BYLAWS
NEW CARLISLE - OLIVE TOWNSHIP
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ARTICLE I : BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1: The Library Board shall be composed of citizens who have resided in the library district for a period of not less than two (2) years.
Section 2: The Library Board shall have the following four (4) appointing authorities:
New Prairie United School Corporation Board (3 appointments)
St. Joseph County Council (1 appointment)
St. Joseph County Commissioners (1 appointment)
Town Board of New Carlisle (1 appointment)
Olive Township Trustee (1 appointment)
Section 3: Appointments shall be for a term of four (4) years. Any board member shall be eligible for reappointment for not more than three (3) consecutive terms.
Section 4: A vacancy shall be defined as that situation when a board member is absent for six consecutive regular board meetings for any cause, other than illness, and the appointing authority shall be notified by the Secretary of the board of the occurrence of such vacancy.
Section 5: No board member shall serve as a paid employee of the library. All board members shall serve without compensation.
Section 6: Appointments to fill vacancies created by death or resignation shall be for the unexpired term.
ARTICLE II : MEETINGS
Section 1: The regular monthly business meeting of the New Carlisle and Olive Township Public Library Board of Trustees shall be held on the Third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the library. The board may make exceptions to this schedule.
Section 2: A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 3: Special meetings shall be called by the President whenever, in his or her judgement, they may be necessary; or by the written request of two members. Only such business may be transacted as shall be stated in the call. Such meetings shall be either posted or advertised according to legal requirements.
Section 4: Notices shall be sent to all board members by whoever has called the special meeting at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE III : OFFICERS
Section 1: Officers of the Board shall be chosen at the regular December meeting of the board, and shall be as follows: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Said officers assume office on January 1, of the following year.
Section 2: In case of the resignation of an officer, the Board shall elect a replacement at the next regular meeting.
Section 3: An officer may succeed himself, provided, however, that a president or vice-president shall not serve more than three consecutive years.
Section 4: The president of the Board shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committees, enforce observance of the by-laws and policies and generally perform the duties of the presiding officer.
Section 5: The vice-president shall assume the duties of the president if the president is absent from or unable to perform his or her duties during any meeting of the board.
Section 6: In the absence of both president and vice-president, either the secretary or the treasurer shall preside if a quorum is present. The line of succession shall be according to Article III, Section 1.
Section 7: The secretary of the board shall keep a true and accurate account of all proceedings of the board meeting. The secretary shall handle all correspondence for the board.
Section 8: The treasurer shall be responsible for all money and securities of the library in accordance with the provisions of the Public Depository act of 1937, as said act has been amended or may be amended. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the library as authorized by the Board. If the treasurer is unable to perform his or her duties, the board shall elect and bond a temporary replacement.
ARTICLE IV : COMMITTEES
Section 1: Committees for the study and investigation of specific problems may be appointed by the president. Such committees shall serve until the completion of the work for which it was appointed.
Section 2: Standing committees shall be appointed at the regular January meeting of the board. The committees and duties are as follows:
Finance Committee: It shall consist of two (2) board members and the treasurer. It shall prepare, in cooperation with the Director and the Bookkeeper, the annual budget of expenditures, and recommend to the board at it's July meeting the rate of taxation that will be necessary to maintain the library.
Building and Maintenance Committee: It shall consist of two (2) board members. It shall have general supervision of all matters pertaining to the care of the building and grounds.
Review Committee: It shall consist of three (3) board members. It shall have the duty of hearing complaints regarding the selection and withdrawal of library materials and shall make a recommendation to the board.
ARTICLE V : ORDER OF BUSINESS
Section 1: The order of business at the regular meetings shall be as follows:
CALL TO ORDER
APPROVAL OF MINUTES (as read or distributed)
APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
ARTICLE VI : DIRECTOR
The Director shall have sole charge of the administration of the Library under the direction and review of the board. The director shall be held responsible for the care of the building and equipment, for the employment and direction of the staff, for the efficiency of the library under the financial conditions determined by the annual budget. The director shall be an ex-officio board member and attend all board meetings except those where such matters as his or her appointment, salary, or promotion are to be discussed or decided.
ARTICLE VII : AMENDMENTS
Section 1: These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the board by a two-thirds vote of total members provided the amendment was placed on the agenda at the last regular board meeting.
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