Article I                                                                       Name

                  The name of this organization shall be the Maine Association of School Libraries.

Article II                                                                     Affiliations

This association shall be affiliated in philosophy with the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the American Library Association, Association for Educational Communications and Technology, Maine Teachers, Association, National Education Association, New England Educational Media Association, and the Maine Library Association.

Article III                                                                   Purpose

Section A:	The purpose of MASL shall be to promote effective use of educational media in Maine, and to represent the professional interests of Maine's library media personnel.
Section B:	This association shall collect, evaluate and disseminate information pertaining to the development of educational media programs.
Section C:	Members of this association will engage in an interchange of information by participating in local, state, regional and national conferences and by cooperating with those organizations with which MASL is affiliated.

Article IV                                                                  Members

Section A:	Any person in agreement with the purpose of this association may become a member.
Section B:	Temporary or lifetime honorary membership may be given at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Section C:	Membership shall commence with payment of dues and expire at the end of the fiscal year.  The fiscal year shall be September 1 to August 31.  Only members who have paid their dues shall be entitled to vote, hold office, and receive all benefits of membership.
Section D:	The annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Board.

Article V                                                                    Officers

Section A:	The officers shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.  Officers shall serve for two years or until their successor is elected.  The President shall have served at least one year on the Executive Board and at least one year on the Spring Conference planning committee.  All officers are eligible for re-election.
Section B:	The President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall perform the duties pertaining to their respective offices and such other duties as may be approved by the Executive Board.
Section C:	The President, Second Vice-President and Secretary shall be elected on odd numbered years.  The first Vice-President and Treasurer shall be elected on even numbered years.
Section D:	The President of MASL shall appoint a Nominating Committee at least thirty (30) days before the Spring conference.  The Committee shall nominate no more than two (2) candidates for each elective office and shall present its report at the Spring Conference business meeting.  New officers shall assume office upon adjournment of the Spring Conference.
Section E:	A simple majority vote by those members present shall constitute election.  In case of a tie vote, the members shall ballot until one candidate is successful.

 
Article VI                                                                  Executive Board

Section A:	There shall be an Executive Board consisting of the current officers, the immediate past president, and the standing committee chairpersons.
Section B:	Chairpersons of  special committees, representatives from allied groups, and board representatives to allied groups shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
Section C:	The Executive Board shall serve as the central management agency of the association.
Section D:	The Executive Board shall meet regularly to conduct the business of the association and establish policy.
Section E:	A majority of the Executive Board must be present in order to transact the business of the association.
Section F:	The Executive Board may adopt and publicize positions on issues and legislation affecting educational media.

Article VII                                                                Committees

Section A:	Standing committees of the association shall include Membership, Legislative, Certification, Standards, Intellectual Freedom, Archives, Public Relations, Continuing Education, *****Information Skills*****,  [Newsletter], Technology, Facilities, and At-Large.
Section B:	Standing committee chairpersons shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the President.
Section C:	Special committees as deemed necessary by the Executive Board from time to time, shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the President.

Article VIII                                                              Meetings

Section A:	The Maine Association of School Libraries shall hold two business meetings each year.
Section B:	The spring business meeting shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section C:	A spring conference shall be held between March and June, the exact date and location to be determined by the Executive Board.
Section D:	For all persons attending conferences, there may be a registration fee to be fixed by the Executive Board.  Non-members may attend the conferences and the Executive Board shall determine their fee.
Section E:	A notice for each regular or special meeting of the Association shall be sent thirty (30) days before the time of the meeting.  In case of special meetings, this notice shall specify the object for which the meeting is called.
Section F:	A quorum shall consist of the voting members present.

Article IX                                                                   Parliamentary Authority

Parliamentary authority at all meetings of this Association shall be the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised and shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

Article X                                                                     Disposition of Assets upon Dissolution

Section A:	In the event of the dissolution of MASL, the property and assets thereof, after providing for all obligations and liabilities, shall then be disposed of exclusively for the purposes voted upon by a majority of the Executive Board.
Section B:	No part of the net earnings of MASL shall inure to the benefit or, be distributed to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Executive Board shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III hereof.
Section C:	The assets must be distributed to such an organization(s) exempt from taxation under Section 501 C. of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Article XI                                                                   Amendments

Section A:	A description of the amendments to be voted on must be sent to the members at least thirty (30) days in advance of a vote.
Section B:	This constitution may be amended by 2/3 majority of the voting members present.

                 

Revised/Voted: 5-23-1993
Annual Business Meeting
Wells Commons
University of Maine, Orono