Bylaws of the Tennessee Advisory Council on Libraries

 ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the TENNESSEE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LIBRARIES.

 ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

1. Advise the Tennessee State Library and Archives on the development of the long-range program for library services in Tennessee.
2. Advise the Tennessee State Library and Archives on policy matters in the administration of the long range program.
3. Assist the Tennessee State Library and Archives in evaluating library programs, services and activities.

 ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

1. Members of the Council shall be appointed by the chair of the Tennessee State Library and Archives Management Board. Appointments shall be broadly representative of Tennessee and sensitive to Grand Divisions and special populations. Membership shall consist of at least one representative from a public library, a school library, an academic library, a special library and a regional library; a representative of the Tennessee Library Association; a representative of Tenn-Share; and representatives o f library users equal to at least one-third of the total Council membership. Membership shall consist of no less than fifteen and no more than eighteen.
2. With the exception of the representative from TLA, appointments shall be effective at the beginning of the federal fiscal year for a term of three years. No member shall be appointed for more than two full terms which are consecutive.
3. If a member moves from the state, changes employment so that he/she no longer represents the type of library for which he/she was appointed, or is unable to attend meetings regularly, he/she will be excused from membership. A replacement shall be appointed for the remainder of the term and shall be eligible for appointment to two successive full terms.
4. The State Librarian and Archivist or a designee shall serve as the official liaison between the Council and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. The chair of the Tennessee Library and Archives Management Board or a designee will serve as an official liaison between the Management Board and the Council. Liaison and resource persons shall serve without vote.

 ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

1. Officers of the Council shall be the Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary.
2. The term of office shall be two years, coinciding with the federal fiscal year. An elected officer may serve no more than two full terms which are consecutive.
3. Officers shall be elected at the last meeting of the Council prior to the beginning of a new federal fiscal year.
4. A vacancy for an unexpired term shall be filled by a majority vote of those present at a regular meeting where a quorum is present.

 ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The Chair shall call and preside at all Council meetings, prepare and distribute agenda, appoint all committees and generally perform the duties of a presiding officer.
2. The Vice-Chair shall serve as temporary Chair in the absence of the Chair.
3. The Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all business transacted at Council meetings and shall keep all records of the Council on permanent file at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, disseminating copies when necessary.
4. The Secretary shall notify the appointing authority when vacancies exist on the Council.

 ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

1. Meetings of the Advisory Council on Libraries shall be held no less than three times each federal fiscal year.
2. A regularly scheduled time shall be set for meetings; however, time, place and length of meetings shall be flexible and shall be set to suit the convenience of the majority of members and the representatives of the State Library and Archives and the Library and Archives Management Board, considering the business which needs to be transacted.
3. The Chair shall be empowered to call special meetings, prepare and distribute agenda, and set the meeting format. No business other than that for which the special meeting is called shall be transacted.
4. Special meetings shall also be held on petition of a majority of the Council members.
5. A quorum for the transaction of business will require the presence of a majority of the total appointed members.

 ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

Committees shall be appointed by the Chair as required to perform specific functions.

 ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

1. The bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Council by a two-thirds vote of the Council members present provided the proposed amendments have been presented to the total membership in writing at least ten days prior to the vote.
2. The bylaws shall be reviewed in their entirety at least every two years.

 ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Council may adopt. Approved by the Tennessee Advisory Council on Libraries.

Updated June 18, 2008