ARTICLE I NAME

The Name of this organization shall be the School Library Division of the Montana Library Association. It shall be referred to hereinafter as the Division.

ARTICLE II PURPOSE

The purposes of this Division shall be:

1. To support and promote the effective use of educational media in the educational process, and to facilitate teaching and learning through the interaction of people, processes, and media in the learning environment.
2. To encourage continuing education in the field of library-media service to teachers, administrators, library-media specialists, and others.
3. To provide leadership and direction in the development and improvement of library-media services.
4. To offer support and carry out activities as appropriate to affect legislation, regulations, and other governmental actions and/or inactions that bear on the interests of this Division’s members and field of interest.
5. To provide advice and expertise to governmental bodies and other agencies when appropriate.
6. To cooperate with other organizations and agencies whose interests and purposes are similar to this Division.

ARTICLE III AFFILIATION WITH OTHER GROUPS

This division shall be a Division of the Montana Library Association, subject to its Bylaws. This Division is affiliated with the American Association of School Librarians and Association for Educational Communications and Technology. This Division may affiliate with any national or state association or other association upon a majority vote of the members voting at any general meeting after due notification to the membership.

ARTICLE IV CLASSES AND DEFINITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

There shall be four classes of membership: Active, Institutional, Corporate, and Honorary Life.
Section 1. Active Members: Any person actively engaged in library work or interested in library service may become an active member of this Association and be entitled to all its privileges upon payment of the dues as provided in the Bylaws of the Montana Library Association.
Section 2. Institutional Members: Any organization, institution, or governmental agency engaged in library work may become a member of the Division upon payment of dues as provided in the Bylaws of the Montana Library Association.
Section 3. Corporate Members: Corporations, except institutions eligible for institutional membership, may become a member of the Division upon payment of dues as provided in the Bylaws of the Montana Library Association.
Section 4. Honorary Life Members: Members will be determined by the Montana Library Association.
Section 5. Voting Privileges: Each member of the Division in good standing shall be entitled to all voting privileges. Each institutional and corporate member may have, through a delegated representative, one vote on all questions which come before the Division.

ARTICLE V OFFICERS

Section 1. Leadership of this Division will be two school librarians elected to two-year terms offset from each other. The senior co-chair (second year) will coordinate attendance to all functions with the newer co-chair.
Section 2. The term of office of officers shall be for two years. The term shall begin after voting at the SLD annual meeting during the MLA conference. June 1.
Section 3. Duties of Officers.

1. The Senior Co- Chair: One co-chair, or designee, shall preside at all meetings of the Division and Executive Committee. The co-chairs may appoint a secretary at his/her discretion and shall appoint committee members. The co-chairs shall plan the annual Division meetings and other meetings deemed necessary. The senior co-chair shall make an annual report to the Division at the annual MLA conference. and co-chairs will make regular reports news and information to the membership through the Focus, official publication of the Montana Library Association. The senior co-chair shall prepare a budget for his/her term of office to be submitted to the Montana Library Association Board of Directors. The Senior Co-Chair (Second Year of Term) shall be a member of the Montana Library Association Board of Directors and be responsible for liaison to other organizations, agencies, and associations. Upon approval of the Executive committee, the senior co-chair may appoint a proxy to represent him or her.
2. Either the senior or junior co-chair shall serve as the Division’s representative to the Educators’ Conference planning committee and will continue with conference activities at the conference as the co-chair or designee. The junior co-chair shall conduct business meetings in the absence of the senior co-chair. The junior co-chairperson shall succeed the senior co-chair at the end of the senior co-chairs elected two-year term, and shall immediately assume the office of senior co-chair if the chair is no longer able to perform the duties of such office, as determined by Article V, Section 4.

Before the end of the second year of a co-chairperson’s term of service, a new school librarian will be elected at the spring MLA conference. Nominations may come from emails, letters, phone calls, or open nominations during the SLD annual meeting at the MLA conference.
Section 4. Succession or Replacement.

1. In the event that senior co-chair is disabled, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office, the title, duties and obligations of the office shall be assumed by the junior co-chair, who shall then serve until the end of his/her own term as Co-Chairperson. A special election shall be held by email nominations and election to fill the office of the senior co-chair. The new co-chair shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor and shall thereafter succeed to the office of Co-Chairperson.
2. In the event that the senior co-chairperson is disabled, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office, a special election shall be held to fill the office. The junior co-chair shall serve the unexpired term of his/her predecessor and shall thereafter succeed to the office of senior co-chair. If neither co-chair can fill their commitment as special election will occur prior to MLA.

ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The administration of the affairs of the Division shall be vested in the Executive Committee which shall consist of the officers of the Division and the most recent Past-Chairperson of the Division. The Executive Committee shall conduct all business of the Division which is necessary between meetings of the membership. The Executive Committee may caucus the membership on any issue before the Board and may call special meetings of the membership.

ARTICLE VII NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Several weeks prior to the annual MLA conference, SLD co-chairs will use electronic media to request nominations for a junior SLD co-chair. Any school librarian is eligible to serve by volunteering his/her name or the name of another willing school librarian.
Section 2. Election of a junior co-chair shall be conducted by secret ballot at the SLD meeting during the MLA annual conference.
Section 3. The results of the election shall be announced to the members before June 30 and the new officers shall assume office on July 1.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall submit a list of candidates and their resumes to the senior co-chairperson no later than thirty days after the disability of, resignation by the junior co-chair Special elections may be held by mail or at a business meeting, as determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII YEAR

The fiscal year of the Division shall coincide with the fiscal year of the parent organization, the Montana Library Association.

ARTICLE IX FISCAL

Section 1. No special dues shall be charged by this Division. Membership shall be determined through payment of dues to the Montana Library Association.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall anticipate expenses of the Division and request from the Board of Directors of the Montana Library Association adequate finances to cover the expenses of this Division.
Section 3. The Division may assess fees from participants in Division sponsored workshops or seminars, provided that such fees be designed only to cover immediate costs of the workshop or seminar, and that gratuities to speakers remain minimal. The MLA secretary and treasurer will pay all associated bills and collect all fees for conferences and retreats associated with SLD.

ARTICLE X MEETINGS

The annual meeting of the Division shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the parent organization, the Montana Library Association.

ARTICLE XI QUORUM

Those members present shall constitute a quorum of the Division for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE XII COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees. Standing committees may be instituted should the membership determine and express a need for such. Standing committees shall report to the membership at the annual meeting.
Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees. The Chairperson may appoint ad hoc committees at any time. An ad hoc committee shall finish its mission within two years of its formation and shall report to the Chairperson.
Section 3. The Shared School Libraries Collection Committee oversees and manages the collective OverDrive digital collection for all school libraries involved in the committee, regularly providing input, promotion of digital collections and support to all public and private school libraries who participate in the collection.

ARTICLE XIII AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting at the annual meeting of the Division. Proposed Bylaws changes shall be distributed to the membership at least fifteen days prior to a meeting at which consideration of changes is to be on the agenda.

ARTICLE XIV RULES OF ORDER

The member attending the meeting is allowed to comment and to address the membership. Anything requiring a vote is done so with a motion, one second, and a simple majority of members present.

Revised: April, 1995
Updated: January 7, 2013; November 1, 2017