POYNETTE AREA PUBLIC LIBRARY
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I: Identification
The name of this organization is the Poynette Area Public Library, located in the Village of Poynette, Wisconsin, existing by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes, and exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under said statute.
ARTICLE II: Board of Trustees
Section 1. Number and qualifications. The governing body of the library is composed of members (Wis. Statutes 43.54 & 43.6) as appointed by the Village of Poynette. Columbia County shall appoint members according to the financial support it provides to the library.
Section 2. Term of office. The term of office of trustees shall be three (3) years. If a trustee is appointed to serve an unexpired term of office the appointee shall serve the remainder of such term.
Section 3. Disqualifications, vacancies. Any member who moves out of the area he/she represents shall be responsible for notifying the secretary of the board of trustees. Upon receipt of such notification, the position shall be declared vacant. It shall be the duty of the president to notify the appointing official of the vacancy, and, by direction of the board, suggest to the appointing official names of a person or persons who may qualify to fill the position.
ARTICLE III: Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be president, secretary and treasurer. A vice president may be added at the Board’s discretion. Officers are elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the board. An officer may succeed him/herself. Vacancies in office shall be filled by vote at the next regular meeting of the board following the vacancy.
Section 2. A nominating committee shall be appointed by the president in May prior to the annual meeting and will present a slate of officers at the June annual meeting.
Section 3. Officers shall serve a term of three (3) years from the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 4. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board, authorize calls for any special meeting, appoint all committees, execute all documents authorized by the board, serve as an ex-officio voting member of all committees, co-sign all checks drawn on trust or endowment funds, and generally perform all duties associated with that office.
Section 5. The vice-president, in the event of the absence or disability of the president, or of a vacancy in that office, shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the president.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the board, shall issue notice of all regular and special meetings, and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office. The Library Director, a member of the staff, or an outside agency may be designated to perform any or all of the above duties.
Section 7. The treasurer shall be the disbursing office of the board, co-sign all checks drawn on trust or endowment funds, sign all vouchers for disbursements from the library fund, and perform such duties as generally fall upon the office. The treasurer may be bonded in an amount as may be required by a resolution of the board. In the absence or inability of the treasurer, the duties shall be performed by such other member of the board as the board may designate.
ARTICLE IV: Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings shall be held each month, the date and hour to be set by the board at its annual meeting.
Section 2. The adoption of the annual report will be held at the time of the February regular meeting.
Section 3. The election of officers will occur after the seating of any new Board members during the June annual meeting.
Section 4. Robert’s Rules of Order, “for small boards”, latest revised edition, shall govern the parliamentary procedure of the meetings.
Section 5. Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the direction of the president, or at the request of 3 members, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting.
Section 6. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of a majority of the sitting board. If no quorum is present, the monthly vouchers may be signed by any trustee present, subject to approval at the next regular board meeting.
ARTICLE V: Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees. The following committees: Budget and Personnel, shall be appointed by the president with approval of the Board, promptly after the annual meeting and shall make recommendations to the Board as pertinent to Board meeting agenda items.
Section 2. Nominating Committee. (See Article III, Section 2.)
Section 3. Ad Hoc Committees. Ad hoc committees for the study of special issues shall be appointed by the president, with the approval of the Board, to serve until the final report of the work for which they were appointed has been filed. These committees may also include staff and public representatives, as well as outside experts.
Section 4. No committee shall have other than advisory powers.
ARTICLE VI: Duties of the Board of Trustees
Section 1. Legal responsibility for the operation of the Poynette Area Public Library is vested in the Board of Trustees. Subject to state and federal law, the Board has the power and duty to determine rules and regulations governing library operations and services.
Section 2. The Board shall select, appoint and supervise a properly certified and competent library director, and determine the duties and compensation of all library employees.
Section 3. The Board shall approve the budget and make sure that adequate funds are provided to finance the approved budget.
Section 4. The Board shall have exclusive control of the expenditures of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the library fund and shall audit and approve all library expenditures.
Section 5. The Board shall regularly review various physical and building needs to see that they meet the requirements of the total library program.
Section 6. The Board shall study and support legislation that will bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of library users.
Section 7. The Board shall cooperate with other public officials and boards and maintain vital public relations.
Section 8. The Board shall approve and submit the required annual report to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
ARTICLE VII: Library Director
The library director shall be considered the executive officer of the board and shall have sole charge of the administration of the library under the direction and review of the board. The director shall be held responsible for the care of equipment, for the employment and direction of the staff, for the efficiency of the library’s service to the public, and for the operation of the library under the financial conditions set forth in the annual budget. The director shall attend all board meetings but shall have no vote.
ARTICLE VIII: Conflict of Interest
Section 1. Board members may not in their private capacity negotiate, bid for, or enter into a contract with the Poynette Area Public Library in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.
Section 2. A board member shall withdraw from Board discussion, deliberation, and vote on any matter in which the Board member, an immediate family member, or an organization with which the Board member is associated has a substantial financial interest.
Section 3. A board member may not receive anything of value that could reasonably be expected to influence his or her vote or other official action.
ARTICLE IX: General
Section 1. An affirmative vote of the majority of all members of the board present at the time shall be necessary to approve any action before the board. The president may vote upon and may move or second a proposal before the board.
Section 2. Any rule or resolution of the board, whether contained in these bylaws or otherwise, may be suspended temporarily in connection with business at hand, but such suspension, to be valid, may be taken only at a meeting at which five of the members of the board shall be present and three of those present shall so approve.
Section 3. These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the board by majority vote of all members of the board provided written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been provided in written format and emailed to all members at least three (3) days prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.
Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Poynette Area Public Library on the 9th day of January, 2018.
Reviewed on the 9th day of May, 2023 and amended on the 13th day of June, 2023.