Constitution & Bylaws

Constitution

Article I. Name

Sec. 1. The name of this body shall be the American Library Association.

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Article II. Object

Sec. 1. The object of the American Library Association shall be to promote library service and librarianship.

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Article III. Membership

Sec. 1. Members. Any person, library, or other organization interested in library service and librarianship may become a member upon payment of the dues provided for in the Bylaws. The Executive Board may suspend a member for cause after hearing by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Executive Board and may reinstate a member by a three-fourths vote of the members of the Executive Board.

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Article IV. Divisions and Round Tables 

Sec. 1. Divisions and Round Tables of the Association may be organized and supported as provided in the Bylaws.

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Article V. Meetings

Sec. 1. Meetings shall be held as provided for in the Bylaws.

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Article VI. Council

Sec. 1. (a) The Council of the American Library Association shall be the governing body of the Association. The Council shall delegate to the several divisions of the Association authority to plan and carry out programs and activities within assigned fields of responsibility and in accord with general Council policy.

(b) The Council shall determine all policies of the Association, and its decisions shall be binding upon the Association, except as provided in Sec.4. (c) of this Article.

Sec. 2. Councilors shall be chosen as specifi ed in the Bylaws of the Association.

Sec. 3. Seventy-five voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

Sec. 4. (a) The Association by a vote at a member-ship meeting may refer any matter to the Council with recommendations and may require the Council to report on such matter at any specified session of the Association.

(b) Any question of policy may, by a majority vote of the Council, be submitted to the Association to be voted upon either at a membership meeting or by mail as the Council may determine.

(c) Any action of the Council may be set aside by a majority vote by mail in which one-fourth of the members of the Association have voted. Such vote by mail shall be held upon petition of one percent of the personal members as certified by the Executive Director of the Association.

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Article VII. Executive Board

 Sec. 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the Association, the immediate past president, and eight members selected by the Council from among the members of that body, as provided in the Bylaws.

Sec. 2. A vacancy in the elected membership of the Executive Board, including a vacancy created by the election of a member to the office of president-elect treasurer, shall be filled by Executive Board appointment, the person so appointed to serve until the following annual election.

Sec. 3. The Executive Board shall report on its activities not later than the next meeting of the Council. The Executive Board shall act for the Council in the administration of established policies and programs. The Executive Board shall be the body which manages within this context the affairs of the Association, but shall delegate management of the day-to-day operation to the Association’s Executive Director. The Executive Board shall make recommendations to Council with respect to matters of policy.

Sec. 4. A majority shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board.

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Article VIII. Officers and Committees

Sec. 1. Only personal members shall have the right to hold office. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a president-elect, who shall serve as vice-president, an executive director, and a treasurer. The president-elect and the treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Board, and shall hold office at its pleasure.

Sec. 2. Vacancy.  a. President-elect. When a vacancy occurs in the office of president-elect, or when an elected incoming president-elect withdraws or is unable to serve before the assumption of office, then the Executive Board shall appoint an individual to serve in such office, or to assume such office, subject to a confirmation mail vote by Council. Until the individual is confirmed by Council, they shall serve in an acting capacity.

b. Treasurer. When a vacancy occurs in the office of treasurer, or when an elected incoming treasurer withdraws or is unable to serve before the assumption of office, then the Executive Board shall appoint an individual to serve in such office, or to assume such office, subject to a confirmation mail vote by Council. Until the individual is confirmed by Council, they shall serve in an acting capacity. The position of treasurer shall be filled by regular election at the next election, unless at the time of appointment the next regular election is less than four (4) months away, in which case the position of treasurer shall be filled at the following election. 

Sec. 3. Duties of Officers. The president, president elect, executive director, and treasurer shall perform the duties pertaining to their respective offices and such other duties as may be approved by the Executive Board. The president-elect shall serve the first year after election as vice-president, the second year as president, and the third year as immediate past president. The president, for the Executive Board, and the executive director for the headquarters staff, shall report annually to the Council. The executive director shall be in charge of headquarters and its personnel; shall carry out the activities provided for in the budget; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the office.

Sec. 4. Appointments. The Executive Board shall appoint all other officers and all committees of the Association not otherwise provided for and shall fix the compensation of all paid officers and employees. Only personal members of the Association shall be appointed to committees except by authorization of the Executive Board.

Sec. 5. Terms of Office. All officers and elected members of the Executive Board shall serve until the adjournment of the Annual Conference that follows the selection of their successors.

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Article IX. Endowment Funds

Sec. 1. Receipts from life memberships and all gifts for endowment purposes shall, subject to conditions attached thereto, constitute endowment funds. Such funds shall, subject to conditions legally incident thereto, be in the custody of three trustees, one of whom shall be elected by the Executive Board annually to hold office for three years from the date of election and until a successor shall be elected. If any trustee resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from office, a successor may be elected by a majority vote of the Executive Board at any meeting, and such successor shall serve for the remainder of the term of the original trustee and until a successor is elected. The trustees shall have authority to hold, invest, reinvest, disburse, and otherwise deal with endowment funds in accordance with such directions as may be given them by the Executive Board of the Association. The principal of and income from endowment funds shall be expended under the directions of the Executive Board but no such expenditures shall be made except in accordance with any conditions imposed by the donors of any such funds nor for any purposes which are not in consonance with the approved policy of the Association nor shall principal be expended unless expressly permitted by the terms of the gift, or any amendment or modification thereof. No action shall be taken with reference to investment, reinvestment, or other principal transaction with respect to securities held in the endowment fund, except upon a resolution adopted by or written order signed by a majority of the trustees.

