Library Board Bylaws
Bylaws of the Duluth Public Library Board
City of Duluth
(As amended and adopted on April 26, 2016)
ARTICLE I – NAME
This organization shall be known as the DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD, City of Duluth.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSES
The purposes of the Duluth Public Library Board shall be:
A. To act as an advisory board to the Mayor, the City Council, and the City employee responsible for the operation of the City’s Library system, hereinafter referred to as the “Administrator.”
B. To provide community input for library services and programs.
C. To review and recommend all policy matters pertaining to the Library.
D. To carry out all other duties of the Board as prescribed by city and state laws and any other pertinent laws.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
A. Membership is established pursuant to Article VI of Chapter 2 of the Duluth City Code, 1959, as amended.
B. The Board consists of nine members who are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
C. Terms run for five years and may be renewed for an additional five-year term. If an appointment has not been made to replace a Board member whose term is expiring, said Board member shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
D. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. If a Board member is appointed to serve an unexpired term of office and serves more than half a term, it shall be considered a full term of office.
E. The term of any member of the Board shall be deemed vacant upon failure to attend three consecutive meetings unless such non-attendance resulted from justifiable cause. Members should contact the Administrator or Board President if they cannot attend a Board meeting.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
A. Officers: The elected officers of the Board shall be a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary.
B. Duties:
1. With review and approval by the President, the Administrator shall set each meeting agenda. The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committees, and perform all of the usual duties pertaining to that office, except as otherwise provided by law or by action of the Board.
2. The Vice President shall assume all of the above duties when the President is absent.
3. The Secretary shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may properly belong to the office or be delegated to the office by the President or action of the Board.
C. Terms of office:
1. All officers shall be elected at the annual election for a term of one year, with a limit of two years of continuous service in each office.
2. All elected officers shall begin their term upon their election.
D. Termination of office:
1. Vacancies: Upon a vacancy in the office of Vice President or Secretary, the Board shall elect the necessary member to fill the unexpired term
2. The Administrator shall give due notice of the meetings and shall prepare meeting agendas in consultation with the President.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
A. Annual meeting: At the annual meeting, which shall be held in March, there will be the annual election of officers.
B. Regular meetings: Shall be scheduled ten times each year and shall be posted on the Library website.
C. Special meetings: May be called by the President or, in the absence of the President, by either the Vice President or the Administrator, or by the written request of a majority of the Board. Special meetings shall be called and noticed pursuant to the requirements of Minnesota law. (Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.04 Subdivision 2 or its successor statute.)
D. Quorum: A majority of the appointed members shall constitute a quorum.
E. The Administrator shall set the order of business at meetings, which shall include approval of minutes.
F. Agenda items may be recommended by any Board member and will be included in the next meeting’s proper order of business.
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS
A. The bylaws may be amended by a vote of a majority of the Board. Notice of the proposed amendments shall be mailed to all members at least ten days prior to the meeting at which they are to be voted upon.
ARTICLE VII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
A. Procedures not otherwise defined shall be governed by the latest revision of Robert’s Rules of Order.