Library Policies: By-Laws of the Library Board of Trustees
Sections
Article IV - Library Director and Staff
Article VII - Transfers to the Keokuk Public Library Foundation
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Board of Trustees of the Keokuk Public Library.
ARTICLE II – OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the board shall be a president, vice-president and treasurer who shall be elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the board.
Section 2. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board, authorize calls for any special meetings, appoint all committees, execute all documents authorized by the board, serve as an ex-officio voting member of all committees, and generally perform all duties associated with that office.
Section 3. The vice-president, in the event of the absence or disability of the president, or of a vacancy in that office, shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the president.
Section 4. The treasurer shall be the financial reporting officer of the board. In the absence or inability of the treasurer, the duties shall be performed by the library director.
Section 5. A staff member, acting ex-officio, will serve as Secretary of the board and shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the board, shall issue notice of all regular and special meetings and perform such other duties as are generally associated with this position.
Section 6. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the president at least one month prior to the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.
Section 7. Officers shall serve a term of one year from the annual meeting at which they are elected and until their successors are duly elected.
ARTICLE III – COMMITTEES
Section 1. The president shall appoint committees of one or more members each for such specific purposes as the business of the board may require from time to time. The committee shall be considered to be discharged upon the completion of the purpose for which it was appointed and after the final report is made to the board.
Section 2. Standing committees shall be: Administration and Intellectual Freedom, Building and Grounds, Budget and Finance, and Policy. All committees shall make a progress report to the library board as appropriate.
Section 3. Committees will have advisory powers only when granted by action of the board.
ARTICLE IV – LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND STAFF
The board shall hire a qualified library director.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
Section 1. The regular meetings shall be held each month, the date and hour to be set by the board.
Section 2. The annual meeting, which shall be for the purpose of the election of officers, shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in July each year.
Section 3. The order of business for regular meetings shall include, but not be limited to, the following items which shall be covered in the sequence shown so far as circumstances will permit:
1. Call to order
2. Approval of the Agenda
3. Conflicts of Interest
4. Public presentation or public comments
5. Approval of previous minutes
6. Approval of fiscal responsibilities
7. Communications
8. Reports:
a. Librarian’s report
b. Report of committees/special committees
9. Unfinished business
10. New business
11. Adjournment
Section 4. Special meetings may be called at the direction of the president, or at the request of three members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for meeting by written notice at least twenty-four hours in advance.
Section 5. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of five members of the board present in person.
Section 6. Conduct of meetings: Proceedings of all meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VI – GENERAL
Section 1. An affirmative vote of the majority of all members of the board present at the time shall be necessary to approve any action before the board. The president may vote upon and may move or second a proposal before the board.
Section 2. The by-laws may be amended by the majority vote of all members of the board provided written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been provided to all members prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.
ARTICLE VII – TRANSFERS TO THE KEOKUK PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
The Board of Trustees may authorize the Treasurer to transfer to the Keokuk Public Library Foundation gifts and bequests.
Adopted 2/11/1987
Revised 9/6/1990
Revised 1/16/2006
Revised 3/15/2010
Revised 5/21/2012
Revised 11/20/2017
Revised 12/21/2020