BYLAWS

OF THE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OF THE

SCHILLER PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

 The responsibilities of the Board of Trustees include:  establish and maintain the Library and the acquisition of books therefore, provide and maintain physical facilities to house Library, employ and supervise the Library Director, establish and promote educational programs related to the Library, act as liaison between the Library and public in a planned public relations program, approve the annual budget, and report regularly to the general public of Library activities.

 Article I.  Name

 This organization shall be called the "Board of Trustees of the Schiller Park Public Library".

 Article II.  Board Membership, Election Terms, Vacancies

 Section 1.  Membership

 The Board of Trustees of the Schiller Park Public Library shall consist of seven members.

 Section 2.  Election of Board

 Board members shall be elected by the eligible voters of the Village of Schiller Park.

 Section 3.  Requirements

 Requirements for candidates for library trustee shall be :  Residency in Schiller Park, U.S. Citizenship, 18 years of age or older, and no felony convictions.  Each trustee shall file a statement of economic interest with the Cook County Clerk by April 30th of each year.

 Section 4.  Terms of Office - Board

 Board members shall serve a term of six years.  Trustees are elected biannually.  All terms shall begin on the first Monday following the month of the election.

 Section 5.  Vacancies -  Board

 The Board may declare a vacancy when the elected or appointed trustee declines or is unable to serve; or becomes a nonresident of the Village; or is absent from Board meetings for a period of one calendar year.  A vacancy is also declared when the trustee is convicted of a misdemeanor by failing, neglecting or refusing to discharge any duty imposed upon him by law, or who shall have failed to pay the library tax levied by the village.  A vacancy in any office shall be filled by appointment by the remaining trustees until the next annual Village election, at which time a trustee shall be elected to fill the unexpired term of the vacancy.

 Section 6.  Compensation

 Trustees shall serve without compensation.  Reimbursement for actual and necessary expenditures incurred in the performance of duties shall be subject to Board approval.

 Section 7.  Conflicts of Interest

 No trustee shall engage in any business or transaction, or have a financial or personal interest, whether directly or indirectly, that is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties in the public interest or that may tend to impair his or her official duties in the public interest or that may tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of such official duties.  In particular, members of the Board of Trustees may not be employed by the library.  Relatives of the Board may be considered for employment only when they will not be supervised by a family member.

Whereas: library policy specifically prohibits political campaigning on library property, be it said, now and in the future, board members will refrain from associating the library with any endorsement or criticism of a candidate for public office.

 Section 8.  Legal Requirements

 Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 81 (Illinois Library Laws) shall serve as a guide to the legal rights and obligations of the Board of Trustees and the Library.

Article III.  Officers, Terms of Office, Duties, Vacancies, Elections

Section 1.  Officers

 The officers of the Board shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer elected from among the Board members.

 The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

 President:  The President of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and shall appoint such committees as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the Board.  In the President's absence the Vice President's or in the Vice President's absence, the Secretary, and in the Secretary's absence, the Treasurer, shall preside.

1. The President shall sign the ordinances, resolutions, and contracts of the board.

2. The President is responsible for seeing that the by-laws and other policies of the board are reviewed at regular intervals.

3. The President is an ex-officio member of all committees.

4. The President shall neither have nor exercise veto power.

 Vice President:  The Vice President in the temporary absence of the President shall preside over   meetings.

1. In the event of the President's temporary refusal or inability to act in that office, the Vice     President shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the President.

2. In the event of vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall temporarily perform the duties of that office until the next Board meeting at which time a new President  shall be elected.

3. In addition, the Vice President shall, together with the Library Director, participate in the orientation of new trustees.

 Secretary:  The Secretary shall be the custodian of the files of the Board and the records of the Library during the term of office and shall include therein the records of the meetings, the names of those in attendance, the policies enacted, resolutions, rules and regulations adopted, and all other pertinent written matter as affect the operation of the Library.

1. The Secretary shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations.

2. The Secretary will attest to the President's signature as required on official documents.

 Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall keep and maintain accounts and records of the Library during the term in office, indicating therein, a record of all receipts and disbursements and balances in any funds which shall be reported monthly to the Board.

1. The Treasurer shall be bonded with approval of the Board for faithful discharge of the duties of the office and for all Library's funds coming to the Treasurer's hands. The minimum amount of the bond shall equal 50% of the total funds received by the Library in the previous fiscal year (75 ILCS 15/4-10(2)).  Cost of any surety bond shall be borne by the Library.

2. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the investment of library funds with Board approval and      subject to the limitations of the Illinois Statutes

 Section 2.   Nomination of Officers

 Members of the Board shall be asked to serve as officers.  Nominations for officers shall be from the floor at the Board meeting at which the election of officers will occur.  Voting will be by voice vote.

 Section 3.  Election of Officers, Terms

 Officers shall be elected at the first meeting of the month following the biennial election of trustees, by trustees present.  Each term of office shall be for two years, or until a successor has been elected by the Board.

