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Bylaws of

MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS

 Revised April 2015 Accepted by Membership: May 2015
Revised May 2018 Accepted by Membership November 2018
Revised May 2021 Accepted by Membership July 2021
Revised May 2022 Accepted by Membership October 2022
Revised June 2023 Accepted by Membership December 2023
 

ARTICLE ​I. NAME.

The name of this organization shall be Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL), hereinafter referred to as the Organization.

ARTICLE II. ​​MISSION AND VALUES.

SECTION 1. MISSION.

MASL engages the school library community by providing opportunities for growth, leadership, innovation, and advocacy.

SECTION 2. VALUES.

  1. MASL values, and research supports, the importance of a full-time, certificated school librarian administering an adequately funded, effective school library program.

  2. MASL values equitable access to a diverse collection of high-quality resources in a variety of formats.

  3. MASL values the freedom to read self-selected materials.

  4. MASL values diversity within the school library community. 

  5. MASL values the membership of all staff functioning in school libraries, as well as others interested in excellence in school librarianship.

ARTICLE III.​ MEMBERS.

SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP.

  1. Eligibility - Any person interested in furthering the purposes and goals of the Organization may become a member of the Organization. 

  2. Dues - Annual dues for membership shall be set by a vote of the Executive Board at any regular meeting. 

  3. Duration of Membership - Memberships are for one year from the date of enrollment.  

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS.

SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the members of the Organization shall be held virtually or face to face each year on a day to be designated by the Executive Board and to adopt the budget.

SECTION 2. MEETING LOCATIONS.

All meetings can be held virtually or face to face at a location in the State of Maryland as designated by the Executive Board.

SECTION 3. MEETING NOTICES.

The membership shall be informed of dates and locations of Executive Board Meetings.  All members are welcome to attend.

SECTION 4. QUORUM.

50% of the Executive Board at any business meeting shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 5. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS.

Meetings of Members shall be presided over by the President or, if he/she is not present, by the President ­Elect, or, if neither of said Officers is present, by a representative previously designated by the President. The Secretary of the Organization shall act as secretary of such meetings; in the absence of the secretary, the presiding officer may appoint a person to act as secretary of the meeting.

SECTION 6. VOTING.

Each membership shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote.​ ​Except to the extent provided by law, all other actions shall be by a simple majority of the votes cast. Any action requiring a vote of membership may be called in a physical meeting or may be cast electronically. Electronic votes require written notice to membership and a minimum of a 7 day window for voting​.

SECTION 7. RULES OF ORDER.

Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for this Association.

SECTION 8. BYLAWS.

The Bylaws of the Organization shall be available to Members via the Organization website.These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Organization by majority vote of those members present, or by vote via email, provided that the amendment has been submitted to the members in the newsletter prior to the meeting. Bylaws will be effective immediately after acceptance by the members and Executive Board. 

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD.

SECTION 1: COMPOSITION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

The Executive Board shall consist of President, President­ Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, AASL Affiliate Assembly Delegate (hereinafter referred to as Delegate), three members­-at­-large and chairperson(s) from each Standing Committees.  The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) representative and the Maryland School Library Legislative Liaison will be ex-Officio members. The Maryland School Library Legislative Liaison shall be appointed by the Maryland State Librarian.

  1. Eligibility: Only a member in good standing of this organization shall be eligible to serve as a member of the Executive Board. A member in good standing is defined as an active, paid member for at least a year, and a member of the school library profession (school librarian, supervisor of school libraries, etc.).

  2. Standing and Special Committees: The Executive Board may establish standing or special committees as it may deem necessary to promote the purposes and carry on the work of this Organization.

  3. Action Plans: The Chair of each Standing Committee will present an annual action plan of work to the Executive Board for approval by June of each year. No committee work shall be undertaken without an annual plan approved by the Executive Board. Action Plans will also include a projected budget to accomplish its goals.

  4. Committee Chairs: The chair of each Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board of the Organization and shall be a member of the Organization.  

SECTION 2. OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION.

1. Election, Tenure and Compensation
  • Elections shall be held annually in the month of March with the new officers to take office beginning July 1 of each year. Voting shall occur electronically. This vote will follow the same rules as set forth in Article IV, Section 6. The results of voting will be announced when the voting process is complete. Each officer shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until the successor has been duly elected and qualified or until his prior resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
  • Officers shall assume their official duties the first day of the fiscal year and shall serve their specified term or until their successors assume their official duties.
  • No member shall hold more than one elected office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve two or more consecutive terms in the same office.  An Officer who has served in an office for more than one half a full term shall be deemed to have served a full term in such office.
  • In the instance a candidate is nominated for more than one position the candidate will select which to pursue prior to the distribution of ballots.
  • In the instance that no name has been submitted for an executive board position, the person currently serving may run again for that position.
2. Candidate Qualifications Committee: In January, the candidate qualifications committee, composed of 3 members, who shall be appointed by the Executive Board, will convene. The committee shall be headed by the Elections chairperson.

