(Revised: April, 1995)
(April 2003)
The name of this organization shall be the School Library Media Division of the Montana Library Association. It shall be referred to hereinafter as the Division.
The purposes of this Division shall be:
This division shall be a Division of the Montana Library Association, subject to its Bylaws. This Division is affiliated with the American Association of School Librarians and Association for Educational Communications and Technology. This Division may affiliate with any national or state association or other association upon a majority vote of the members voting at any general meeting after due notification to the membership.
There shall be four classes of membership:, Individual, Institutional, Corporate, and Honorary Life.
Section 1. Individual Members: Any person actively engaged in library work or interested in library service may become an Individual Member of this Division by payment of dues to the Montana Library Association. Upon payment of dues, an Individual Member is entitled to all the voting privileges of the Division.
Section 2. Institutional Members: Any organization or institution, engaged in library work may become an Institutional Member of the Division by payment of dues to the Montana Library Association. Each Institutional Member is entitled to all the voting privileges of the Division. Through a delegated representative, each Institutional Member may have one vote on all questions which come before the Division.
Section 3. Corporate Members: Corporations, except institutions eligible for Institutional Membership, may become a member of the Division by payment of dues to the Montana Library Association. Each Corporate Member is entitled to all the voting privileges of the Division. Through a delegated representative, each Corporate Member may have one vote on all questions which come before the Division.
Section 4. Honorary Life Members: Members will be determined by the Montana Library Association.
Section 1. Number of Officers. The officers of this Division shall be a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson who shall be the Chairperson-Elect.
Section 2. Term of Office. The term of office for officers shall be for one year, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article. The term shall begin July 1.
Section 3. Duties of Officers.
Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Division and Executive Committee. (See Article VI)The Chairperson may appoint a secretary at his/her discretion and shall appoint all standing or ad hoc committees and shall serve as an ex officio member of all committees with a right to vote in case of tie.. The Chairperson shall plan the annual Division meetings and other meetings deemed necessary. The Chairperson shall make an annual report to the Division and report news and information to the membership through Focus, the official publication of the Montana Library Association. The Chairperson shall prepare a budget for his/her term of office to be submitted to the Montana Library Association Board of Directors, as well as prepare an annual report in writing to the Association President. The Chairperson shall be a member of the Montana Library Association Board of Directors and be responsible for liaison to other organizations, agencies, and associations. Upon approval of the MLA Executive Committee, the Chairperson may appoint a proxy to represent him or her at MLA Board meetings.
Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the Division's representative to the Educators' Conference Planning Committee and will continue with conference activities at the conference as Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall conduct business meetings in the absence of the Chairperson. He/she shall perform such other duties as may be from time to time directed by the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall succeed the Chairperson at the end of the elected one-year term, and shall immediately assume the office of Chairperson if the Chairperson is no longer able to perform the duties of such office, as determined by Article V, Section 4.
Section 4. Succession or Replacement of Officers. In the event that the Chairperson is disabled, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office, the title, duties and obligations of the office shall be assumed by the Vice-Chairperson, who shall then serve until the end of his/her own term as Chairperson. A special election shall be held to fill the office of Vice-Chairperson. The new Vice-Chairperson shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor and shall thereafter succeed to the office of Chairperson.
In the event that the Vice-Chairperson is disabled, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office, a special election shall be held to fill the office. The new Vice-Chairperson shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor and shall thereafter succeed to the office of Chairperson.
The administration of the affairs of the Division shall be vested in the Executive Committee which shall consist of the officers of the Division and the most recent Past-Chairperson of the Division. The Executive Committee shall conduct all business of the Division which is necessary between meetings of the membership. The Executive Committee may caucus the membership on any issue before the Committee and may call special meetings of the membership.
Section 1. Nominating Committee. The Chairperson shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members each year. The most recent Past-Chairperson shall be Chairperson of the committee.
Section 2. Regular Elections. The Nominating Committee shall submit to
the Chair for distribution to the membership of the Division a ballot containing
a slate of candidates for office and a resume for each candidate. The slate
shall contain up to two candidates for each office. The committee shall obtain
permission from each nominee and shall seek assurance that the persons nominated
will be able to perform the duties of Vice-Chairperson, and Chairperson the
following year, including being able to be absent from work as appropriate. The
nominees will be presented at the annual meeting.
Voting shall be by mail, e-mail, or fax within two weeks of the annual meeting
of the Division. The Nomination Committee shall count the ballots and notify the
Division Chair of the results. Candidates receiving the highest number of votes
in each office shall be elected.
Section 3. Term of Office. New officers assume office on July 1.
Section 4. Special Elections. The Nominating Committee shall submit a list of candidates and their resumes to the Chairperson no later than thirty (30) days after the disability of, resignation by, or removal from office of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson. Special elections may be held by mail, e-mail, or fax, or at a business meeting, as determined by the Executive Committee.
The fiscal year of the Division shall coincide with the fiscal year of the parent organization, the Montana Library Association (July 1-June 30).
Section 1. Dues. No special dues shall be charged by this Division. Membership shall be determined through payment of dues to the Montana Library Association.
Section 2. Operating Budget. The Executive Committee shall submit to the Board of Directors of the Association a tentative budget for the support of that year's work by the date specified by the President. On the basis of this, and in light of the Association's financial situation, the Board of Directors of the Association shall allot a definite sum to the Division, notification of the amount to be made to the Division Chairperson following approval of the budget.
Section 3. Special Assessments. The Division may assess fees from participants in Division-sponsored workshops or seminars, provided that such fees be designed only to cover immediate costs of the workshop or seminar, and that gratuities to speakers remain minimal.
The annual meeting of the Division shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the parent organization, the Montana Library Association. Voting at meetings will generally be by voice unless a ballot is required. A majority vote of those present and voting will prevail on all business matters, except the Bylaws amendments shall require a two-thirds vote.
Those members present shall constitute a quorum of the Division for the transaction of business.
Section 1. Standing Committees. Standing Committees may be instituted should the membership determine and express a need for such. Standing Committees shall report to the membership at the annual meeting.
Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees. The Chairperson may appoint Ad Hoc Committees at any time. An Ad Hoc Committee shall finish its mission within two years of its formation and shall report to the Chairperson.
The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting at the annual meeting of the Division, or by two-thirds majority vote of the membership via mail, e-mail, or fax provided that proposed Bylaws changes shall be distributed to the membership at least fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or the vote deadline date.
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern
the Division in all cases to which they are applicable and are not inconsistent
with the Bylaws of this Division.