Draft Bylaws

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. Every personal member of the Reference Round Table has the right to vote and is eligible to hold office.

Article IV Administration

Section 1. Officers

  1. The officers of Reference Round Table shall be Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect,Secretary/Treasurer, Councilor and Alternate Councilor.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 that 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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 membership shall be notified of the election results in the spring following the election.

  3. In the event of a tie vote for any office, a run-off election will be held at the AnnualConference membership meeting

Section 3. Executive Committee

  1. The elected officers shall constitute the Executive Committee and shall administer the business of the Round Table when it is not in session.

  2. The immediate past-Chair shall also serve on the Executive Committee.

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 shall also serve the term to which the Chair-Elect has been elected.

  2. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Councilor, the Alternate Councilor shall serve out the term of Councilor.

  3. 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.

  4. If a vacancy occurs in both the Chair and Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect positions, the President of the Texas Library Association 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, and selection requirements, shall be available froom 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 froom 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.


Page created 6/24/97

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