ARTICLE I
Identification
The name of the organization is the Meinders Community Library, located in the city of Pipestone, in the county of Pipestone, in the state of Minnesota.
ARTICLE II
Board of Directors
Section 1. Establishment and Composition
The Meinders Community Library Board shall be composed of seven (7) members. The Mayor, with the approval of the City Council, shall appoint one (1) city resident and one (1) member of the City Council. The remaining five (5) members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Board members shall be residents of the city or the county of Pipestone.
Section 2. Term of Office
The term of office of members shall be three (3) years. No member shall serve more than three full consecutive terms. A former member can be reappointed after a lapse of one year.
Section 3. Disqualifications, Vacancies
Any member who moves out of the political subdivision he/she represents shall be responsible for notifying the secretary of the Library Board. Upon receipt of such notification, the position shall be declared vacant. When any member fails to attend at least three consecutive meetings of the board, the board shall declare his/her position vacant. It shall be the duty of the president to notify the appointing official of the vacancy and, by the direction of the board, to suggest three to five names to the appointing official of persons who may qualify to fill the position, if appropriate.
Section 4. Officers
Officers of the board shall be a president, vice-president, and secretary. Officers shall be elected at the regular annual meeting, which will be the first meeting after January, 1. Any officer may succeed him/herself. Vacancies in office shall be filled by vote at the next regular meeting of the board after the vacancy occurs.
The duties of the officers are as follows:
The president shall preside at meetings and perform such other duties as custom and law devolve upon the president.
The vice-president shall assume the duties of the president in the event of the absence or disability of the president.
The secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all proceedings of the board meetings.
The librarian shall be considered the executive officer of the Board and shall have sole charge of the administration of the library under the direction and review of the board. The librarian shall be held responsible for the care of the buildings and equipment, of the employment and direction of the staff, for the efficiency of the library’s service to the public, and for the operation of the library under the financial conditions set forth in the annual budget. The librarian shall attend all board meetings and may be designated as executive secretary to keep a true and accurate record of Library Board proceedings. The librarian has no vote on the board.
Section 5. Remuneration
All Board members shall serve without remuneration.
ARTICLE III
Meetings
Section 1. Meetings
The Library Board shall meet quarterly at a minimum or more frequently as needed at the library, or at a time and place designated at the preceding meeting. (Current bimonthly meetings take place at 5:15pm the first Wednesday of even months. *Times may be changed and updated via Board vote and notice to the City without changing the bylaws.)
Section 2. Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Library Board may be called by the president, or upon written request of two (2) members, for the transaction of business as stated in the meeting request. Notice stating the time and place of any special meeting and the purpose for which called shall be given each member of the Library Board at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting.
Section 3. Quorum
A quorum for transaction of business shall consist of a simple majority.
Section 4. Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revised edition, shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the meetings.
ARTICLE IV
Duties of the Library Board
- Determine the policy of the library and develop the highest possible degree of operating efficiency in the library.
- Select and appoint a competent administrator or librarian.
- Advise in the preparation of the budget and recommend to the Council the amount of funding for the public library.
- Through the librarian, regularly review various physical and building needs to see that they meet the requirements of the total library program.
- Study and support legislation which will bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of libraries.
- Cooperate with other public officials and boards to maintain vital public relations.
- Review and/or update strategic plan every five years.
ARTICLE V
Amendments
These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the board with a quorum present, by majority vote of the members present, providing the amendment was stated at the preceding meeting (or “issued in the call to order” or “was sent to the members at least thirty days prior to the meeting”).
These bylaws will be in force upon adoption by the Library Board of Meinders Community Library on the 5th day of April, 2023.