2023 Revised By-Laws1
EXHIBIT A
SCHERTZ PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD BY-LAWS Revision approved by Library Advisory Board 6/5/2023
By Resolution #78-R-1 dated January 3, 1978, the Schertz City Council created a
City Library to be known as the Schertz Public Library. The object and purpose of the Library Advisory Board is to act as an advisory, policy-recommending board to the City Council, City Manager and Library Management relating to the establishment and usage of the library, the nature of services rendered or to be rendered by the library, the manner in
which the library service may be coordinated with the other municipal services and other
such matters as the City Council, City Manager and Library Management may deem beneficial to the City of Schertz. The following are hereby adopted as the by-laws of the Library Advisory Board of the Schertz Public Library.
ARTICLE I. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Library Advisory Board of the Schertz Public Library shall be held each month, the date and hour to be set by the Board. A Board member will inform the Chair or Library Management if the member will be absent
from a meeting. Any Board member absent for three (3) consecutive meetings without
advance notification and/or sufficient reason shall be considered resigned and shall be notified in writing of said resignation.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called in writing or by
telephone by the Chair, or by any four members of the Board, for the transaction of business
stated in the call for the meeting.
Section 3. Notices. Notice of all special meetings shall be emailed or telephoned by the Secretary to all members of the Board. No notice of regular meetings shall be required.
Section 4. Place. Meetings of the Board shall be held in a designated city facility.
Section 5. Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of members, and the action of the majority of those present shall constitute the
action of the Board.
Section 6. Order of Business. The order of business at regular meetings shall be as follows: Call to Order
Hearing of Residents
Minutes Treasurer’s Report Librarian's Report Bookstore Report
Committee Report (if a committee has been called)
Discussion and Possible Action Announcements Adjournment
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The order of the agenda may be altered by a vote of the majority of members present at any meeting.
ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF THE BOARD
The duties of the Library Advisory Board shall be to:
Section 1. Hold meetings as it deems necessary in accordance with the Open Meetings Laws of the State of Texas.
Section 2. Make periodic reports to the City Council and City Manager concerning the work of the Board; submit meeting minutes to the City Secretary’s office, and make such reports as may be requested by the City Council and City Manager.
Section 3. The Board shall have no power to obligate the City of Schertz in any
manner whatsoever. Library finances shall be handled in the same manner as any department of the City government.
ARTICLE III. BOARD MEMBERS/OFFICERS
Section 1. Board Members. The Library Advisory Board shall consist of up to twelve (12) members, ten (10) of whom must be residents of the City of Schertz, Texas; and up to two (2) of whom may be chosen from areas outside the city limits of Schertz which are served by the Library. An alternate six (6) and six (6) shall be appointed each year by the
Schertz City Council for the term of two years.
Section 2. Alternate Members. Two alternate members shall be appointed by the City Council and shall be designated as Alternate No. 1 and Alternate No. 2. They shall be entitled to receive notice of all Board meetings and may comment on matters coming before
the Board in the same manner that regular members may comment. They shall have no
authority to vote unless serving in place of an absent regular member and shall not be considered in determining the presence of a quorum. In the absence from a meeting of the Board of up to two regular members, alternate members who are present (in alternating order if there is only one regular member absent) shall, for such meeting, be counted toward a
quorum, vote, and have all other rights of the absent regular members (except any absent
regular member's office on the Board). If the regular member for whom an alternate member is serving subsequently arrives at the meeting, the regular member shall not participate in such meeting, and the alternate member shall continue to serve until the conclusion of such meeting. Alternate members’ terms are for two years.
Section 3. Board Officers. The Library Advisory Board will operate with five officers who will be elected annually at the October meeting of the Board. The five officers are Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Book Store Manager.
Section 4. Duties of the Officers.
The duties and responsibilities of the Chair shall be to:
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A.Preside over the meetings of the Library Advisory Board.
B.Vote in case of a tie.C.Sign all acts or orders necessary to carry out the will of the Board.D.Act as representative of the Board to outside persons or other organizedbodies whenever necessary.
E.Appoint committees.
F.Serve as an ex-officio member of any appointed committees.
The duties and responsibilities of the Vice-Chair shall be to:
A.Preside in the absence of the Chair.
B.Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chair in the case of absenceor incapacity of the Chair.C.Assist the Chair as assigned.
The duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer shall be to:
A.Keep an accurate record of the source of all monies deposited to theLibrary Fund.B.Keep an accurate record of payment of all bills paid from the Library
Fund.
C.Be responsible for verifying the monthly financial reports from the City.D.Give a monthly report to the Board.E.Keep records of monies from Book Store sales.
The duties and responsibilities of the Secretary shall be to:
A.Keep minutes of the meetings of the Library Advisory Board.B.Provide a signed copy of the minutes which has been approved by theBoard to the City Secretary’s office.
C.File a signed copy of the minutes which has been approved by the Board
at the library.D.Prepare or respond to Library Advisory Board correspondence at thedirection of the Board.
The duties and responsibilities of the Book Store Manager shall be to:
A.Recruit, schedule, train, and coordinate the efforts of the book storevolunteers.B.Operate book store in accordance with book store policy.
C.Suggest modifications to operations and policy as needed.
D.Present a report to the Library Advisory Board at the monthly meeting.
Section 5. Vacancy in Office. A vacancy in the office of Chair shall be filled by the Vice-Chair. A vacancy in the office of Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, or Book Store
Manager shall be filled by the election of another person to serve until the next annual officer
election. In the event of the death, resignation, or removal of a regular member, the person holding the Alternate No. 1 position will move into the vacant position, with the person holding Alternate No. 2 position then moving to Alternate No. 1 position. Both persons will
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serve the remainder of the term of the member being replaced. The City Council shall
appoint a replacement member for any remaining vacancies who will then serve for the remainder of the vacant position’s term. The new member(s) shall be notified of their appointment following City Council approval. When Board members resign in good faith, a letter of appreciation will be sent to the resignee by the Library Advisory Board.
Section 6. Terms Served. There shall be no limit on the number of terms an individual may serve on the Board as a regular or alternate member.
Section 7. New Officers. A new Board office may be created by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the Board and a member elected to serve as officer. Newly elected officers
will take office immediately and serve in that capacity until the next annual officer election.
Section 8. Death of Board Member. If a Board member dies while serving on the Library Advisory Board, a memorial donation will be made to the Schertz Library Foundation or directly to the Schertz Public Library.
ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees. Committees for the study and investigation of special problems or for other special purposes may be appointed by the Chairman as needed. Such committees will serve until the completion of the work for which they are appointed.
Section 2. Powers of Committees. No committee nor member of any committee shall have or exercise any authority to take any action other than to investigate, and to report and recommend to the Board, except when and to the extent that they may be specifically authorized in advance by the Board in a particular case.
ARTICLE V. AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members
of the Library Advisory Board. However, it shall be necessary that notice of a proposed amendment in writing or by telephone be made to the members of the Library Advisory Board.
Revised:
January 1979 March 1980 February 1982 February 1984
February 1997 November 2006 February 2010 May 2011
October 2013 August 2015 June 2023