Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians.
Article II. Objective
The purposes of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians:
(a) To promote the improvement of school media services.
(b) To encourage professional growth.
(c) To provide opportunities for school media librarians to meet, exchange ideas and discuss common problems.
Article III. Affiliations
This Association is a district of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians.
Article IV. Membership
Any person employed as a media librarian in the Jefferson County area may become a voting member of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians upon payment of stated dues. Library Science students, retired librarians, and other interested persons may become non-voting associate members of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians upon payment of stated dues.
Article V. Officers
Section A. The officers of this Association shall be President, Past-President, President Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall be elected during the spring business meeting.
Section B. The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers and following shall serve as ex-officio: Parliamentarian.
Section C. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Board, Committee Chairs, and Special and Ad Hoc Committee Chairpersons. Specifically the Board shall meet as frequently as necessary to plan programs for meetings
and to transact routine business or any business for the running of the Association.
Article VI. Meetings
The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians meets twice a year for a business meeting. The time and place of these meetings will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article VII. Amendments
Any proposal to amend this Constitution shall be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors and presented in writing at least two weeks in advance to the membership for action at the next regular membership meeting. Amendments of the Constitution require approval by two thirds of those members present and voting.
Article VIII. Official Year
The Association’s fiscal year shall begin June 1 and end May 31 of the following year.
Article 1. Membership
Any person employed as a media librarian in the Jefferson County area may become a voting member of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians upon payment of stated dues. Library Science students, retired librarians, and other interested persons may become non-voting associate members of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians upon payment of stated dues.
Article 2. Dues
The dues of the Association will be set by the budget committee with approval of the Board of Directors. Dues are payable at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Article 3. District
The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians is a District of the Kentucky School Media Association.
Article 4. Affiliations
The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians is a District of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, which is a section of the Kentucky Library Association. This Association functions under its own Constitution and Bylaws, no article of which is to conflict with any article of the Kentucky Association of School Libraries or the Kentucky Library Association.
Article 5. Nomination of Officers
Section A. The President shall appoint the nomination committee chairperson. The chairperson shall appoint at least three (3) additional members from the membership of the Association including the Past-President and the President-elect.
Section B. The nominating committee presents a slate of one qualified candidate for the Office of President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer. Written acceptance of the nominee must be given to the chairperson of the nominating
committee.
Section C. The slate of officers shall be published at least two weeks prior to the spring meeting in the Newsletter and presented at the spring meeting.
Section D. Nominations may be made from the floor at the business meeting held in the spring with written consent of the nominee.
Article 6. Election and Term of Office
Section A. The election of President-elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall be at the spring meeting.
Section B. The term of office for each shall be one year beginning June 1.
Section C. Any vacancy for an unexpired term of an elected officer other than President, will be filled with an election. The nominating committee will seek candidates for the vacated position. The election will take place no more than six weeks from the date of vacancy.
Section D. Any vacancy for an unexpired term of President will be filled by the President-Elect. The President will serve out his/her own term of office.
Article 7. Committees
Section A. Standing, special, and/or ad hoc committees may be created or dissolved by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Section B. The President appoints all committee chairpersons for a term of one year, beginning June 1.
Section C. Members of the committees will be chosen by the chairperson.
Section D. No committee chair or individual member of a committee shall be allowed to represent, engage, or obligate the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians to any course of action without the expressed approval of the Board
of Directors.
Article 8. Publication
The official publication of the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians shall be the COMMUNIQUE.
Article 9. Quorum
Section A. A quorum at the business meetings shall be those in attendance.
Section B. A quorum at the Board of Directors shall be ½ of voting members.
Section C. A quorum for the meetings of the Executive Board shall be a majority of voting members.
Article 10. Amendments
Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Association by two-thirds of the members in attendance, provided written notice has been given to the membership at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Article 11. Awards
Section A: The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Outstanding School Media Librarian Award
1. The purpose of this award shall be to recognize a School Media Librarian who has made outstanding contributions to the profession local, district and state levels.
2. Guidelines for the committee shall be the following:
a. This committee shall be composed of 5 association members and the President- Elect shall be the chairperson.
b. Persons serving on the award committee may not nominate or be nominated for this award. If either occurs, that person will resign from the committee.
c. Chairperson shall send out publicity after the first of the year.
d. Final submissions for this award shall be mailed to the chair of the committee by mid-February.
e. After all nominations have been read by the committee members. Then the committee meets to select the recipient.
f. The chairperson notifies the principal first and any other close associations of the recipient.
g. The recognition and award shall be given at the Spring Dinner meeting.
3. Eligibility guidelines shall be the following for nominees:
a. Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and have at least 18 hours credit in Library Science.
b. Have at least 5 years of school library experience.
c. Be an active member of Jefferson County Association of School Librarians and Kentucky Association of School Librarians/ Kentucky Library Association.
d. Hold the respect of the other School Media Librarians, school personnel, and the public in general.