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Article X. Affiliated Organizations and Chapters

Sec. 1. The Council may by vote affiliate with the American Library Association or with any subdivision thereof upon its request, any national or international organization having purposes similar to those of the Association or its subdivision. The dues of affiliated organizations shall be as provided in the Bylaws.

Sec. 2. The Council may by vote affiliate the Association, or any subdivision thereof upon its request, with any national or international organization having purposes similar to those of the Association or its subdivision; provided, however, that no subdivision of the Association may separately affiliate itself with an organization with which the Association as a whole is affiliated.

Sec. 3. By action of the Council, and in accordance with the Bylaws of the American Library Association, any legally constituted state, provincial, regional, or territorial library association may become a chapter of the American Library Association and receive such rights and privileges as provided in the Bylaws of the Association and under such conditions as may be provided in the Bylaws.

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Article XI. Bylaws Amendments and Editorial Changes

Sec. 1. All proposals for amending the Bylaws shall originate in the Council. A proposed amendment or new bylaw shall become effective when it shall have been approved by a majority of the members of the Council present and voting at a meeting of the Council, followed by ratification by the members of the Association either by a vote by mail of a majority of the members of the Association voting, or by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a membership meeting of the Association. The Council, on approving a proposed amendment, shall specify whether a vote for ratification shall be taken at a membership meeting of the Association or by mail, and if a mail vote is ordered, the Council shall fix the time for the beginning and closing of the balloting. If a vote at a membership meeting is ordered, at least one month’s written notice shall be given to the Association of the text of the proposed amendment or new bylaw.

Sec. 2. The Council, upon recommendation of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee or the Committee on Organization, may make such editorial changes in these bylaws as do not change their substance and meaning. Those changes shall take effect upon such action and shall be referenced in the next ALA Handbook of Organization.

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Article XII. Amendments

Sec. 1. All proposals for amending the Constitution shall originate in the Council. A proposed amendment shall become effective when it shall have been approved by a majority of the members of the Council present and voting at two consecutive meetings held not less than two months apart, followed by ratification by the members of the Association either by a vote by mail of a majority of the members of the Association voting, or by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a membership meeting of the Association. The Council, on approving a proposed amendment for the second time, shall specify whether a vote on ratification shall be taken at a membership meeting of the Association or by mail, and if a mail vote is ordered, the Council shall fix the time for the beginning and closing of the balloting. If a vote at a membership meeting is ordered, at least one month’s written notice shall be given to the Association of the text of the proposed amendment.

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Bylaws

Article I. Membership

Sec. 1.  Classification of Membership.  Membership of the Association shall consist of:

Personal Members:  any person who has completed the process of joining the Association as an individual or on whom membership has been conferred by the Association.

Chapter Members:  any legally constituted state, territorial, or regional library association that has been granted chapter status by action of Council under Article V, Section 1(c) of the Bylaws.

Organization Members:  Non-profit libraries and nonprofit schools conducting programs of library education; library associations; affiliated organizations; foreign organizations; and non-profit organizations other than libraries and library schools.

Corporate Members:  For-profit companies and organizations interested in supporting the work of the Association and electing to pay dues set in accordance with Section 2 of this Article.

Sec. 2.  Categories and Dues. Categories within each classification of membership in the Association may be established by the Council upon recommendation by the Executive Board. Dues for personal members shall be set by the Executive Board with approval by a vote of the Council and subject to a mail vote of the personal members.  Dues for Chapter Members, Organization Members, and Corporate Members shall be set by Council upon recommendation of the Executive Board.  (Note:  See Policy 12.) Members falling into two or more categories of membership shall pay the highest applicable dues and shall receive corresponding privileges. The membership year for any member of the Association and its divisions and round tables shall be twelve consecutive months effective the first day of the month following receipt of dues payment. 

Sec. 3.  Rights and Privileges.  Perquisites of membership shall be set by Council upon recommendation of the Executive Board.  Only personal members of the Association shall have the right to vote, petition, hold office, and participate in membership meetings.

Sec. 4.  Upon approval of the Executive Board, special promotional membership rates may be made available from time to time.

Sec. 5.  The category to which any personal member belongs, except Honorary and Life Members, shall not be specified  in the Directory and shall be regarded as confidential.

Sec. 6.  Unpaid dues.  Members whose dues are unpaid upon the expiration date of their membership year and who shall continue such delinquency for two months after notice of the same has been sent, shall be dropped from membership.  Lapsed members shall be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current membership year.

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Article II. Meetings

 Sec. 1. Annual Meetings. There shall be an annual conference of the Association at such place and time as may be determined by the Executive Board. For all persons attending any meeting or conference there may be a registration fee as fixed by the Executive Board.

Sec. 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Board, and shall be called by the President on request of not less than five percent of the voting members of the Association as of the previous July 1, such request to be filed with the executive director at least ninety days before the proposed meeting. At least one month’s notice shall be given, and only the business specifi ed in the call shall be transacted.

Sec. 3. Regional Meetings. The Executive Board may arrange for regional meetings to include such chapters, divisions, library associations, and such other organizations as may desire to join in such a meeting, provided that the Executive Board may not call a regional meeting in the area covered by a regional chapter without the consent of such chapter.

Sec. 4. Membership Meetings. A membership meeting consists of the voting members of the Association with authority to act as set out in Article VI, Sections 4(a) and 4(c) of the Constitution. A membership meeting shall be held during the annual conference and at such other times as may be set by the Executive Board, Council or by membership petition as provided for in Article II, Section 2, of the Bylaws.

