Chapter Constitution

ARTICLE I. Name: The official name of this organization shall be the American Library Association Student Chapter at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

ARTICLE II. Purposes and aims:

1. To acquaint members with the goals and objectives of the American Library Association and the local student chapter;

2. To encourage professional contacts within the field of librarianship both at the University of Illinois and elsewhere;

3. To provide an avenue for communication between members and the American Library Association;

4. To provide the members of the Student Chapter with official representation to the American Library Association and elsewhere; and

5. To actively promote involvement in professional activities beyond the classroom.

ARTICLE III. Membership Requirements:

1. Current enrollment in the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Graduate School of Library and Information Science;

2. Current membership in the American Library Association; and

3. Current membership in relevant ALA Divisions, for membership in student chapter divisions.

ARTICLE IV. Activities:

1. There shall be a meeting of the membership at the beginning of each academic year and thereafter as necessary.

2. Activities will be designed to encourage awareness of the depth and range of library-related work and research.

ARTICLE V. Executive Board and Officers

1. Officers: The officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and two or three Publicity Officers.

2 Executive Board: The President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Publicity Officers and the faculty advisor as ex-officio member shall constitute the Executive Board.

3. Office Description:

a. The President shall head the Executive Board and shall have the ultimate responsibility for the functioning of the organization. The President shall designate a member or members of the Executive Board to be responsible for alerting members to the time, place, and programs of the American Library Association Mid-Winter and Annual Conferences, coordinating member attendance and participation, and making conference information available to those members who did not attend.

b. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the latter's absence and shall assume the office of President should it become vacated during the stated term of office. The Vice-President shall assist the President with the duties of the executive office.

c. The Treasurer shall be responsible for financial matters pertaining to the organization, including fund raising and petitions to the SORF Board and other university organizations, and shall present a financial report at the beginning and end of her/his term of office.

d. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining minutes of all meetings, correspondence files, and records in good order to be passed on to the next Executive Board.

e. Publicity Officers shall be responsible for publicizing the activities of the Student Chapter.

f. The faculty advisor for the next academic year shall be recommended by the Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science and approved by the members of the Student Chapter prior to the end of the Spring Semester. The faculty advisor shall act as liaison between the Student Chapter and the American Library Association and between the Student Chapter and the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The faculty advisor shall also be responsible for coordination of the first meeting of each year, orientation of membership to the American Library Association, and the election of the officers.

ARTICLE VI. Elections and Terms of Office:

1. Elections

a. All members of the organization are entitled to vote for members of the Executive Board.

b. Nomination of officers shall be coordinated by the faculty advisor at the first organizational meeting of each year as necessary.

c. Elections shall take place by an electronic or paper ballot at the beginning of each academic year.

d. Vacancies in offices other than President that occur during the normal term of office shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Board.

2. Terms of Office: Terms of office for all officers shall be for one year, beginning with the fall term, with no restrictions on the number of incumbencies.

ARTICLE VII. Committees:

1. Standing Committees

a. The Program Committee shall consist of those members interested in working on specific projects with Executive Board members assigned to coordinate such projects.

b. The American Library Association Conference Committee shall consist of those persons interested in organizing student participation in American Library Association national conferences and in working with the member(s) of the Executive Board designated to coordinate this activity.

c. Committee Chair positions are assigned on a volunteer basis. If two members volunteer, they will co-chair the committee. If more than two members volunteer, the committee shall elect a chair.

2. Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees shall be appointed as necessary by the Executive Board. Suggested committees include Social, Fund-raising (t-shirt), Field Trips, and Lecture.

3. Divisions

On submission of a written petition of six or more of the School’s students who are member of the ALA Division they wish to establish within the Chapter, the Chapter Board will review the request and, if approved, will establish Bylaws governing the function of the Chapter Division. The Chapter Division will function administratively as committees do, reporting to the chapter Board through a board liaison. Finances for the Chapter Division will be coordinated with the Chapter Treasurer. Other specifics of administration of the Division will be detailed in the Bylaws developed by the Chapter Board.

ARTICLE VIII. Parliamentary Procedures: All questions of parliamentary procedure shall be decided in accordance with the forms laid down in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments: Proposals for amending the Chapter Constitution may be made by any member during Chapter meetings and shall take effect when approved by a majority of members present and voting at a subsequent publicized Chapter meeting.

ARTICLE X. Ratification: Ratification of this Constitution shall be in accordance with the rules set forth for amendment to this document.

ARTICLE XI. Bylaws: The Chapter may establish procedures on the establishment and management of Chapter Divisions. These Bylaws will be approved by the Chapter membership. Proposals for amending Bylaws may be made by any member during Chapter meetings and shall take effect when approved by a majority of members present and voting at a subsequent publicized Chapter meeting.

Ratified February 6, 1981
Amended September 28, 1984
Amended April 22, 1991
Amended November 13, 1998
Amended December 8, 2003
Adopted March 31, 2004