3. Ballot of Officers: Said committee shall prepare a ballot of Officers and report to the membership by March 15​th​. All nominees must be members of the Organization for a period of at least one year.
4. Election Results: Said committee shall make provisions for the tally of votes and notification of the candidates of the results. A simple plurality of the vote for each office shall prevail. These results shall be presented to the membership upon completion of the voting process.
5. Terms for Officers: 
  • The position of President is a three-year term. The position of President-elect is voted on each year.  The second year, that member assumes the position of President.  The third year that member assumes the position of Past President. A President may not serve more than one consecutive term except in extraordinary circumstances. 

  • The candidate for president-elect must have served in another leadership capacity in the Organization prior to the nomination to this position.

  • The Treasurer and the AASL Delegates (primary and secondary) are elected for two-year terms and may be re-elected once.

  • All other elected members of the Executive Board are elected for one ­year terms and may be re-elected once. 

  •  

    No elected Board member may serve more than two consecutive terms except in extraordinary circumstances. 
6.  Assumptions of Duties: All Executive Board members shall assume their positions July 1.

SECTION 3 EXECUTIVE BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES.

  1. Removal of Executive Board Members: If any member of the Executive Board shall at any time cease to meet the qualifications or fulfill the duties of the position, that person may be removed from the board by resolution adopted by the Executive Board.

  2. Standing Committee Chair: Each Chair of a Standing Committee is required to attend all Executive Board meetings. If the Chair of the Standing Committee is unable to attend a meeting, then a representative should attend and act as the duly authorized agent. If the Chair or representative of a Standing Committee fails to attend three or more meetings, the Elected Board members shall have the authority to remove the person from the position of Standing Committee Chair.  

  3. Subcommittee Chairs: Standing Committee Chairs shall hold Subcommittee Chairs to the same standard outlined in Standing Committee Chairs.

  4. Resignations: An Executive Board member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Executive Board. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Executive Board or such Officer. Acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 4: VACANCIES.

Newly created memberships or vacancies in the Executive Board may be filled by a vote of the majority of the Executive Board. Vacancies occurring by reason of the removal of an Officer shall be filled by a vote of the members. An Officer elected to fill a vacancy caused by resignation, death, or removal shall be elected to hold office for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

SECTION 5: MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

  1. Annual Meeting of the Executive Board: A regular Annual Meeting of the Executive Board shall be held within 60 days following the Annual Meeting of Members. All other meetings shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the President in accordance with the by-laws. 

  2. Meeting Notices: Regularly Scheduled Meetings: No notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Executive Board for which the time and place have been fixed.

SECTION 6: OFFICER REMOVAL.

At any meeting held to remove one or more Officers, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive Board Members. Except to the extent provided by law and these By­Laws, the act of the Executive Board shall be by a majority of the Executive Board. Any action authorized by resolution, in writing, by the Executive Board and filed with the minutes of the Organization shall be the act of the Executive Board with the same force and effect as if the same had been passed by unanimous vote at a duly called meeting of the Executive Board.

SECTION 7: EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDERS.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board. In the absence of the President, the President­ Elect shall preside. If the President­-Elect is also absent any other officer designated by the President or President-Elect shall preside.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS.

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS.

The Officers of the Organization shall be the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, Primary Delegate, Secondary Delegate and three Members ­at­ Large.

SECTION 2: DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS.

1. Duties of the President 

  • The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Organization, shall have the responsibility for the general management of the affairs of the Organization, and shall carry out the resolutions of the Executive Board. 

  • The President shall preside over the meetings of the Organization and its Executive Board, shall appoint such committees as are necessary to conduct the Organization’s business, shall serve as ex­officio on such committees, and shall be the official representative of the Organization before the public and other educational bodies.

2. Duties of the President ­Elect 

  • During the absence of the President of the Organization, the President-Elect shall have all the powers and functions of the President. 

  • The President-Elect shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Board from time to time. 

  • The President- Elect shall be a member of the Advocacy committee. 

3. Duties of the Past President: 

  1. The Past President shall be President of the Organization should the office become vacant, shall act in an advisory capacity to the President, and shall assume other responsibilities as assigned by the President.

  2. The Past President shall be a member of the Professional Development Committee. 

  3. The Past President shall assist the Members-at-Large with organization and facilitating LEA meetings.

4. Duties of the Treasurer.

  • The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Organization, and shall deposit said funds in the name of the Organization in such bank accounts as the Executive Board may from time to time determine. The Treasurer shall, when duly authorized by the Executive Board, sign and execute all contracts in the name of the Organization. The Treasurer may also sign checks, drafts, notes and orders for the payment of money, which shall have been duly authorized by the Executive Board. 
  • The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing and filing all necessary tax forms. The Executive Board will select an auditor or auditing committee at least 30 days before the new Officers assume their duties. An audit of the books, by this auditor or auditing committee must be completed prior to the date when new Officers are to assume their duties.
  • The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds and securities of the Organization, and they shall keep a full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Organization. They shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Organization in such depository or depositories as may be designated by the Executive Board​.​ The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Organization as may be ordered by the Executive Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements. 
  • They shall render to the President whenever requested, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Organization. The Treasurer shall give the Organization a bond​,​ in a sum, and with one or more sureties, for the faithful performance of the duties of the office and for the restoration to the Organization in case of their death, resignation, retirement or removal from office of all books, papers, vouchers, monies and other properties of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Organization. 
  • The Treasurer shall perform all the duties generally incident to the office of the Treasurer, subject to the control of the Executive Board and the President. 
  • Each month the Treasurer shall present a summary of accounting for the previous month’s transactions and balances for each account of the Organization.  
  • The Treasurer shall compile committee budgets into an association budget to present annually to the Executive Board for approval. 

