ETS Bylaws

Article I. Name.

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Emerging Technologies in Reference Section (ETS), a section of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association.

Article II. Objectives.

Section 1. The Emerging Technologies in Reference Section serves reference information service providers who leverage emerging technologies to deliver the highest quality services to our users.  In this context of emerging technologies, we advocate for, promote and strengthen user environments and interactions, as well as the creation of innovative information resources, as part of the continuum of reference and user services in libraries.

Section 2. The responsibilities of the Section are:

1. Reviewing emerging and cutting-edge information technologies,

2. Assessing the quality and impact of those technologies on reference services,

3. Educating library and information services staff about using and creatively applying those technologies in reference services,

4. Developing and supporting guidelines and best practices for library and information services that employ emerging and cutting-edge technology,

5. Bringing together those who create and provide information resources and services,

6. Providing a forum for the exchange of experiences and ideas, and

7. Synthesizing activities and developing partnerships with other units within RUSA and ALA as appropriate.

Article III. Membership.

Section 1. Members of this Section shall be those members of the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association who designate the Emerging Technologies in Reference Section according to the American Library Association Bylaws.

Article IV. Officers and Duties.

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Section shall be a Chair, a vice-Chair who shall be Chair-elect, and a secretary.

Section 4. Vacancies of Office. A vacancy in the office of Chair shall be filled by the vice-Chair, who will then complete both the terms of his/her predecessor and his/her own. In the case of a vacancy in both the offices of Chair and vice-Chair, or of a vacancy in the office of secretary, the Executive Committee shall appoint one of its members to serve until the next regular election.

Article V. Nominations and Election.

Section 1. Nominating Committee. The Chair shall, with the approval of the Executive Committee, appoint a Nominating Committee of three members to present a slate of candidates for election to offices of the Section and for the three elected members of the Executive Committee: the Section Representative to the RUSA Board of Directors, and two Directors. The Chair and the other members of the Executive Committee, other than the immediate past Chair, may not serve on the Nominating Committee.

Section 2. Nominations.

1. 1. Slate. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of two candidates for each office to be filled. The committee shall file the nominations and the written consent of the nominees with the Division’s Executive Director who shall arrange for publication and distribution of the official ballot by the American Library Association.

   2. Additional Nominations. Other nominations may be made by petition of 25 members of the Section, and submitted with the written consent of the nominee to the Executive Director of the Division by the final deadline specified by the American Library Association for inclusion on the ballot.

   3. Eligibility. No person may be nominated who is not a personal member in good standing of the Section at the time of nomination.

Section 3. Elections. Elections shall be held in accordance with the procedures of the American Library Association.  For each office, the candidate receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be elected. In the case of a tie vote, the successful candidate shall be determined by lot. 

Section 1. General Meetings. The Section shall hold a business meeting in connection with the annual conference of the American Library Association.

Section 2. Special Meetings. Other meetings may be called by the Executive Committee or by the Chair upon request of twenty-five members of the Section. Notice of at least one month shall be given, and only the business specified in the call for the meeting shall be transacted.

Section 3. Quorum. Twenty-five members of the Section shall constitute a quorum.

Article VII. Executive Committee.

Section 1. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, the immediate past Chair, the Section Representative to the RUSA Board of Directors, elected by and from the Section for a three-year term, and two Directors, each elected to a two-year term, as provided in Article V, Section 3. 

Section 2. Duties. The Executive Committee shall act for and by the authority of the Section during the period between meetings. It shall report on its work at the regular meetings of the Section, and publish minutes of its meetings on the Section’s Web site.

Section 3. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at both the Annual Conference and the Midwinter Meeting of the American Library Association.

Section 4. Quorum. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee

Section 5. Vacancies of Office. In the case of a vacancy in the Executive Committee not provided for in Article IV, Section 4, the Executive Committee shall appoint a member of the Section to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.

Article VIII. Committees.

Section 1. Authorization and Discontinuance. The Executive Committee or the membership of the Section by direction to the Executive Committee may create all standing, special and ad hoc committees, as defined by the American Library Association Handbook.  Special and ad hoc committees shall continue in existence until their purpose is accomplished or the committee is discharged by the Section or the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Duties. The duties, name and size of a committee shall be determined at the time of its creation, but the Section Chair may temporarily add any pertinent and relevant duties necessary to carry out the work of the Section.

1. Members. The vice-Chair/ Chair-elect shall appoint those members of committees whose terms are to commence at the same time as he/she assumes the Chair. The Section Chair shall appoint members of committees formed during his/her term in office and shall make appointments to fill vacancies which may occur during his/her term of office. Each committee appointee shall be a member of the Section at the time of appointment or be appointed provisionally, contingent upon becoming a member at the next opportunity.

2. Chairs. Chairs of committees shall be appointed for one-year terms and may be re- appointed for one additional term. In exceptional cases, and with the approval of the Executive Committee, a chair may be appointed to a third consecutive term.

Article IX.  Discussion Groups.

Section 1. Establishment. Any group of 25 or more members of the Section interested in discussing common problems which fall within the purposes of the Section may form a discussion group upon written petition from the group to the Executive Committee of the Section and the Committee on Organization of the Division and upon approval by the Board of Directors of the Division. The petition shall include the purpose of the group and the requirements for membership. Petition signatures must be gathered during one meeting of the Section (either Annual Conference or Midwinter Meeting).

Section 2. Membership. Membership is open to members of the Section who are interested in the purpose of the group and who fulfill the requirements for membership as determined by the group.

Section 3. Officers. Discussion Group officers shall consist of a chair and a vice-chair, and a secretary. The Section Chair-elect shall appoint a secretary who shall take office after Annual Conference and shall succeed to vice-chair in a year's time. The vice-chair shall succeed to chair in a year‘s time. The Section Chair shall fill any vacancy that shall occur. The Discussion Group chair shall preside at meetings of the group during the next year, make a report to the Executive Committee of the Section after each meeting, and ensure that a summary of the discussion is distributed in the Section‘s newsletter and posted on the Section‘s Web site. The Discussion Group secretary shall produce the summary of the discussion.

Section 4. Activities. A discussion group may:

1. Meet together to discuss common problems

2. Establish a means of communications among its members

3. Recommend action to the Executive Committee of the Section

4. Incur no expenses except as authorized and make no declaration of policy.

Section 5. Discontinuance. Each group shall continue in existence until it be dissolved by action of the Executive Committee.