BCLA Bi-Laws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be "Berks County Library Association." Hereafter it shall be referred to as the Association.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the organization shall be to stimulate interest in and strengthen library services in Berks County, Pennsylvania, by providing a program of professional development and a means of communication, resource, and information sharing.

Article III: Membership

Section 1: Classifications

There shall be three classes of membership: Individual Members, Student Members or Retiree Members.

Section 2: Qualifications

Individual Members: Any individual working in the library field or interested in improving services in Berks County.
Student Members: Any individual enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a Library or Information Science program.
Retiree Members: Any individual who is currently retired and previously worked in a library or has interest in improving services in Berks County.

Section 3: Rights and Privileges of Membership

Rights and Privileges:
1. Right to vote
2. Hold elected office
3. Hold appointed office
4. Attend meetings
5. Cooperative services
Individual and student members shall have full rights and privileges.

Section 4: Dues

The dues shall be determined by the voting members at the annual meeting.

Section 5: Suspension and Membership

Annual dues shall be payable at the beginning of the calendar year. If unpaid four months after the beginning of the calendar year, the dues shall be considered in arrears and all rights and privileges shall be suspended until payment of said dues.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1: Officers

The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Only voting members of the Association shall be eligible to hold office.

Section 2: Election of Officers

The officers shall be nominated and elected as provided by Article VI of the Bylaws. Each officer shall take office July 1 following the annual meeting and shall serve until a successor shall have been duly chosen and qualified, or until that member shall have resigned.

Section 3: Filling Vacant Offices

If the President is unable to complete the term of office, the Vice President shall become President. Any other vacancy which occurs shall be filled by an appointee of the Executive Committee who shall serve until the next election.

Section 4: Term of Office

The term of office shall be for one year.

Section 5: President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee, approve all expenditures within the budget, and perform all other duties relating to the office.

The President shall appoint chairpersons and members of standing committees, except the Nominating Committee, with the approval of the Executive Committee. The President shall be the ex officio member of all committees.

Section 6: Vice President

In the absence of the President, or at the President's request, the Vice President shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the President. The Vice President serves as the editor of The Shelflist.

Section 7: Secretary

The Secretary shall record minutes of the Executive Committee meetings and the Association meetings. The Secretary shall conduct the official correspondence of the Association, and shall retain copies of all letters and communications.

Section 8: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and disbursement of all funds belonging to the Association and for maintaining an up-to-date membership list.

Article V: Executive Committee

Section 1: Membership

The Executive Committee shall consist of the four officers.

Section 2: Duties

The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Association, including the establishment of an annual budget; the budget is subject to approval by the membership at the Annual meeting.

Section 3: Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet as often as the President deems necessary.

Section 4: Fiscal Year

The Fiscal year of the Association shall be July 1 to June 31.

Article VI: Nomination and Election of Officers

Section 1: Elections

The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting and their terms shall begin July 1 following the meeting at which they are elected.

Section 2: Nominations

A Nominating Committee shall be recommended to the membership by the Executive Committee, and elected by the voting membership at least two months prior to the annual meeting.

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three voting members of the Association and shall appoint a chairperson from within the committee.

The Nominating Committee shall nominate one person for each of the officers of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The current Vice President shall be nominated for the office of President, the current Secretary shall be nominated for the office of Vice President, and there shall be nominees for Secretary and Treasurer. The Nominating Committee shall obtain the consent of each nominee to serve if elected.

Article VII: Committees

Section 1

There shall be a Professional Development Committee, and such other committees designated by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 2

The work of committees shall be under the direction of the Executive Committee. No committee may commit the Association to a policy or incur and financial obligation without the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 3

Only voting members of the Association may chair committees.

Section 4

Committees shall meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the committee.

Section 5: Professional Development Committee

This committee shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee; the Committee shall be responsible for planning the continuing education activities of the Association.

Article VIII: Meetings

Section 1: Annual Meeting

The annual meeting shall be held in Spring of each year.

Section 2: Regular Meetings

There shall be a least three meetings each year as called by the Executive Committee.

Section 3: Special Meetings

At any time in the interval between regular meetings, special meetings may be called by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4: Quorum

At all meetings of the Association, the presence of 20% of the eligible voting members shall constitute a quorum.

Article IX: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting, providing an announcement of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be considered for adoption.

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

For procedures not covered by the bylaws of this organization, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the authority.

Article XI: Publications

All Association publications are for the exclusive use of the membership and are subject to approval by the Executive Committee prior to publication.