ATLANTA HEALTH SCIENCE LIBRARIES CONSORTIUM

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – NAME

The official name of this organization shall be the Atlanta Health Science Libraries Consortium.

ARTICLE II –  OBJECTIVES

            The purpose of the Consortium shall be:

1)      To become acquainted and foster better communications among the health science librarians in the Atlanta region.

2)      To cooperate in the exchange of information and share our existing resources to greater mutual advantage.

3)      To strengthen resources and library services through cooperative programs and funding.

4)      To promote continuing education of health science librarians.

5)      To assist in the development and growth of health science libraries in the Atlanta region.

6)      To cooperate in the development and maintenance of resource sharing tools.

7)      To facilitate interlibrary loans and other activities.

8)      To demonstrate an active interest in the continuing education of the health community by providing information on the library services and resources available locally and through the national biomedical network.

9)      The Atlanta Health Science Libraries Consortium shall be a non-profit organization.

ARTICLE III-MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING

Section 1.        Full membership shall be for health science libraries with continuing parent institution financial support and interest which meet the member eligibility requirements specified in the Atlanta Health Science Libraries Consortium Membership Standards and Responsibilities.  The librarian or her/his delegate shall officially represent the member library and cast its vote and shall be eligible to hold office.

Section 2.        Supporting membership may be held by resource, college, and university libraries, such as CDC, Emory, GSU, Clayton State College, and Morehouse School of Medicine, for the purpose of coordinating, extending, or supporting health science information services in the Atlanta region.

Section 3.        Retired individuals, who represented member institutions, can be given Honorary / Emeritus Member status, which is nonvoting.

Section 4.        New members shall be approved for admission upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, receipt of a signed Memorandum of Agreement (Full Members) and a majority vote at a regular meeting.

                        Failure to abide by the Memorandum of Agreement may prompt Executive Committee review of and possible termination of a library’s membership.

                        Action may be taken following Executive Committee recommendation and a majority vote by members at a regular meeting.

Section 5.        Voting privileges shall be as following:

a)      The delegate from a Full or Supporting Membership library shall have one vote.

b)      Absentee voting shall be allowed by proxy.

Section 6.        A Supporting Member library’s delegate may change membership status by submitting a written request to the Consortium Chairperson followed by approval of the Executive Committee or terminate membership with 90 days notice in writing to the Executive Committee.

IV -- ARTICLE-DOCUMENT DELIVERY

To maintain full membership in the Atlanta Health Science Libraries Consortium, Interlibrary loans shall be provided at no charge.

 ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

Section 1.        The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the consortium and of the Executive Committee, and shall be a member, ex officio, of all committees and designate the chairperson of each committee.

Section 2.        The Vice-Chairperson shall, in the absence of the Chairperson, preside and assume all the duties of the Chairperson.  The Vice-Chairperson shall perform other duties as assigned.

Section 3.        The Secretary shall be responsible for all record keeping and reporting of the business meetings and for all correspondence, which is not a function proper to other offices, or to committees.  The Secretary will assure that an accurate membership listing is maintained and distributed at least annually.

Section 4.        A treasury may be created and maintained for the duration of specific events and projects.  A treasurer shall be appointed for the duration of the project and will be appointed by the Executive Committee.  Any funds remaining in the treasury at the end of the project or event may be considered for donation to a “caring” or other appropriate fund.

Section 5.        At the September meeting the Chair will appoint a Nominating Committee to select candidates for the following year.  The committee shall submit its recommendations to the membership in writing at least two weeks prior to the November meeting.  Candidates may be full or supporting members who have been in the AHSLC for at least one year and active on one committee.

Section 6.        At the close of the November meeting the Vice-Chairperson shall assume the office of Chairperson for the following year.  All other officers shall be elected by majority vote at the November meeting.  The Vice-Chairperson and Secretary serve one-year terms.  Terms of office shall begin at the close of the November meeting.

Section 7.        Should a position become vacant, the Chair will appoint a temporary replacement until the time of the next election.  Should less than half of the term remain, the pro-tem officer would be eligible to serve another term.

Section 8.        No member shall hold more than one office at a time.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

Section 1.        Meetings of the Consortium shall be held at regular intervals.

Section 2.        Commercial vendors may be invited to make presentations if a majority vote by members permits this.

Section 3.        Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by the Executive committee.

Section 4.        A majority of the delegates from Full Member libraries shall constitute a quorum.  It shall be understood that a quorum must be present for a “majority vote,” as specified in these Bylaws, to be valid.

Section 5.        Only representatives of Member Institutions should be present at the Business Meeting.  Guests of Member Institutions should be invited to Business Meeting or lunch only with prior approval of the Chairperson.

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.        The elected officers of the Consortium shall constitute the Executive Committee.

Section 2.        The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Consortium in accordance with the Bylaws and with actions taken at meetings of the Consortium and make recommendations to the Consortium regarding coordinated programs and services.

Section 3.        Meetings of the Executive committee shall be called by the Chairperson or at the request of two members of the committee.

ARTICLE VIII – AD HOC COMMITTEES

Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed as required by the Chairperson to serve as long as she/he deems necessary.

ARTICLE IX – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Consortium in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

These bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of the consortium by a majority vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted to the membership in writing  and discussed at the previous regular meeting or mailed at least 30 days prior to the next regular meeting.

ARTICLE XI – DUES

Minimal dues, as determined by the membership, may be assessed of each member.