5. Duties of the Secretary.

  • The Secretary shall conduct correspondence as directed by the Board of Directors and record and prepare written minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors and of the monthly general membership meetings. The Secretary shall maintain a permanent record of minutes for both the Executive Board and the general membership.

  • The Secretary or designee shall also maintain a Policy Handbook for the Organization.

 6. Duties of the AASL Chapter Assembly Delegates

  • The Delegate shall represent the Organization at AASL Affiliate meetings as authorized by the Executive Board.

  • The primary and secondary delegates must be a member of AASL and attend AASL Chapter meetings. 

  • The first year a delegate is in office they are considered the secondary delegate. The second year a delegate is in office they will be considered the primary delegate.

  • The primary and secondary delegates will  regularly attend Chapter Assembly meetings. Regular attendance is defined as attending at least half of the Chapter Assembly meetings. If regular attendance is not maintained, they may be released from their duties as delegate.  

  • The delegates should report at least twice a year with a summary of issues and information collected at the Chapter Assembly meeting to the Executive Board in writing or in an oral report provided the Executive Board

  • The primary delegate (using MASL funds) should attend the ALA Conference in  June after they are placed in their position. If the primary delegate is unable to attend the ALA conference the secondary delegate will attend as the MASL representative following the approved Travel Policy.

  • The delegate should submit commendations to AASL at least once during their tenure. 

7. Duties of the Members-at-Large

  • Members-at-Large should attend regular monthly meetings so their voice is heard. 

  • Members-at-Large will assist with facilitation of LEA meetings with the Past-President.

8. Duties of the MSDE Representative

  • The MSDE Representative is an ex-Officio member

9.  Duties of School Library Legislative Liaison

  • Ensures communication between MASL and Maryland State Library Association (MSLA) on state/federal legislation dealing with school library issues.

  •  Recommends policies, positions or actions to the Executive Board on library legislative issues,

  • Speaks for the Association on pertinent issues when conditions preclude consultation with the Executive Board.

  • Submits a written annual report to the President by June 15. This evaluation should be used in developing the next year's work plan.

  • Implements specific annual charges given by the President and Board.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES.

SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE.

Only members of this organization shall be eligible to serve on any Standing or Special Committee.

SECTION 2: CREATION OF STANDING COMMITTEES.

The President may create a Standing Committee as deemed necessary to promote or carry on the work of the Organization.

SECTION 3: FORMATION OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES.

The power to form special committees rests with the President. The Executive Board shall appoint its members.

SECTION 4: TERM LIMITS.

Committee Chairpersons cannot serve more than 3 years consecutively on any one committee in the same position or capacity.  Following the 3 years of service, members must wait one year before reapplying to serve on that committee in the same capacity or position as before, unless otherwise approved by the Executive Board.  

ARTICLE IIX: MISCELLANEOUS.

SECTION 1: FISCAL YEAR.

The fiscal year of the Organization shall be July 1 through June 30th.

SECTION 2: BY­LAWS.

1. Amendments 
  • These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Organization by majority vote of those members present, provided that the amendment has been submitted to the members 30 days prior to the meeting. 
  • Bylaws will be effective immediately after acceptance by the members 

SECTION 3: NON­DISCRIMINATION.

The Organization will comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

ARTICLE IX. ​AFFILIATION.

SECTION 1. AFFILIATION.

The Organization, by two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Board may affiliate with such associations as it deems appropriate.

SECTION 2. TERMINATION OF AFFILIATION.

The Executive Board, by two­-thirds vote of the entire Board, may terminate its affiliation with any such association.

ARTICLE X. ​MEMORIAL FUND.

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF MEMORIAL FUND.

A Memorial Fund shall be established for the purpose of accepting private memorial contributions to be expended annually, where adequate requests for funds are made for specific purposes related to the improvement of school library media programs in Maryland.

SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF MEMORIAL FUND.

A Memorial Fund shall be administered solely by the Executive Board, which shall approve all expenditures by a quorum vote. Expenditures may be made from the capital or the income of the Memorial Fund by a quorum vote of the Board.

SECTION 3. EXPENDITURES OF MEMORIAL FUND.

Annual expenditures may be made from the Memorial Fund for purposes such as cash grants to recipients of awards, scholarships or grants.  Decisions for expenditures shall be determined by a quorum vote of the Executive Board.