Revised November 18, 2005

ARTICLE I.

The name of this organization shall be the Librarians' Forum of the University Library of the University of Michigan.

ARTICLE II.

The purpose of the Forum is to provide for discussion of professional issues and to promote effective participation of librarians in University Library affairs. The Forum will advise the University Librarian on matters that affect the academic or professional interests of the librarians in the University Library.

ARTICLE III. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP

The voting membership of the Forum shall consist of all persons holding appointments to professional positions in the Librarian Job Family (including fractional appointments greater than zero) in the University Library.

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS

Section 1. The Forum shall have an elected body of officers, which will be called the Forum Board. This group shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Vice-Secretary, and four Members-at-Large.

Section 2. The Forum Board will call meetings, set the agenda for the meetings, form committees and task forces, and maintain a record of all Forum proceedings. The Forum Board will receive suggestions from Forum members and, when appropriate, refer these suggestions to the Forum, or to the appropriate body. The Forum Board will inform the concerned member or group of its action, and will guard the anonymity of the member or group, if so requested.

Section 3. Terms of Office

The Vice Chair will be elected for a term of two years, the first year as Vice Chair and the subsequent year as Chair, and shall not be eligible to serve a consecutive term. The Secretary will be elected for one two-year term. The Secretary shall be Vice-Secretary the first year and Secretary the subsequent year. Members-at-Large will be elected for one two-year staggered term and may not serve on the Forum Board for more than two consecutive terms.

Section 4. Vacancies of Office

In the event that the Chair cannot complete the term of office, the Vice-Chair will assume the duties of the Chair. In the event that the Vice-Chair cannot complete a term of office, the Forum Board will select a Member-at-Large to fulfill the duties of that office. In the event that the Secretary cannot complete a term of office, the Vice- Secretary will assume the duties of that office. If a vacancy in the offices occurs more than six months before a general election, the Forum Board will call for the Elections Committee to administer a special election to fill that vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Memberat- Large less than six months before a general election, the Forum Board will appoint a member of a Forum committee to fulfill the duties of that office.

Section 5. Duties of the Officers

The Chair

The Chair will preside over meetings of the Forum Board, and meetings of the Forum. The Chair is empowered to form committees to address issues raised in the Forum, as suggested and approved by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of the members. The Chair is empowered to form task forces and working groups as suggested and approved by the Forum Board. The Chair shall appoint members to those committees, task forces, and working groups as gathered from a call for volunteers or suggested and approved by the members of the Forum Board. The Chair is responsible for the budget of the Forum Board, setting the agenda for Forum Board and Forum meetings, reporting committee and task force recommendations to the University Librarian, and representing the Forum membership to other organizations.

The Vice Chair

The Vice Chair shall serve in the absence of the Chair and shall succeed the Chair at the termination of the Chair's year in office. The Vice Chair shall serve as assistant to the Chair, carry out such duties as may be delegated by the Chair, and contribute to discussion and decisions of the Forum Board.

The Secretary

The Secretary will maintain paper and electronic records of all transactions of the Forum, and maintain the archives and online presence of the Forum. This record shall be read to the Forum and to the Forum Board as circumstances require. The Secretary shall announce the dates and times of the Forum Board meetings, and the Forum meetings, through appropriate electronic channels. The Secretary is responsible for determining the number that is one-fourth of the Forum membership. This is calculated at the beginning of every academic year.

The Vice-Secretary

The Vice-Secretary shall serve in the absence of the Secretary and shall succeed the Secretary at the termination of the Secretary's year in office. The Vice-Secretary shall serve as assistant to the Secretary, carry out such duties as may be delegated by the Secretary, and contribute to discussion and decisions of the Forum Board.

The Members-at-Large

The Members-at-Large will assist the Chair in carrying out the purposes of the Forum, as the Chair may request. The Members-at-Large may serve on appointed committees, and serve as Forum Board liaisons to those committees. The Members-at-Large primary responsibility is to contribute to discussion and decisions of the Forum Board.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. Disclosure of proceedings

Meetings of the Forum are open to the public, except when the Forum Board deems it advisable to be closed. A summary of minutes shall be made available to the members electronically.