Sec. 5. Votes by Mail. (a) By petition of one percent of the personal voting membership, as certifi ed by the Executive Director, membership referenda shall be placed on the annual ballot for a vote by mail. A petition for a membership referenda must be filed with the Executive Director at least four months before the annual conference.

(b) The Executive Board may authorize votes by mail of both the Association and of the Council between meetings.

(c) For votes by Council, fifty percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum and a three-fourths majority of those voting shall be required to carry.

(d) For votes by the Association, twenty-five percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum and a majority of those voting shall be required to carry.

(e) The Executive Board shall have authority to set the time limit during which votes will be recorded but if no such time limit is set no vote shall be counted unless received within thirty days from the day the text of the ballot or question voted upon was mailed, properly addressed, to those entitled to vote on the matter involved. In the case of a vote by mail by the Association, the Executive Board may designate publication of the ballot or question submitted in the official journal of the Association as the appropriate method of submitting the matter to the members for their determination.

Sec. 6. Quorum. Seventy-five (75) voting members shall constitute a quorum at membership meetings.

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Article III. Nominations and Elections

Sec. 1. (a) Prior to each annual conference of the Association, the Executive Board, upon recommendation of the Committee on Appointments, shall appoint an ALA Nominating Committee, no one of whom shall be a member of the Board, to nominate candidates for elective positions.

(b) Such committee shall nominate candidates from among the general membership for the position of president-elect annually; for the position of treasurer, whenever this is required by Article VIII, Sec. 1 of the Constitution; members of Council as provided in sections (c) and (e) below; and to fill vacancies.

(c) Such committee shall nominate annually candidates for members-at-large of Council for three-year terms. The number of nominees shall not be fewer than one-and-one-half times the anticipated number of member-at-large vacancies to be filled at the next election.

(d) Such committee shall also nominate and place on the ballot candidates for a vacancy in the membership of Council, representing the Association at large as provided in Sec. 1 (c) of this Article, to complete an unexpired term.

(e) The position of candidates on the ballot shall be randomized.

(f) No person may be nominated for or serve on the Council unless that person is a personal member of the American Library Association; no candidate may accept nomination from more than one group.

Sec. 2. (a) The ALA Nominating Committee shall report its nominations at the midwinter meeting of the Council. The final list of the candidates’ names shall be reported in American Libraries.

(b) No person shall be nominated by the committee whose written consent has not been filed with the executive director of the Association.

Sec. 3. (a) Nominations determined as herein provided shall be placed before the members of the Association on a ballot which shall be prepared under the direction of the Nominating Committee and which shall be known as the ‘‘Official Ballot.’’

(b) The ALA Nominating Committee shall also include on the official ballot other nominations filed with the executive director by petition of any twenty-five members of the Association at least four months before the annual conference, provided written consent of these nominees shall have been filed with the executive director of the Association.

(c) The professional address of each nominee shall be given on the Official Ballot.

Sec. 4. (a) The Executive Board shall appoint a Committee on Election which shall have charge of the conduct of the regular elections of the Association and the divisions, and the counting and tabulation of all votes cast.

(b) For every election of the Association, the Committee on Election shall establish a closing date for the membership list. Only members in good standing on that date shall receive a ballot and shall be entitled to vote.

(c) At least six weeks prior to the annual conference the executive director shall mail a copy of the ballot to each member of the Association in good standing.

Sec. 5. For each office the candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected and shall be so reported to the Association by the Committee on Election. In the case of a tie vote the successful candidate shall be determined by lot conducted by the Committee on Election. In the event that a candidate for election to Council withdraws from candidacy in the period between the mailing of ballots and the beginning of the new term of office, and the candidate is successful in the election, the Council seat affected will remain vacant until filled in the following annual election.

Sec. 6. (a) There shall be a Council Committee on Committees made up of four Councilors elected for one-year terms by Council as provided for in Article III, Sec. 6(b) of the Bylaws. The president-elect shall be the fifth member of this committee and its chairperson.

(b) The four elected members of the Council Committee on Committees shall be elected by ballot of the Councilors present and voting at the annual conference from a list of eight candidates submitted by the president-elect and included in the agenda mailed to Councilors before the annual conference. Additional nominations for the Committee on Committees may be made by Councilors from the floor.

(c) Such committee shall nominate annually candidates for three members of the Executive Board for three-year terms, and every third year two members of the Executive Board for three-year terms for election by the Council from among the members of the Council.* Candidates shall be nominated from among the members of the Council who are serving by virtue of election to it, as provided in Article IV, Sec. 2(b), (c), (d), and (e) of the Bylaws, and who will have served at the midwinter meeting and the annual conference immediately preceding their prospective terms as Executive Board Members. Additional nominations for the Executive Board may be made by Councilors from the floor. Upon election to the Executive Board the member shall continue to serve as a member of the Council for the duration of the term for which elected to the Council and thereafter as a voting member exofficio for the duration of the term for which elected to the Executive Board.*

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Article IV. Council

Sec. 1 (a) Council membership requirement. No person, including a representative of a state, provincial, or territorial chapter, may serve on the Council unless a personal member of the American Library Association.

(b) Meetings. The Council shall hold at least two meetings each year. Such meetings shall be held, one at the time and place of the annual conference of the Association and one not less than three months before the next annual conference, at a time designated by the Executive Board. The latter shall be called the midwinter meeting. Other meetings may be called by the president and shall be called upon request of twenty members.

(c) Officers. The president, president-elect, and the executive director of the Association shall serve as officers of the Council, the executive director serving as its secretary. The presiding officer may vote only in case of a tie and the executive director shall not have the right to vote.

