By-Laws
Reference Round Table
Texas Library Association
Article
I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the
Reference Round Table of the Texas Library Association.
Article
II: Objective
The purpose of the Reference Round Table
shall be to advance the informational, bibliographical, and research services
of all types of libraries within the state of Texas.
Article
III: Membership
Any member of the Texas Library Association
may select membership in the Reference Round Table. Officers must be current members
of TLA and RRT and residents of the state of Texas.
Article
IV: Administration
Section 1. Officers
A.The officers of Reference Round Table
shall be Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Councilor and
Alternate Councilor.
B.Officers shall assume office immediately
following the Texas Library Association Annual Conference and shall serve a
term of one year. The Councilor and Alternate Councilor shall serve a three
year term.
C.The duties of Reference Round Table
officers shall be as follows:
1.The Chair shall
coordinate all activities of the Round Table, preside at the Round Table’s
Executive Committee and business meetings, appoint committees and designate the
Chairs of those committees, and be responsible for the overall conference planning.
2.The
Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect shall attend all official meetings of the Round Table,
assume the office of Chair if the office is vacated, and appoint the Program
Committee, serving as its Chair.
3.The
Secretary/Treasurer shall attend all official meetings of the Round Table,
prepare and submit official minutes of these meetings, maintain the financial
records of the Round Table, and submit a yearly financial report at the Round
Table’s meeting at the Annual Conference of the Texas Library Association.
4.The Councilor
shall attend all official meetings of the Round Table, represent the Round
Table at the Texas Library Association Council, and report to the Round Table
on the actions of the Texas Library Association Council.
5.The Alternate
Councilor shall assume all the duties of Councilor in Councilor’s absence.
Section 2. Elections
A.Nominating Committee, appointed by the
chair, shall present a slate of candidates for all offices. The ballot shall
consist of at least two candidates for the office of Councilor and, for the
offices of Chair-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer, at least one candidate for each
office.
B.Officers shall be elected by mail ballot.
Ballots shall be mailed to the membership in the fall and returned to the Chair
of the Nominating Committee. The ballot shall provide spaces for write-in
candidates for all offices.
For each office, the candidate receiving the
highest number of votes shall be elected to that office. For the office of
Councilor, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected
Councilor; the candidate with the second highest number of votes shall become
the Alternate Councilor. The memberhip shall be notified of the election
results in the spring following the election.
C.In the event of a tie vote for any office,
a run-off election will be held at the Annual Conference membership meeting.
Section 3. Executive Committee
A.The elected officers shall constitute the
Executive Committee and shall administer the business of the Round Table when it
is not in season.
B.The immediate Past-Chair shall also serve
on the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Vacancies
A.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 shall also serve the term to which the Chair-Elect has been elected.
B.If a vacancy occurs in the office of
Councilor, the Alternate Councilor shall serve out the term of Councilor.
C.If a vacancy occurs in any of the other
elected offices, the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall
fill the vacancy by appointment until the next general election.
D.If a vacancy occurs in both the Chair and
Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect positions, the President of the Texas Library Assocation
shall appoint a new Chair, who shall proceed as outlined above.
Article
V: Meetings
Regular meetings shall be held in
conjunction with the Association’s Annual Conference and its Annual Assembly. A
quorum shall consist of the majority of the members present.
Article
VI: Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees
The standing committees of the Reference
Round Table shall be as outlined below. Standing committee members shall serve
a one year appointment to commence immediately after Annual Conference and
appointment by the Chair.
A.Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee shall annually
submit a list of candidates for election. The past-chair of the Round Table
shall serve as the Chair of the committee and shall appoint the committee
members.
B.Program Committee.
The Program Committee shall develop, receive
approval from the Executive Committee, and shall sponsor the Round Table’s
program at Annual Conference. The Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect of the Round Table
shall appoint the members of this committee, serving as its Chair.
C.Planning Committee.
The Planning Committee shall evaluate
requests for assistance with bibliographic and other reference projects for the
Round Table. The Chair of the Round Table shall appoint the members of this
committee and its Chair.
D.Lois Bebout Reference Service Award.
The Lois Bebout Reference Service Award
Committee shall administer the nomination and selection process for the award.
The Chair of the Round Table shall appoint the members of this committee and
its Chair. All informational documents pertaining to this award, such as
nomination criteria, submission procedure, selection requirements, shall be
available from the Chair of this committee.
E.Texas Reference Source Award
The Texas Reference Source Award Committee
shall administer the nomination and selection process for the award. The Chair
of the Round Table shall appoint the members of this committee and its Chair.
All informational documents pertaining to this award, such as nomination
criteria, submission procedure, and selection requirements, shall be available
from the Chair of this committee.
Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad Hoc committees may be created as needed
by the Chair of the Round Table, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
The Chair of the Round Table 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 a time
as the Executive Committee designates.
Article
VII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the latest edition of
Robert's Rules of Order shall govern this Round Table 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 Round Table may adopt.
Article
VIII: Amendments to the Bylaws
These bylaws may be adopted, suspended, or
amended at any general membership meeting of the unit by a majority vote of the
members present, provided such changes are consistent with the Bylaws and
Standing Rules of the Texas Library Association.
Revised: April 1, 1998
Amended: April 1, 1998