A New England library

BYLAWS
NEW ENGLAND TECHNICAL SERVICES LIBRARIANS
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 29, 1980
AMENDED AUGUST 10, 2007

ARTICLE I. Name

This regional group, a section of the New England Library Association (NELA), shall be known as the New England Technical Services Librarians (NETSL).

ARTICLE II. Purpose

The purpose of the section shall be to bring together for the exchange of ideas and discussion of issues all persons in the region interested in library technical services. The organization also serves to foster cooperation with regional and national agencies having related interests.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Any person who is a member of NELA and is interested in library technical services may become a member of the section.

ARTICLE IV. Officers

1. There shall be a President, a Vice-President/President Elect, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Archivist. The officers, with the exception of the Archivist who shall be appointed by the Executive Board, shall be elected annually by ballot for a term of one year. (A year shall be a period beginning with the adjournment of the Fall Meeting and ending with the adjournment of the next Fall Meeting). No person, with the exception of the Archivist, shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

2. The President, who shall be a member of the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) of the American Library Association (ALA), shall: preside at all meetings of NETSL; preside at Executive Board meetings; serve on the Executive Board as Past President for one year; appoint two Members-at-Large to the Executive Board; appoint committee chairpersons and committee members, as required, often in conjunction with the Vice-President / President Elect; serve as NETSL representative on the NELA Executive Board (or appoint a representative to that group); plan programs for the spring and fall meetings; prepare, each fall, an annual budget estimate for NETSL; prepare, each summer, an annual report and forward one copy to the NELA Executive Secretary; and attend, when possible, meetings of the Council of Regional Groups of ALA’s ALCTS (or appoint an alternate, who shall be a member of ALCTS, to attend).

3. The Vice-President/President Elect, who shall be a member of ALCTS of ALA, shall: perform the duties of the President in the absence of the latter; with the President, appoint committee chairpersons and committee members, as required; in conjunction with the President and in consultation with the Executive Board, develop the slate of candidates for the annual election; coordinate the activities related to choosing the recipient of the NETSL Award for Excellence in Library Technical Services; coordinate the evaluations for NETSL programs; and assist the President in program planning.

4. The Recording Secretary shall: send to the Executive Secretary of NELA, after the Fall Meeting, the names of all Executive Board members and the name and address of the NETSL representative to the NELA Executive Board; send to the Chairperson of the Council of Regional Groups (c/o ALCTS at ALA) the names, addresses and terms of office of the President and Vice-President/President Elect; take minutes of the fall business meeting; present these minutes at the next business meeting; take minutes at NETSL Executive Board meetings (and send copies of these minutes to NETSL Executive Board members); and collect all official records and reports of NETSL and forward them to the Archivist.

5. The Corresponding Secretary shall: send, in coordination with the President, publicity about NETSL programs and activities to appropriate journals, online discussion groups, and newsletters; take minutes at meetings in the absence of the Recording Secretary; ensure that members are notified of the fall business meeting at least four weeks in advance; send, following the spring and fall meetings, a news release to the Chairperson of the Council of Regional Groups, to the Executive Director of ALCTS, to the editor of the NELA Newsletter, and to other appropriate organizations; oversee maintenance of NETSL web pages; communicate with the NELA Web Manager about needed changes to NETSL information on NELA web pages; and conduct correspondence as required.

6. The Treasurer shall: ensure that notices of income and expenditures are forwarded to the NELA Executive Secretary; collect spring meeting registration forms and fees; forward registration fees to NELA office; chair the Registration Committee; and assist other NETSL officers with financial arrangements.

7. The Archivist, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive Board, shall: receive all older, non-working papers from the officers of the section; and be responsible for the preservation of the books, papers, memorabilia, and correspondence of the section, its Executive Board and committees.

8. Should a vacancy occur in any office, except that of Vice-President/President Elect, the Executive Board may appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term of that office. In the case of the office of Vice-President/President Elect the Executive Board may appoint a person to serve for the unexpired term of that office; the term of such appointive office shall be limited to that of the Vice-Presidency. The Executive Board shall then add a candidate for the office of President to the slate of candidates for the next ballot.

ARTICLE V. Meetings

1. There shall be an annual meeting, called the Fall Business Meeting, held in conjunction with the NELA Annual Conference, during which the new Executive Board shall be installed.

2. There shall be a spring program held each year during which volunteers for NETSL office shall be solicited.

3. Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Board.

4. A quorum shall consist of those members present at any meeting called by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI. Executive Board

1. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, the chairpersons of existing committees, the immediate Past President, and two Members-at-Large appointed by the President in consultation with the Vice-President/President Elect. The Executive Board shall advise the President. The Executive Board is empowered, within the guidelines set forth by NELA, to set goals for NETSL, choose annually the recipient of the NETSL Award for Excellence in Library Technical Services, and authorize expenditures.

2. The Executive Board shall meet at least four times each year.

ARTICLE VII. Committees

1. Standing and special committees are appointed by the President, often in conjunction with the Vice-President/President Elect.

2. Standing Committees.

a. The Spring Meeting Arrangements Committee is comprised of the President, Vice-President/President Elect, Local Arrangements Committee Chair, who is appointed by the President, and two other members, who shall handle local arrangements at the NETSL Spring Meeting, arrange for vendor acknowledgement at the meeting, and prepare signage and packets for the meeting.

b. The Membership Committee is comprised of three to six members, coordinated by a Chair, appointed by the President and Vice-President/President Elect, who shall promote NETSL by various activities, including disseminating information about NETSL to existing and potential members, and work to increase NETSL's membership.

c. The Registration Committee, chaired by the NETSL Treasurer, includes two or three others chosen by the Treasurer to aid in NETSL Spring Meeting registration activities, especially on the day of the meeting, when they shall set up and staff the Registration table.

ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the latest edition of The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall govern the section in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws or special rules of the section.

ARTICLE IX. Affiliation with other Associations

1. NETSL is affiliated with the Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) of the American Library Association without payment of annual dues.

2. NETSL may affiliate with other associations by a vote of the majority of members voting by ballot.

3. Any affiliation may be terminated by a vote of the majority of members voting by ballot.

ARTICLE X. Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members voting by ballot provided that the amendment, proposed by at least five NETSL members or by the Executive Board, has been submitted in writing to the President at least sixty days and to the membership at least thirty days prior to the deadline for return of ballots.