Public Library Section Bylaws

Revised January, 2023

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Public Library Section of the North Carolina Library Association.

Article II - Objectives

The objectives of this organization shall be:

Section 1. To unite in this group North Carolina Library Association members interested in public libraries;

Section 2. To provide an opportunity for discussion and activity; and

Section 3. To seek to fulfill the objectives of the North Carolina Library Association.

Article III - Members

Members of the North Carolina Library Association who state a preference for this Section at the time of payment of the Association dues shall become members.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be: Chairperson, Chair-Elect, who shall serve as Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and two Directors.

Section 2. The Chair-Elect, the Secretary and the two Directors shall be elected at the regular biennial meetings and shall serve for a two-year term, or until their successors are elected and have assumed their duties.

Section 3. The Chairperson shall, with the Executive Committee, appoint such committees and define their duties as may be necessary to carry on the work of the Public Library Section.

Section 4. The Chairperson shall serve as an ex- officio member on all committees with exception of the Nominating Committee. The Chairperson shall also serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee and of the Planning Council.

Section 5. The Chair-Elect shall be elected to office, and shall assume the responsibilities and perform the duties of the Chairperson in the event of absence, death, disability or resignation of the Chairperson. He/She shall also be responsible for the program the biennial meeting. He/She shall serve as Chairperson during the two years following his/her term as Chair-Elect.

Article V - Executive Committee

Section 6. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, immediate past Chairperson and Directors. In the intervals between Planning Council meetings, the Executive Committee shall act for the Section, excluding the allocation funds.

Section 7. In the event of absence, death, disability, or resignation of the Chairperson and the Chair-Elect during the interval between the biennial meetings, the Executive Committee shall fill any vacancy or vacancies by the appointment of a member or members of that committee. Such appointment or appointments shall remain in force until the next regular meeting of the Section.

Article VI – Planning Council

Section 1. Purpose. The Planning Council shall have general supervision of the activities of the Section and shall have the power to act for the Section in the intervals between biennial meetings.

Section 2. Membership. Members of the Planning Council shall include the Executive Committee and the Chairperson and the Vice-Chair of all committees.

Section 3. Meetings. The Planning Council shall meet four times a year, or less or more frequently at the direction of the Executive Committee. A quorum to conduct business shall consist of a majority of the membership of the Council. Meetings of the Planning Council are open to all members of the Section. Members of the State Library staff are encouraged to attend all meetings of the Planning Council.

Article VII – Committee

Section 1. Committees may be created or discontinued by vote of the Planning Council.

Section 2. Committee membership is open to all members of the Section. Requests to serve on committees should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Section, with the final decision on membership on committees left to the Chairperson.

Section 3. All committees and their chairs and vice-chairs must be appointed by January 30 following the biennial conference.

Section 4. All committees are required to submit written reports at each regular meeting of the Planning Council. If a committee fails to submit a written report at three consecutive regular meetings of the Planning Council, the Council has the option of either abolishing the committee or changing its personnel.

Article VIII - Finances

Section 1. The regular meeting of the Public Library Section shall be held as a section meeting of the biennial meeting of the North Carolina Library Association.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called at the direction of the Chairperson, the Executive Committee, or upon written request, signed by 15 members and delivered to the Executive Board of the Association.

Section 3. A quorum for the transaction of the business of this Section shall consist of 25 percent of the membership of the Section.

Article IX - Election

Section 1. The Chairperson shall appoint a committee on nominations who will present the name of one candidate for each elective office, consent being secured from the nominees. Any member or members of the Section may present a candidate or candidates for the elective offices of this Section provided (a) that they notify the Chairperson of the Section of such action, in writing; (b) that the notification be signed by 10 members of this Section; (c) that the consent of the nominee be secured and so indicated on the notification; and (d) that the notification be presented to the Chairperson prior to the beginning of the biennial conference.

Section 2. A majority vote of those attending a regular meeting shall constitute election.

Officers shall take office at the January meeting of the Planning Council following the biennial conference.

Article X - Parliamentary Authority

Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be the governing authority in any matter not specifically covered by these bylaws.

Section 2. Nothing in these bylaws shall conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the North Carolina Library Association.

Article XI – Adoption and Amendments

These rules may be adopted or amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting called in accordance with the bylaws of this Section; or by emailed ballot, provided that (1) the request for such action be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing and signed by 15 members of the Section; (2) the total number of returned ballots be not less than 25 percent of the membership of the Section; and (3) two-thirds of the mailed ballots returned shall be in the affirmative.

Revised January, 2023