About Your Library

Bylaws

 

Willingboro Public Library

Board of Trustees

BY-LAWS

Revised and Adopted March 11, 2009

Article I:  Name

This organization shall be called "The Board of Trustees of the Willingboro Public Library" existing by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 54 of the Laws of the State of New Jersey, and exercising the

powers and authority assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under the said statue.

Article II:  Members and Responsibility

Section 1.  Five members shall be appointed by the governing body of the Township of Willingboro.  One member shall be appointed by the Township Manager as their representative and one member shall be appointed by the Superintendent of the School District of Willingboro as their representative.

Section 2.  Members of the Board of Trustees have authority only when acting as a Board legally in session.  Board members have no administrative authority with respect to the library and its staff.  Only the Board president shall authorize or make statements of official Board positions.

Section 3.  Members have the responsibility to (specifics to be defined in Library Board Policies and Procedures) attend meetings regularly, attend Library functions whenever possible, assist in the promotion of the WPL, become familiar with documents regarding the WPL Board of

Trustees and Library policies, evaluate the Library Director's performance and serve on committees deemed necessary.

Article III:  Officers

Section 1.  The officers shall be a president, a treasurer, and a secretary, elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual reorganization meeting of the Board.

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                                                                                    March 11, 2009

Section 2.  Officers shall serve a term of one year from the annual

reorganization meeting (first meeting of the year) at which they are 

elected and until their successors are duly elected.

Section 3.  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 4.  The treasurer shall be the disbursing officer of the Board, cosign all checks, and shall perform such duties as generally devolve upon the office.  The treasurer shall be bonded in an amount as may be required by the resolution of the Board.  In the absence or inability

of the treasurer those duties shall be performed by such other members as the Board may designate.

The Treasurer, in the event of the absence or inability of the president, or of a vacancy in that office, shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the president.

Section 5.  The secretary shall oversee the keeping of a true and accurate record of all meetings of the Board, oversee the issuance of notices of all regular and special meetings, and shall keep a list of unfinished business.

The Library Director or a member of the staff may be designated by the Board to perform any or all of the above duties.  A paid Recording

Secretary may be employed to record the minutes but it is not recommended that the director have this additional duty.

Article IV:  Meetings

Section 1.  The regular meetings shall be held each month, with the

exception of August when there will be no regular meeting, on the second Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the "Board of Trustees" Room in the Willingboro Public Library.

                                                                            

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                                                                                                                            March 11, 2009

Section 2.  The annual reorganization meeting, (first meeting of the year) shall be for the purpose of the election of officers and the adoption of an annual report, shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in January of 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:

a.  Open Meeting Notice

b.  Roll call of members

c.  Disposition of minutes of previous regular meeting and any                 

     intervening special meeting

d.  Director's financial report of the library

e.  Action on bills

f.   Progress and service report of Director

g.  Committee reports

h.  Communications

i.   Unfinished business

j.   New business

k.  Other business

l.   Public presentation to, or discussion with, the Board

m. Closed Session

n.  Board comments

o.  Adjournment

Section 4.  Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the direction of the president, or at the request of four members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting.

Section 5.  A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of four 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 and the Open Public Meetings Act

(10:4-12)..

                    

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                                                                                    March 11, 2009

Article V:  Library Director and Staff

The Board shall appoint a qualified library director who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the library on behalf of the

Board and under its review and direction.  The director shall recommend to the Board the appointment and specify the duties of other employees and shall be held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff, for the care and maintenance of library property, for an adequate and proper selection of books in keeping with the stated policy of the Board for the efficiency of library service to the public, and for its financial operation within the limitations of the

budgeted appropriation.  Appointees for the position of Assistant Director and department head are to go before the Board for final approval.  The director shall have interim authority to appoint all other full-time, part-time, or temporary employees without prior approval of the Board, provided that any such appointment shall be reported to the Board at its next regular meeting.

Article VI:  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.  All committees shall make a progress report to the Library

Board at each of its meetings.

Section 3.  No committee will have other advisory powers unless by suitable action of the Board, it is granted specific power to act.

Section 4.  Standing committees are Finance and Personnel.

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                                                                                                         March 11, 2009

Article VII:  By-Laws, Rules and Resolutions

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 mailed to all members at least ten days

prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.

Section  3.  Any rule or resolution of the Board, whether contained in these by-laws or otherwise, may be suspended temporarily in connection with business at hand, but such suspension, to be valid, may be taken only at a meeting at which at least four of all members of the Board shall be present and four of those present shall so approve.

Section  4.  These By-laws shall be accompanied by a document on Board Policies and Procedures and made part of the governance of this

Board.

                                             

                                         

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                                                                                  March 11, 2009

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