Sec. 2 (a) All personal members of the ALA shall be eligible for nomination to Council from their respective constituencies, as indicated in Article IV, Sec. 2(b), (c), and (d), without regard to any other prerequisites.

(b) Each state, provincial, and territorial chapter shall be entitled to one councilor to be elected for a term of three years by the members of the chapter.

(c) Each division of the Association shall be entitled to one councilor to be elected for a term of three years by the members of the division.

(d) Those round tables with Personal Membership equal to or greater than one percent of ALA’s total Personal Membership shall be entitled to elect one councilor each, and the remaining Round Tables jointly shall be entitled to one councilor to be elected for a term of three years by the members of the respective round tables. A councilor elected under this Article shall continue to serve without prejudice to any change that might occur in the size of the membership of their round table. For the purposes of this section, the Personal Membership of each round table and the Personal Membership of ALA shall be fixed as of August 31st of each year.

(e) One hundred councilors shall be elected by the Association at large, one third being elected each year as provided in Article III, Sec. 1(c) of the Bylaws.*

(f) All members of the Executive Board shall automatically be members of the Council.

(g) No person shall serve simultaneously as a member of the Council elected by a chapter or a division or a round table and as a member elected by the Association at large. A person who is a member by virtue of being a member of the Executive Board may simultaneously be a regularly elected member according to paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), but such person shall have but one vote.

Sec. 3. All elected councilors shall serve for terms of three years or until their successors are selected and qualified.

Sec. 4. Each chapter shall accredit its councilor to the secretary of the Council in advance of the fi rst meeting after the election.

Sec. 5. A vacancy in the membership of Council representing the Association at large shall be filled at the following election to complete the unexpired term.

Sec. 6. A vacancy in the membership of Council representing a state, provincial or territorial chapter, division or round table of the Association may be filled by the chapter or division on an interim basis. Each chapter, division or round table shall accredit its interim councilor to the secretary of the Council in advance of the first meeting after selection. The interim councilor shall serve as a voting member until the next regularly scheduled election or for a maximum ofone year, by which time an election shall have been held to elect a successor.

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Article V. Chapters

Sec. 1(a) The purpose of a chapter is to promote general library service and librarianship within its geographic area, to provide geographic representation to the Council of the American Library Association, and to cooperate in the promotion of general and joint enterprises with the American Library Association and other library groups.

(b) The Council may establish a chapter of the American Library Association in any state, province, territory, or region in which a majority of the ALA members residing within the area involved and voting on the issue favors such action; provided, however, that the total number of persons voting on the issue shall not be less than ten percent of the total number of ALA members residing within the area. A regional chapter may consist of any area composed of three or more contiguous states or provinces.

(c) Any legally constituted state, provincial, territorial, or regional library association may, at its request, be designated a chapter of the American Library Association provided the membership of the association applying for chapter status has expressed approval of the application; and providing a majority of the ALA members residing in the area involved voting on the issue is in favor of such action; provided, however, that the total number of persons voting on the issue shall not be less than ten percent of the total number of ALA members residing within the area involved, and provided that there is no confl ict in principle between the constitution and bylaws of the association involved and the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Library Association, and that copies of the chapter constitution and bylaws, and subsequent amendments to them are filed with the American Library Association and dues are paid in accordance with Article I of the Bylaws.

(d) No more than one chapter of the American Library Association shall exist in any state, province, or territory.

(e) In establishing regional chapters, no state, provincial, or territorial association may be included in more than one such region.

Sec. 2. A chapter may admit members who are not members of the American Library Association.

Sec. 3. Each state, provincial, territorial, or regional chapter shall be the final authority within the American Library Association in respect to all programs and policies which concern only the area for which the chapter is responsible provided they are not inconsistent with any programs and policies established by the ALA Council. Any chapter may establish committees and boards which parallel national committees and boards in order to carry out over-all programs within its own area and to maintain liaison between its members and the national committees and boards. State, provincial, and territorial chapters may establish local chapters within the respective areas involved.

Sec. 4 (a) Any chapter may withdraw from chapter status provided the issue has been submitted to a vote of the chapter membership and is favored by a majority of the members voting; and provided further that notice of withdrawal is sent to the executive director of the American Library Association.

(b) A chapter may be dissolved by the Council and shall be dissolved if it becomes inactive or fails to comply with the provisions of this Article.

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Article VI. Divisions

Sec. 1. The Council may establish divisions under the following conditions:

(a) The Council may authorize the organization as a division of any group of not less than 500 members of the Association who are interested in the same field of librarianship, upon petition of such group. Under exceptional circumstances, the Council may admit as divisions, groups having fewer than 500 members.

(b) The Council by a vote of two consecutive meetings may discontinue a division when, in the opinion of the Council, the usefulness of that division has ceased.

Sec. 2. (a) The purpose of a division is to promote library service and librarianship within and for a particular type of library or as it relates to a particular type of library activity, and to cooperate in the promotion of general and joint enterprises within the Association and with other library groups. Each division shall represent a field of activity and responsibility clearly distinct from that of other divisions.

(b) A division shall have authority to act for the ALA as a whole on any matter determined by Council to be the responsibility of the division.

Sec. 3. (a)Divisions are of two distinct kinds: ‘‘Type-of-library’’ divisions and ‘‘Type-of-activity’’ divisions.