4. A copy of the nomination form for the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Outstanding School Media
Librarian Award and guidelines for completion shall be attached to the Jefferson County Association of SchoolLibrarians bylaws.
Section B: The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Service Award for School Administrators.
1. The purpose shall be to recognize and honor the administrators who have made worthy contributions to the operation of effective school library media services and to stimulate planning, implementing, and support of the library services in the school.
2. Guidelines for the committee shall be the following:
a. The committee shall be composed of five association members, one being the Past President who shall be chairperson.
b. Committee members shall not submit nominations. Nominations shall be made by Jefferson County Association of School Librarians members anytime after the application form is received. Final submissions for this award shall be mailed to the chair of the committee by mid-February.
c. Only nomination forms filled out accurately and completely shall be considered.
d. The recipient shall be notified two to four weeks in advance of the award presentation by the chair of the committee. The recipient shall be notified by telephone followed by a letter.
e. Recognition of the recipient shall be made at the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Spring Dinner meeting.
f. The recipient shall receive a banquet ticket and award certificate.
3. Any local school administrator, such as a principal, head teacher, or
assistant principal shall be eligible.
4. A copy of the nomination form for the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Service Award for School Administrators and guidelines for completion shall be attached to the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians bylaws.
Section C: The Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Collaboration Award for School Libraries and School or Community Organizations.
1. The purpose shall be to recognize an outstanding collaboration between a school or community organization (PTO, PTA, PTSA, Rotary Club, LFPL etc.)and a school library media specialist in advancing the role of the school library media center in the educational program of the school during the past year.
2. Guidelines for the committee shall be the following:
a. The committee shall be composed of five association members, one being the Chairman of the Nominating Committee who shall be chairperson.
b. Persons serving on the award committee may not apply.
c. Applications shall be made by Jefferson County Association of School Librarians members anytime after the application form is received. Final submissions for this award shall be mailed to the chair of the committee by mid-January.
d. Only application forms filled out accurately and completely shall be considered.
e. The recipients shall be notified two to four weeks in advance of the award presentation by the chair of the committee. The recipient shall be notified by telephone followed by a letter.
f. Recognition of the recipients, the library media specialist and one representative of the school or community organization, shall be made at the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Spring Dinner meeting.
g. The recipients shall receive a banquet ticket and an award certificate.
3. Any library media specialist who is a member of Jefferson County Association of School Librarians shall be eligible.
4. A copy of the application form for the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Collaboration Award for School Libraries and School or Community Organizations and guidelines for completion shall be attached to the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians bylaws.
Article 12. Scholarships
Lucy Marx Scholarship
1. The purpose of this scholarship shall be to encourage and support persons from Kentucky Association of School Librarians, Jefferson County District who wish to become certified as School Library Media Specialists.
2. Scholarship committee guidelines shall be the following:
a. The committee shall be composed of five association members, one being the Past President who shall be chairperson.
b. The chairperson shall send out the publicity by March 1.
c. The scholarship shall be given at the Fall Dinner meeting.
d. The committee shall notify the recipient at least four weeks before the fall dinner meeting.
3. The guidelines for eligibility shall be the following:
a. The applicants must be full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate students who are currently enrolled in or have been accepted into a state accredited program leading to certification as a school media librarian.
b. The recipient of this scholarship cannot accept the same type of scholarship offered by another Kentucky Association of School Librarians District.
c. Those who have received the scholarship once are not eligible to reapply.
d. The amount of the scholarship shall be not less than $500. The JCASL Executive Board will set the amount for the scholarship each year during the budgeting process at or above $500.
e. The Kentucky Association of School Librarians scholarship of $100 shall be added to the Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Lucy Marx Scholarship. The recipient will receive a combined total.
f. The scholarship application shall be due by June 1.
4. A copy of the Lucy Marx Scholarship application is attached to the bylaws.
Article 13. Audits
Section A. Financial
1. The treasurer’s report shall be audited annually.
2. A two-member audit committee of the Association appointed by the outgoing President shall make the final audit.
3. The final audit shall be in the hands of the new treasurer prior to the Fall Board of Directors’ meeting.
4. The audit committee at the first general membership meeting shall give the final audit report.
Section B. Bylaws
The bylaws shall be reviewed/updated every three years by a committee composed of the constitution chairperson, Parliamentarian and current President. The Constitution Chairperson shall serve as chairperson.
Article 14. Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority for the Association will be Roberts Rules ofOrder, latest edition, and it shall govern the proceedings of Jefferson County Association of School Librarians.
Jefferson County Association of School Librarians Ad hoc Bylaws Committee:
Mary Bryant, Constitution Chairperson
Sheryl Asgari, Parliamentarian
Karen Parsons, President
Revised September 2009
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