Section 2. Frequency of Meetings

Regular meetings of the Forum shall be held once each month September through June. Regular meetings of the Forum Board shall be held at least once each month, and prior to the next Forum meeting, in order to set the agenda.

Special meetings may be called at any time of the year by the Chair, upon approval of a majority of the Forum Board. The Forum Board can cancel meetings as it deems advisable.

Section 3. Quorum

One fourth of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees

A formal set of guidelines should be maintained for each standing committee.

The Forum Board

The Forum Board is a standing committee of the Forum.

The Elections Committee

The Elections Committee will consist of five members who will administer election procedures. The Chair will appoint the members of the Elections Committee, as suggested and approved by the Forum Board. The Elections Committee will be newly appointed each year. Members cannot serve for more than two consecutive years.

Committee on Funding for Librarians' Research & Creative Projects

The Committee on Funding for Librarians' Research & Creative Projects will consist of three Forum members. Two members will be elected by the Forum membership for staggered two-year terms. The Library Grants Coordinator will fill the third position on a standing basis. Elected members will serve as convener in their second year of service. The convener will report to the Forum Board Chair.

Salary Standing Committee

The Salary Standing Committee will consist of five Forum members, each in a two-year staggered term. One member will be a liaison to the Forum Board. The Forum Board Chair shall appoint members to this Committee, as gathered from a call for volunteers or suggested and approved by the members of the Forum Board. The Committee will appoint a chair and this chair will report to the Forum Board Chair.

Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces and Working Groups

Any member of the Forum may suggest the formation of a committee to consider matters affecting the members at large. Committees must be approved by a two-thirds vote of a Quorum. Committees may be dissolved upon recommendation of the Forum Board, and the dissolution must be approved by a majority vote of a Quorum. Members of committees shall be appointed by the Chair, as suggested and approved by members of the Forum Board.

Task forces are formed to research an issue. Working groups are formed to implement recommendations of committees and task forces. Task forces and working groups are formed by the Forum Board. Task forces and working groups are dissolved upon the completion of their charge. Members of task forces and working groups shall be appointed by the Chair, gathered from a call for volunteers or suggested and approved by members of the Forum Board.

Each committee and task force and working group shall report to the Forum Board and continue in existence until it is discharged. Each committee and task force and working group may have a liaison and a chair.

The final report of the committee or task force or working group shall be reported to the membership. Findings and recommendations of committees and task forces and working groups are relayed to the Forum Board. The Forum Board shares relevant information with Executive Council.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS

All members of the Forum are eligible to be candidates for office and to vote in the annual elections.

Elections will be held during April of each year. Nominations will be solicited from the membership at the March meeting. The Elections Committee will administer the election, and report the results to the Forum.

The Elections Committee, following procedures in Robert's Rules of Order, will call for nominations to the elected offices of the Forum and for membership on the Committee on Funding for Librarians' Research & Creative Projects, ascertain the nominees' willingness to serve, prepare a list of nominees, and distribute and count ballots.

The nominees shall be elected by a plurality of members casting ballots. The ballots will list the offices as Vice- Chair/Chair-Elect, Vice-Secretary/Secretary-Elect, Members-at- Large, and Member of the Committee on Funding for Librarians' Research & Creative Projects. Members may vote for two Members-at-Large each year to replace the two whose terms are ending. The Members-at-Large will be the candidates with the two highest tallies for the office. The newly-elected Forum Board and the new Member of the Committee on Funding for Librarians' Research & Creative Projects will take office at the conclusion of the June Forum meeting of the election year.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The Forum is governed by the provisions of the Bylaws, any rules the Forum may establish, and any rules, regulations, or statutes applicable to the Forum. On matters not otherwise defined, the current issue of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT AND RATIFICATION OF THE BYLAWS

Any member of the Forum may suggest amendments. Amendments shall require approval by at least two-thirds of the Forum members who respond to a ballot sent to the entire Forum membership. Suggested amendments must be introduced to the members at least one meeting prior to the meeting where a vote of approval will be called. The vote of approval will be conducted by secret ballot. Written copies of the suggested amendments will be provided to any members who request them.