(b) Type-of-library divisions focus attention upon planning in and evaluation of all functions as they contribute to the services of the library. Type-oflibrary divisions are interested in the general improvement and extension of service to the clientele and agencies served. Each such division has specifi c responsibility for: (1) Planning of programs of study and service for the type of library as a total institution; (2) Evaluation and establishment of standards in its field; (3) Synthesis of the activities of all units within the Association that have a bearing on the type of library represented; (4) Representation and interpretation of its type of library in contacts outside the profession; (5) Stimulation of the development of librarians engaged in its type of library, and stimulation of participation of members in appropriate type-of-activity divisions; and (6) Conduct of activities and projects for improvement and extension of service in its type of library when such projects are beyond the scope of type-of-activity divisions, after specific approval by the Council.

(c) Type-of-activity divisions focus attention upon study and development of such functions as reference, cataloging, personnel administration, etc., as they apply to all types of libraries. Type-of-activity divisions are interested in the improvement and extension of their functions. Each such division has specific responsibility for: (1) Continuous study and review of the activities assigned to the particular division; (2) Conduct of activities and projects within its area of responsibility;(3)Synthesis of the activities of all units within the Association that have a bearing on the type of activity represented; (4) Representation and interpretation of its type of activity in contacts outside the profession; (5) Stimulation of the development of librarians engaged in its type of activity, and stimulation of participation by members in appropriate type-of-library divisions; and (6) Planning and development of programs of study and research for the type of activity for the total profession.

(d) Type-of-activity divisions may develop and adopt technical standards as official ALA standards. Type-of-activity divisions may participate in the development of nontechnical standards by type-of library divisions but nontechnical standards may be adopted, or approved as official ALA standards, only by type-of-library divisions.

Sec. 4. (a) Each division shall be organized under a board of directors with overlapping terms and with authority to make decisions between conferences of meetings of the division.

(b) Each division may establish such committees, sections, and other subordinate units as may be required to discharge properly the responsibilities assigned to it, but no committee, section, or other unit devoted to an activity assigned to a type-of-activity division shall be established in a type-of-library division.

(c) A division may affiliate with itself regional, state, or local groups interested in the same fi eld of library service or librarianship. Such groups may admit members who are not members of the division or of the Association.

Sec. 5. (a) A division shall accept as members all members of the Association who elect membership in that division according to the provisions of Article I of the Bylaws. Only members of this Association maybe members of a division.

(b) Only personal members of a division shall have the right to vote and to hold office.

Sec. 6. (a) Each division shall establish annual dues. Funds so collected shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d).

(b) All dues paid for membership in divisions may be put to the credit of the division. Additional allotments may be made on the basis of need as determined by the Executive Board upon recommendation of the Budget Analysis and Review Committee.

(c) All divisional funds are to be in the custody of the Executive Board, to be accounted for and disbursed by its designated officer on authorization of the division offi cers.

(d) A division shall have the right by vote of its members to impose additional fees. Funds so collected shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b).

Sec. 7. No division shall incur expense on behalf of the Association except as authorized, nor shall any division commit the Association by any declaration of policy, except as provided in Sec. 2(b) of this Article.

Sec. 8. (a) A division may: Issue publications; hold meetings; organize sections; retain or adopt a distinctive name; appoint committees to function within the field of its activities; in general, carry on activities along the lines of its interests. Divisions shall exercise editorial and managerial control over their periodicals. The ALA Publishing Committee will be informed of plans for any new division periodical prior to publication. Materials prepared for publication by a division not intended for inclusion in a division periodical must be offered to ALA Publishing Services for fi rst consideration.

(b) A division may be authorized to arrange a non-business national divisional conference under such conditions as the Executive Board may prescribe.

Sec. 9. (a) Each division shall be governed by the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association to the extent to which they are applicable. To guide the officers and members in conducting the affairs of a division which are peculiar to itself, the division shall adopt a constitution and/or bylaws which shall not be in conflict with those of the Association. Such documents shall provide appropriate rules governing the holding of meetings, the conduct of mail votes, the constitution of a quorum, the conduct of nominations and elections, the establishment and appointment of committees, the procedure for their own amendment.

(b) A section shall be governed by the constitution and/or bylaws of the division of which it is a part. It may adopt bylaws of its own provided that they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association or with those of the division.

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Article VII. Round Tables

Sec. 1. The Council may establish round tables under the following conditions:

(a) The Council may authorize the organization as a round table of any group of not less than 100 members of the Association who are interested in the same field of librarianship not within the scope of any division, upon petition of such group which shall include a statement of purpose.

(b) The Council may discontinue a round table when, in the opinion of the Council, the usefulness of that round table has ceased.

Sec. 2. No Round Table shall incur expense on behalf of the Association except as authorized, nor shall any Round Table commit the Association by any declaration of policy.

Sec. 3. Round tables may charge annual dues, limit their membership, and may, subject to approval of the Publishing Committee, issue publications. All round table funds are to be in the custody of the Executive Board, to be accounted for and disbursed by its designated officer on authorization of the round table officers.

Sec. 4. A round table may affiliate with itself regional, state, or local groups interested in the same field of library service or librarianship. Such groups may admit members who are not members of the round table or of the Association.

Sec. 5. Any member of the Association may become a member of any round table by complying with the requirements for membership. The members of each round table shall, either by a mail ballot or at its final session at each annual conference, choose officers to serve until the close of the next annual conference. Only personal members shall have the right to vote and hold office.

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Article VIII. Committees

Sec. 1. Establishment of Committees. (a) In order to carry out the business of the Association, Council, on the recommendation of the Committee on Organization, shall establish standing committees and special committees. Standing committees may be committees of the Association or committees of Council.

(b) The Committee on Organization shall recommend to Council a name, size, composition, and charge of each such committee.

Sec. 2. Standing Committees. (a) Committees of the Association. (i) There shall be a Committee on Appointments to be comprised of the presidents-elect of the divisions and the president-elect of the Association, who shall serve as chairperson, to advise the president-elect of the Association on nominations for committee appointments.

