominations and Elections  Committee shall:

  1. nominate, when possible, two candidates for offices provided for in Article IV of the Bylaws of M(RT)2;

  2. submit names of these candidates in a report to the Chairman no later than three months prior to the Texas Library Association Annual Conference;

  3. make available to the membership of the Round Table a list of such candidates and their qualifications;

  4. accept nominations from the floor at election time;

  5. tabulate and verify the results of the elections;

  6. assume all responsibilities for the conduct of elections not otherwise provided for in the Bylaws.

Section 2. Elections

  1. Elections shall be held annually through mail or electronic ballot by the membership of the Media and Related Technologies Round Table; and results will be reported at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference.

  2. A plurality of the votes cast will elect; in the event of a tie, the Nominating Committee will draw names between the tied candidates.

ARTICLE VI.            EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1.            Membership

The Executive Board of the Round Table shall consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, Councilor, and Councilor Alternate.  The immediate Past Chair shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.

Section 2.            Meetings

  1. The Executive Board shall meet at Annual Assembly and  Annual Conference of TLA.

  2. Other meetings will be held as deemed necessary by the Chair or two members of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII.  COMMITTEES  

Section 1.            Standing Committees

  1. Committees may be created at any time by the Executive Board.

  2. The committee members shall serve until their reports have been finalized.

  3. All committees shall report directly to the Executive Board and the membership of M(RT)2 at the TLA Annual Conference.

ARTICLE VIII.   MEETINGS

As required by Texas Library Association Bylaws, a meeting of the Round Table will be held annually.

ARTICLE IX.   AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

These bylaws may be amended as follows:

  1. submission in writing to the Executive Board three months in advance of submission to membership; provided such changes are consistent with the TLA Bylaws and Standing Rules.

  2. approval by a plurality of those voting at the Annual Conference or by a print or electronic membership referendum.

ARTICLE X.            PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this unit in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with TLA Bylaws and Standing Rules.

Revised 4/03; 4/08

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