 Section 4.  Duties and Responsibilities

  1.  Employ a competent and qualified Library Director.

  2.  Determine and adopt written policies to govern the operation and program of the Library.

  3.  Determine the purposes of the Library and secure adequate funds to carry on the Library's program.

  4.  Know the program and needs of the Library in relation to the community; keep abreast of  standards and Library trends; cooperate with the Librarian in planing the Library program; and support the Librarian and staff in carrying it out.

  5.  Establish, support, and participate in a planned public relations program.

  6.  Assist in the preparation of the annual budget.

  7.  Know local and state laws; actively support Library legislation in the state and nation.

  8.  Establish Library policies dealing with book and materials selection.

  9.  Attend all Board meetings and see that accurate records are kept on file at the Library.

10.  Attend regional, state and national trustee meetings and workshops, and affiliate with the appropriate professional organizations.

11.  Be aware of the services of the State Library.

12.  Report regularly to the governing officials and the general public.

 Section 5.  Disbursing Duties

 Two signatures, consisting of any combination of officers shall be required on all checks.

 Article IV.  Committees

 Section 1.  Regular and Special Committees

 Committees shall be appointed by the Board President for specific purposes as the business of the Board may require. Terms of service on committees shall be until the meeting following the Annual Meeting in which appointments are made or until the committee is disbanded.  All committee meetings shall abide by the regulations of the Open Meetings Act.  Each committee shall be comprised of a chairperson and at least one additional trustee.

 Section 2.  Reports

 All committees shall make a progress report to the Board at each of its meetings.

 Article V.  Meetings

 Section 1.  Regular Meetings.

 The Board shall meet on a regular basis but not less than ten times per year.  The time, day, date, and place of all regular meetings shall be established at the Annual Meeting of the Board.  A list of meetings shall be posted in the Library, Village Hall and supplied to any medium that has filed an annual request for such notices.  Normally, meetings will be held the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 P.M. in the Library.

 Section 2.  Special Meetings

Special meetings shall be called by the President or the Secretary, or by a quorum of the Trustees of the Board.  No Special Meeting shall be held unless written notice of the time and place thereof shall be given to all Trustees at least 24 hours in advance of the said Special Meeting, or by oral notice in the case of a stated emergency.  Notice shall be posted in the Library, and the Village no later than one day preceding the Special Meeting and supplied to a medium that has filed an annual request for such notices.

Section 3.  Annual Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting is held on the first regular meeting date following the election of new Trustees.  In off-election years, the Annual Business Meeting is held on the date of the regular May meeting.  At this meeting officers are elected and committees established.

Section 4.  Open Meetings Act

All Board meetings shall be open to the public and shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.  Executive Session may be deemed necessary by the Board in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

Section 5.  Quorum

A quorum of four Trustees is required for the transaction of business at Board Meetings.  A simple majority of those present shall determine the vote taken on any question, unless a larger majority is specified by law.

Section 6.  Voting

All votes on any question shall be by ayes and nays.  The number of aye and nay votes and the number of absences and abstentions shall be recorded by the Secretary.  The President may vote upon but may not move or second a proposal.  A "present" vote shall not be counted.

Section 7.  Order of Business

The Order of Business of all regular meetings of the Board shall be as follows:

  1.  Roll call and Declaration of Quorum.

  2.  Disposition of minutes of previous meeting.

  3.  Unfinished Business.

  4.  Financial Report.

  5.  Report of Librarian.

  6.  Reports of Committees.

  7.  New and miscellaneous business.

  8.  Guests.

  9.  Executive Session.

10.  Communications.

Section 8.  Rules

The conduct of the meetings shall be guided by the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order to the extent practicable.

Article VI.  Library Director

The Board shall appoint a qualified Library Director who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the Library on behalf of the Board and under its review and direction.  The Library Director shall administer the policies adopted by the Board and may serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.

Article VII.  Indemnification

To the fullest extent possible, and to the extent not covered by insurance, the Library shall indemnify any trustee, officer, or employee and the Library may indemnify any agent who is, was, or is threatened to be a party to any future, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative of investigative, and including actions or suits by or in the right of the Library, by reason of the fact that he/she is or was a Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Library.  At the request of such indemnified person, the Library shall undertake complete defense of such matters, including all expenses in connection therewith; provided that the indemnified party shall have a right to participate in such defense.  The indemnification set forth shall not apply if a Court of competent jurisdiction determines that the conduct of the indemnified party constitutes malicious or criminal misconduct.  The Library may purchase and maintain insurance,  in an amount from time to time to be determined by the Board of Trustees, and for the broadest coverage procurable, on behalf of such Trustees, officers, employees and agents against any liability asserted against one or more of them and incurred by him/her or them in any such capacity or arising out of his/her or their status as such.  The provisions of this Section shall continue for the benefit of a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the estates, heirs, legatees and legal representatives of such a person and the legal representatives and assigns of such a person in the event of his/her incompetence, insolvency or bankruptcy.

 Article VIII.  Amendments

 These By-laws may be amended at a regular meeting of the Board, by a majority vote of all Trustees present, provided that such amendment in writing was presented for consideration at a previous meeting and was approved for final action at a specified subsequent meeting.