(ii) Unless otherwise recommended by the Committee on Organization and approved by the Council, members of standing committees shall be appointed for terms of two years, and may be reappointed for a second but not a third consecutive term; but in no case shall a person serve on a committee for more than four consecutive years. Appointments shall be made in such manner as to provide continuity in membership.

(iii) The standing committees shall include administration, general and advisory committees.

(b) Committees of Council. (i) Appointments to the Committees of the Council will be made by the Council Committee on Committees. The appointments shall be reported to Council by the following Annual Conference, at the end of which the new members will take up their duties. The chairpersons of the committees of the Council will be designated by the chairperson of the Committee on Committees, who is the president-elect. The committee size and length of terms shall follow the policy in force at the time appointments are made.

(ii) There shall be a Committee on Organization which shall recommend to Council the establishment or discontinuance of divisions, Round Tables, and committees, as the needs of the Association may require. Such committee shall define the functions of each division, round table, and committee subject to the approval of the Council. The Committee on Organization shall also authorize membership initiative groups.

(iii) There shall be such other committees as Council may establish.

(iv) Membership of the committees of the Council may consist of both Councilors and non-Councilors. No member, either Councilor or non-Councilor, shall serve on more than one of the committees or subcommittees of the Council simultaneously except as that member represents the parent committee as a member of the subcommittee. Subcommittees of the committees of the Council shall exist at the will of each Council Committee.

(v) If a vacancy occurs in the committees of the Council before time for the regular appointment of new members, it shall be filled by appointment made by the President, and the new appointee shall serve until the expiration of the term of the member replaced. If the committee member creating the vacancy is a member of Council, the new appointee must also be a Councilor.

Sec. 3. Special Committees. (a) All other committees authorized by the Council, and interim committees authorized by the Executive Board, shall be special committees. The life of a special committee shall be limited to two years unless the Council or the Executive Board, whichever has authorized such committee, shall otherwise provide. The term of appointment for members of a special committee shall end with the adjournment of the Annual Conference unless the Council or Executive Board, whichever has authorized such Committee, shall provide for a different or a longer term. Members of special committees whose terms expire shall be eligible for reappointment, except for the members of the Nominating Committee. Members of juries charged with making selections for awards shall be eligible for reappointment, but the number of members to be reappointed shall be limited to a minority in any single year.

(b) The special committees shall include administration committees with functions and size to be determined by the Council.

Sec. 4. Interdivisional committees and other committees formed by two or more distinct units within the Association may be established as required by the groups concerned with notification to the Committee on Organization.

Sec. 5. Joint Committees. (a) The Council, on the recommendation of the Committee on Organization, may establish joint committees, either standing or special, with other organizations when the functions of the proposed committee cannot be appropriately delegated to a single division or ALA committee.

(b) Joint committees of the divisions or Round Tables with organizations outside the Association maybe established only with the approval of the Council and upon the recommendation of the Committee on Organization.

Sec. 6. The committee membership year shall be the same as the conference year. Not less than two weeks prior to the midwinter meeting the president-elect shall report to the Executive Board for the Committee on Appointments. At a meeting prior to or during the midwinter meeting of the Council, the Executive Board shall consider the nominations and make its decisions as to appointments.

Sec. 7. (a) The Executive Board shall designate the chairperson of each committee annually except for the committees of council, which chairpersons are designated as set out in Article VIII, Sec. 2(b) of the Bylaws.

(b) Any vacancy occurring on a committee, except for committees of Council, shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Board until the expiration of the conference year in which the vacancy occurs, at which time appointment to fill out the unexpired term shall be made. Vacancies on the committees of the Council shall be filled as set out in Article VIII, Sec. 2(b)(v) of the Bylaws.

(c) Any member of a committee, except for members of the committees of the Council, may be re-moved by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Board upon recommendation of either the chairperson of the committee, the chairperson of the Committee on Appointments, the board of directors of a division, or the president of the Association. Any member of a Council committee may be removed by action of the Council’s Committee on Committees.

Sec. 8. Votes in the Executive Board, as well as in committees, may be taken by mail, electronic system, or conference call, provided that all members are canvassed simultaneously. An affi rmative vote from two thirds of a quorum of the body shall be required. Each committee shall have the authority to set a time limit within which the votes of its members shall be recorded, but if no such time limit is set no vote shall be counted unless received within 30 days from the day the text of the matter voted upon was mailed properly addressed to those entitled to vote on the matter involved.

Sec. 9. No committee shall incur expense on behalf of the Association except as authorized, nor shall any committee commit the Association by any declaration of policy.

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Article IX. Finances

Sec. 1. Except for projects supported by grants to the Association, annual estimates of income shall be based upon the unexpended balance remaining from the previous year plus anticipated revenues for the next budget year. In no case may expenditures be budgeted in excess of the estimates of income arrived at in this manner except for projects supported by grants to the Association. The annual estimates of income and budget objectives for each year are to be submitted to Council for approval.

Sec. 2. An audit of all accounts shall be made annually by a commercial auditor.

Sec. 3. A report shall be made annually to the membership, by a duly authorized member of the Executive Board, detailing receipts and expenditures, explaining the Association’s fiscal status, and reporting on the audit.

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Article X. Notices and Voting by Mail

Sec. 1. Publication of notices in the American Libraries shall be considered sufficient to fulfill the requirement of notice by mail.

Sec. 2. Voting by mail shall be deemed to be by postal services or electronic means as determined by the executive director who shall be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the ballot.

