BYLAWS FOR THE
FRIENDS OF THE ATHOL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Article I. Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be FRIENDS OF THE ATHOL PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Article II. Purpose

Section 1. The purpose of this organization shall be to maintain an association of persons interested in libraries; to focus public attention on the library; to stimulate the use of the library’s resources and services; to receive and encourage gifts, endowments, and bequests to the library; to support and cooperate with the library in developing library services and facilities for the community; to lend legislative support where needed; and to support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all individuals in sympathy with its purposes, and to representatives of organizations and clubs when such representation is desired.

Section 2. Each membership shall be entitled to one vote.

Article IV. Officers

Section 1. The organization shall be governed by a board of seven directors. There shall be two officers, a treasurer and a secretary. The Board of Library Trustees shall appoint one of its members to serve as a trustee representative.

Section 2. Officers shall be nominated by the nominating committee at least two months before the annual membership meeting. The nominations shall be submitted in writing to the membership with the consent of the nominee at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of those present at the annual meeting for the term of one year.

Article V. Duties of Officers

Section 1. Board of Directors: Shall serve as president in rotation to preside over and conduct meetings and to appoint any committees as needed.

Section 3. Treasurer: To keep and maintain the financial records of the organization.

Section 4. Secretary: To record attendance at all meetings; to take the minutes of all meetings; to keep a list of the membership, together with their addresses; to notify the members of the time and place of meetings; and to conduct the correspondence of the organization.

Article VI. Executive Board

Section 1. The executive board shall consist of the officers of the organization and the chairmen of all the standing committees. The librarian shall serve as ex-officio member of the executive board.

Section 2. The executive board shall have the authority to appoint committees consistent with the purposes of this organization.

Section 3. Meetings of the executive board shall be held bi-annually. Special meetings may be called by the president.

Section 4. A majority of the executive board shall constitute a quorum.

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1. An annual meeting shall be held on a date in the month of April to be determined by the executive board. Members should be notified in writing at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 2. A special meeting of this organization may be called at any time by the executive board.

Article VIII. Dues

Section 1. Dues shall be payable annually and shall become due on the day of the annual membership meeting. There shall be six classes of dues:

1. Individual member -- $5.00

2. Family -- $10.00

3. Sponsor -- $25.00

4. Patron -- $50.00

5. Sustaining -- $100.00

Article IX. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of the general membership by a two-thirds vote of those present, after notification in writing to each member at least two weeks before the meeting at which the voting is to take place.

Article X. Parliamentary Procedure

Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order revised, when not in conflict with these by-laws, shall govern the proceedings of this organization.

BYLAWS FOR THE FRIENDS OF THE ATHOL PUBLIC LIBRARY

BYLAWS FOR THE
FRIENDS OF THE ATHOL PUBLIC LIBRARY