RBMS Manual / Bylaws
[Adopted 1981, Amended 1986]
- Article I. Name
- Article II. Object
- Article III. Membership.
- Article IV. Meeting
- Article V. Officers
- Article VI. Executive Committee
- Article VII. Committees
- Article VIII. Representatives to Other Bodies
- Article IX. Nominations and Elections
- Article X. Amendments
- Article XI. General Provisions
- Article XII. Temporary Provision
The name of this organization shall be the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.
The Section shall represent librarians and specialists concerned with the care, custody, and use of rare books, manuscripts, archives, and other special collections, and shall provide its members with a means of communication via publications, programs, and meetings. The Section shall act for ACRL, in cooperation with other professional groups, in regard to those aspects of librarianship and related fields which require special knowledge of rare books, special collections, archives, and manuscripts.
Any member of ACRL may elect membership in the Section. Every personal member has the right to vote and is eligible to hold office.
- Sec. 1. Annual Meetings. The Section shall hold an annual membership meeting at the time and place of the Annual Conference of the American Library Association.
- Sec. 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Section may be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee. All members of the Section shall receive notification of a special meeting at least one month before the special meeting.
- Sec. 3. Quorum. Ten members shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Section.
- Sec. 1. Officers. Elected officers of the Section shall be chair, vice chair/chair-elect, immediate past chair, three members-at-large, and secretary.
- Sec. 2. Terms. all officers shall serve terms ending at the adjournment of the annual meeting. Those serving one-year terms are chair, vice chair, immediate past chair; two-year term: secretary; three-year term: members-at-large. One member-at-large is elected each year.
- Sec. 3. Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chair, the vice chair/chair-elect shall succeed to the office of chair and shall continue in that office until the expiration of the term for which he/she was originally elected to serve as chair. A vacancy in other offices shall be filled by election, except for secretary, which shall be filled by an appointment made by the chair.
Article VI. Executive Committee
- Sec. 1. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers.
- Sec. 2. Powers and Duties. The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Section during the period between annual membership meetings.
- Sec. 3. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at the times and places of the Annual and Midwinter meetings of the American Library Association. Other or emergency meetings may be called at the discretion of the chair. All Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all members of the Section; however, only members of the Executive Committee may vote at such meetings.
- Sec. 4. Quorum. A majority of members constitutes a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee.
- Sec. 1. Standing Committees. Standing committees to consider matters of continuing concern to the section may be authorized by the Executive Committee. The name, purpose, and size of the committee shall be specified at the time of its authorization. The chair and other members of each committee will be named by the chair of the Section. A standing committee may be discontinued or declared inactive by the Executive Committee.
- Sec. 2. Ad Hoc Committees. Special committees for the performance of particular assignments may be appointed at any time by the chair after consultation with other members of the Executive Committee.
- Sec. 3. Discussion Groups. Discussion Groups to discuss issues and topics of interest to the Section may be authorized by the Executive Committee. The name and purpose of the discussion group shall be specified at the time of authorization. The chair of the discussion group will be appointed by the chair of the Section. A discussion group may be discontinued or declared inactive by the Executive Committee. [Added 1986.]
Article VIII. Representatives to Other Bodies
The Executive Committee may appoint and charge a representative of the Section to other sections or bodies, as appropriate.
Article IX. Nominations and Elections
- Sec. 1. Nominations. The Section chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least three members and designate one member as chair. The Nominating Committee shall choose a slate of two candidates for each elective office. All nominees must be members of the Section and must consent to candidacy in writing.
- Sec. 2. Elections. Elections shall be conducted by mail ballot. For each office, the candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast shall be elected. Ties will be determined by vote of the Executive Committee.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed in writing to the Executive Committee by a member or members of the Section. To become effective, amendments must be approved by a vote of the membership.
Article XI. General Provisions
Wherever these Bylaws make no specific provisions, the organization of and procedures in the Section shall correspond to those set forth in the ACRL Constitution and Bylaws.
Article XII. Temporary Provisions
These Bylaws shall take effect upon the adjournment of the meeting at which they are adopted.
[Source of this document: C&RL News, April 1981, 107-8, and September 1986, 502]