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Article XI. Parliamentary Authority

Sec. 1. Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure, in the latest edition, shall govern the Association in all cases to which it can be applied and in which it is not inconsistent with the Constitution, the Bylaws, or special rules of order of the Association.

ALA ELECTION SCHEDULE

Executive Board Elections

In 2009, three persons will be elected for three

(3) years; In 2010, two persons will be elected for three (3)

years; In 2011, three persons will be elected for three

(3) years. The 2009–2011 schedule will then be repeated.

Councilors-at-Large Elections

In 2009, thirty-three (33) persons will be elected for three (3) years;

In 2010, thirty-three (33) persons will be elected for three (3) years.

In 2011, thirty-four (34) persons will be elected for three (3) years.

The 2009–2011 schedule will then be repeated.

Round Table Councilors Elections

In the Spring 2006 election Membership ratified the following change to Bylaw Article IV. Council. Section 2(d): “Those Round Tables with Personal Membership equal to or greater than one percent of ALA’s total Personal Membership shall be entitled to elect one councilor each, and the remaining Round Tables jointly shall be entitled to one councilor to be elected for a term of three years by the members of the respective Round Tables. A councilor elected under this Article shall continue to serve without prejudice to any change that might occur in the size of the membership of their Round Table. For the purposes of this section, the Personal Membership of each Round Table and the Personal Membership of ALA shall be fixed as of August 31st of each year.”

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Index

The initial letter C indicates Constitution; B, Bylaws.

Affiliated organizations: ALA with, CX.2; Division, BVI.4(c); joint committees, BVIII.5; Round Table, BVII.4; with ALA, CX.1

Amendments. See Bylaws—amendments; Constitution—amendments

Annual Conference. See Meetings

Appointments, Com. on, BIII.1(a), BVIII.2(a)(i)

Audits, BIX.2

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Budget, BIX.1

Bylaws, amendments, CXI.1

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Chapters, CX.3, BV; affiliation with ALA, BV.1(b), BV.1(c); authority, BV.3; councilors, BIV.2(b): accreditation, BIV.4, vacancies, BIV.6; dissolution, BV.4(b); dues, BV.1(c); establishment, BV.1(b), BV.1(c); limitations, BV.1(d); membership, BV.2; policy and, BV.3; purpose, BV.1(a); qualifi cations and requirements, BV.1(c); regional, BV.1(e); withdrawals, BV.4(a)

Committees, BVIII; Association expenses and, BVIII.9; administration, BVIII.2(a) (iii);advisory, BVIII.2(a)(iii);appointments, CVIII.4, BVIII.2(a)(iii);chairpersons, BVIII.7(a); Council, BVIII.2(b), BVIII.3; appointments, BVIII.2(b), membership, BVIII.2(b)(iv), special, BVIII.3, vacancies, BVIII.2(b)(v); general, BVIII.2(a)(iii); establishment, BVIII.1; interdivisional and interunit, BVIII.4; joint, BVIII.5; membership year, BVIII.6; policy and, BVIII.9; removals, BVIII.7(c); special, BVIII.3; standing, BVIII.2(a)(iii);vacancies, BVIII.2(b)(v), BVIII.7(b); votes by mail, BVIII.8

Committees, Council Com. on, BIII.6, BVIII.2(b)(i)

Conference call votes. See Votes by mail

Conference Year, BI.7(b); and committee membership year, BVIII.6

Constitution, amendments, CXII.1

Council, CVI, BIV; committees, BVIII.2(b), BVIII.3; composition, BIV.2; defi ned, CVI.1(a); delegation of authority to Divisions, CVI.1(a); income and budget approval, BIX.1; mail votes, BII.5; meetings, BIV.1(b); membership and, CVI.4; officers, BIV.1(c); overrule of, CVI.4(c); policy and, CVI.1(b), CVI.4(b); quorum, CVI.3: mail vote, BII.5

Councilors, CVI.2, BIV.2; at-large, BIV.2(e); Chapter, BIV.2(b): accreditation, BIV.4; Division, BIV.2(c); Round Tables, BIV.2(d); dual representation, BIV.2(g); Executive Board, BIV.2(f); nominations, BIII.1(c); qualifi cations, BIII.1(e), BIV.1(a), BIV.2(a); term of offi ce, BIV.3; vacancies, BIII.1(d): at-large, BIV.5, Chapter, Division and Round Tables, BIV.6

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Divisions, CIV.1, BVI; activities, BVI.8; affiliations, BVI.4(c); allotments, BVI.6(b); Association expenses and, BVI.7; authority, CVI.1(a), BVI.2(b); committees, BVI.4(b): interdivisional and interunit, BVIII.4, joint, BVIII.5(b); conferences, BVI.8(b); constitutions and bylaws, BVI.9(a); councilors, BIV.2(c): vacancies, BIV.6; dissolution, BVI.1(b); dues, BVI.6(a): disposition of, BVI.6(b); establishment, CIV.1, BVI.1(a); fees, BVI.6(d); funds, custody of, BVI.6(c); governance, BVI.4(a); membership, BVI.5: qualifi cations, BVI.5(a), rights and privileges, BVI.5(b); policy and, BVI.7; publications, BVI.8(a); purpose, BVI.2(a); sections, BVI.4(b): governance and bylaws, BVI.9(b); standards and, BVI.3(d); type-of-activity, BVI.3(c); typeof-library, BVI.3(b); types, BVI.3(a); units, BVI.4(b)

Dues, CIII.1, BI.2; Chapter, BV.1(c); delinquent, BI.6; Division, BVI.6(a); promotional rates, BI.4; Round Table, BVII.3; schedule review, BI.8

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Election Com., BIII.4(a)

