Oklahoma Library Association Constitution
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this association shall be the Oklahoma Library Association.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Oklahoma Library Association is to strengthen the quality of libraries, library services and librarianship in Oklahoma.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership of the Oklahoma Library Association shall consist of two classes: personal and institutional.
Section 2. (a) Personal members shall be those persons who comply with the requirements for dues as stated in the Bylaws. Life members are those personal members who have received the Distinguished Service Award, prior
to 1992.
(b) Institutional members shall be those institutions which comply with requirements for dues as stated in the Bylaws, and are interested in promoting library development throughout this state.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the Oklahoma Library Association shall be a President, a President-elect who shall serve as Vice-president, the Immediate Past President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the Chairs of the Divisions, who shall serve as Directors. The President-elect, the Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be elected by mail ballot from the personal members of the Association in good standing as provided in the Bylaws. The Chairs of the Divisions, serving as Directors, shall be elected according to the provisions of the Bylaws. The President-elect and the Secretary shall be elected for a term of one year and shall assume their duties on the first day of the new fiscal year. The Treasurer shall be elected in each odd numbered year and shall hold office for a term of two years. The terms of office shall coincide with the Oklahoma Library Association fiscal year.
Section 2. The offices of the President, President-elect, the Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Directors shall be filled by personal members of the Oklahoma Library Association in good standing.
ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The administration of the affairs of the Oklahoma Library Association shall be vested in and exercised by the President and/or the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall consist of the officers, the American Library Association Councilor and the Mountain Plains Library Association Representative. Non-voting members shall be the Editor of the official journal of the Association, the Webmaster of the OLA Homepage, the Publicity Coordinator, the Executive Director, the Federal Relations Coordinator, and the State Department of Education Coordinator. The President shall be the Chair of the Executive Board. A quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of six voting members. No elected member of the Executive Board, with the exception of the Treasurer, who has served a full term may succeed oneself in office. The Treasurer may be elected to succeed her/himself for a second term of two years.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall fill vacancies in office with the exception of the offices of President and/or President-elect. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the President-elect. If less than half of the term remains, the new President shall then serve the elected term as President. If more than half of the term remains, the new President shall not subsequently be expected to serve the term for which elected, and the vacancy in the Vice-presidency/President-elect shall be filled by vote of the membership from two candidates presented by the Nominating Committee. Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by appointment or by a vote of the membership from two candidates presented by the Nominating Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall approve the annual budget and expenditure of funds in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Bylaws.
Section 4. A petition signed by ten percent of the personal members in good standing of the Oklahoma Library Association shall constitute an initiative petition to propose activities, functions or services of the Association. Such petition shall be considered by the Executive Board within sixty days of receipt. A full report shall be made to the membership at the next Annual Meeting.
Section 5. The Association by a vote at Membership Meeting may refer any matter to the Executive Board with recommendations and may require the Executive Board to report on such matters at any specified session of the Association. Any question of policy may, by a majority vote of the Executive Board, be submitted to the Association to be voted upon either at a Membership Meeting or by mail as the Executive Board may determine. Any action of the Executive Board or action of the membership at an annual business meeting may be set aside by a three-fourths vote at any membership meeting of the Association or by a majority vote by mail in which one-fourth of the members of the Association have voted. Such vote by mail shall be held upon petition of ten percent of the members of the Association.
Section 6. The Executive Board shall have power to appoint an Executive Director who shall hold office at its pleasure. The duties, hours, and compensation shall be determined by the Executive Board.
Section 7. The Executive Board shall appoint one of its members with the concurrence of the FOLIO Executive Board, to serve as liaison representative between the two organizations.
Section 8. The Executive Board shall annually appoint an Archivist, who shall administer the collection of materials important for the preservation of the history of the Oklahoma Library Association.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES, DIVISIONS AND ROUNDTABLES
Committees may be appointed and divisions and roundtables of the Association may be organized and supported as provided in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. The President and Executive Board shall arrange for a general Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Library Association and for such special meetings as they may consider advisable. The Annual Conference shall serve as the culmination of the specific plans, programs and objectives for the year. Notice of all meetings shall be sent to each personal member of the Association in good standing at least thirty days prior to the beginning date of any meeting.
Section 2. A majority of the personal members attending a business meeting of the Oklahoma Library Association shall constitute a quorum for conducting business.
Section 3. Votes by Mail. Votes by mail of the Association may be authorized by the Executive Board between annual meetings. Twenty-five percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum and a majority of those voting shall be required to carry. The Executive Board shall have authority to set the time limit during which votes will be recorded, but if no such time limit is set no vote shall be counted unless received within thirty days from the date the text of the ballot or question voted upon was mailed properly addressed, according to the Association records, to those entitled to vote on the matter involved.
ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Oklahoma Library Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or the Bylaws of the Association, or any special rules of order the Association may adopt.
ARTICLE IX. BYLAWS
Bylaws may be amended or adopted at any Annual Meeting of the Association if three-fourths of the personal members present vote in favor of such changes or by a vote by mail of a majority of the members of the Association voting in which one-fourth of the members have voted. The Executive Board shall specify whether a vote shall be taken at a membership meeting of the Association or by mail, and if a mail vote is ordered the Executive Board shall fix the time for the beginning and closing of the balloting. Proposed amendments or new Bylaws shall be presented for a vote either upon recommendation of the Executive Board or upon receipt of a petition signed by ten percent of the personal members of the Association and filed in writing with the Secretary at least sixty days prior to the beginning date of said Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall send copies of all proposed amendments or new Bylaws to each of the other members of the Executive Board and to the members of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee within ten days of receipt. The Secretary shall notify each personal member of the Association of any such proposed amendments or new Bylaws or the date established for a vote by mail.
ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any annual business meeting of the Association if three-fourths of the personal members present vote in favor of such changes or by a vote by mail of a majority of the members of the Association voting in which one-fourth of the members have voted. The Executive Board shall specify whether a vote shall be taken at a Membership Meeting of the Association or by mail, and if a mail vote is ordered, the Executive Board shall fix the time for the beginning and closing of the balloting. Proposed amendments shall be presented for a vote either upon recommendation of the Executive Board or upon receipt of a petition signed by ten percent of the personal members of the Association and filed in writing with the Secretary at least sixty days prior to the beginning date of said Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall notify the personal members of the Association of any such proposed amendments at least thirty days prior to the beginning date of the Annual Meeting or the date established for a vote by mail.
Section 2. Within four months following the adoption of each amendment to the Constitution or Bylaws, the Editor of the official journal of the Association, as provided in the Bylaws, shall cause the amended Constitution to be reprinted in this journal.
ARTICLE XI. AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
The Association may affiliate with other organizations whose goals are in accordance with the purpose of this Association.
ARTICLE XII. FORMER CONSTITUTION VOIDED
This document, when approved, supersedes any previous Constitution completely and all provisions and amendments thereof.
ADOPTED May 24, 1980