Elections, BIII, BIII.4, BIII.5; ballot, BIII.2(a)(iii); distribution of, BX.2; nominee addresses, BIII.3(c); Com. on Committees, BIII.6(b); ties, BIII.5; withdrawals, BIII.5

Electronic votes. See Votes by mail

Endowment funds, CIX

ALA Handbook of Organization, 2008

Executive Board, CVII; as councilors, BIV.2(f); composition, CVII.1; Council election to, BIII.6(c); functions, CVII.3; mail vote authorization, BII.5; mail votes, BVIII.8; quorum, CVII.4; vacancies, CVII.2

Executive Director: appointment of, CVIII.1; as secy. of Council, BIV.1(c), BIV.4, BIV.6; association officer, CVIII.1; ballot distribution, BX.2; candidate petitions, BIII.3(b); chapter withdrawals, BV.4(a); consent of candidates, BIII.2(b); Council officer, BIV.1(c); duties, CVIII.3, BIV.1(c); report to Council, CVIII.3; special meeting petitions, BII.2

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Finances, BIX; annual report, BIX.3

Fiscal year, BI.7(a)

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Honorary ALA Membership, BI.1(a)(vii); BI.2(a) (vii)

Human Resource Development and Recruitment Advisory Com., BVIII.2(a)(iii)

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Income and expenditures, BIX.1

Information Technology Policy Com., BVIII.2(a)

(iii) Intellectual Freedom Com., BVIII.2(b)(iii)

International Relations Com., BVIII.2(b)(iii) 

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Library Personnel Resources Com., BVIII.2(a)(iii) Literacy and Outreach Services Com., BVIII.2(a) (iii)

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Mail. See Elections—ballot; Notices by mail; Votes by mail

Majority: Bylaws amendments, CXI.1; Chapter establishment, BV.1(b), BV.1(c); committee mail vote, BVIII.8; Constitutional amendments, CXII.1; Council mail vote, BII.5; Executive Board mail votes, BVIII.8; mail vote, BII.5; membership, CVI.4(c), BII.5;

Membership Meeting, CVI.4(c)

Meetings, CV.1, BII; annual, BII.1; conference year, BI.7(b); midwinter, BIV.1(b); regional, BII.3; special, BII.2; See also Divisions; Membership Meeting

Membership, CIII.1, BI; Chapter, BV.2; classification, BI.1: confi dentiality of, BI.5, conflicts, BI.3; Council and, CVI.4; delinquent, BI.6; Division, BVI.5; mail votes, BII.5; policy and, CVI.4(b); referenda, BII.5(a); rights and privileges, BI.2; Round Table, BVII.3, BVII.5; votes, CVI.4(b), CVI.4(c); year, BI.7(c); suspension, CIII; see also dues

Membership Initiative Groups, BVIII.2(b)(ii)

Membership Meetings, CVI.4, BII.4; committee, BVIII.2(a)(iii);quorum, BII.6

Midwinter Meeting. See Meetings—midwinter

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Name, CI.1

Nominating Com., BIII.1, BVIII.3(b); appointments, BVIII.3(a); report, BIII.2(a)

Nominations, BIII; consent of candidate, BIII.2(b), BIII.3(b); Council, BIII.1(c); Council vacancies, BIII.1(d); petition candidates, BIII.3(b); president-elect, BIII.1(b); treasurer, BIII.1(b)

Notices and voting by mail, BX

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Object, CII.1

Officers, CVII.1, CVIII.1; appointments, CVIII.4; duties, CVIII.3; terms of offi ce, CVIII.5; vacancy, CVIII.2

Organization, Com. on, BVIII.1(a), BVIII.1(b), BVIII.2(a)(ii),BVIII.2(b)(ii)

Orientation Com., BVIII.2(b)(iii) Parliamentary authority, BXI

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Petitions: candidates, BIII.3(b); membership mail vote, CVI.4(c); special meetings, BII.2

Policy: Chapters and, BV.3; committees and, BVIII.9; Council and, CVI.1(b), CVI.4(b); Divisions and, BVI.7; membership and, CVI.4(b); Round Tables and, BVII.2

President-elect, vacancy, CVIII.2

Professional Ethics Com., BVIII.2(b)(iii)

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Quorum: Chapter establishment, BV.1(b); BV.1(c); committee mail votes, BVIII.8; Council, CVI.3: mail vote, BII.5; Executive Board, CVII.4: mail vote, BVIII.8; membership mail vote, BII.5; Membership Meetings, BII.6

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Round Tables, CIV.1, BVII; affiliations, BVII.4; Association expenses and, BVII.2; councilor, BIV.2(d); dissolution, BVII.1(b); dues, BVII.3; establishment, CIV.1, BVII.1(a); joint committees, BVIII.5(b); mail votes, BVII.5; membership, BVII.3, BVII.5; offi cers, BVII.5; policy and, BVII.2; publications, BVII.3

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Standards, Divisions and, BVI.3(d)

Subcommittees, BVIII.2(b)(iv)

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User Instruction for Information Literacy Com., BVIII.2(a)(iii)

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Vacancies: candidate withdrawals, BIII.5; committee, BVIII.8(b); Council, BIII.1(d), BIV.5, BIV.6; Council committees, BVIII.2(b) (v); Executive Board, CVII.2

Votes by mail, BII.5, BX; Bylaws amendments, CXI.1; committee, BVIII.8; Constitutional amendments, CXII.1; Council, BII.5; election ballots, BX.2; Executive Board, BVIII.8; membership, CVI.4(b), BII.5; Round Table, BVII.5

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Years, BI.7; committee membership, BVIII.6

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