Bylaws
 
The Friends of the Paul and Rosemary Trible Library
at
Christopher Newport University

Article I - Establishment and Mission

1. The Friends of the Paul and Rosemary Trible Library at Christopher Newport University (hereinafter the Friends of the Library) is hereby established. It is an adjunct of the Library of the University, and thereby has non-profit status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is subject to the regulations of Christopher Newport University and the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
2. The mission of the Friends of the Library is to promote public and scholarly interest in, and greater use of, the Library, to provide financial support to the Library and to sponsor cultural and related programs.

Article II - Objectives
The objectives of the Friends of the Library are:

1. to promote the Library's role in the mission of the University, to faculty and staff, and to enhance its effectiveness;
2. to act as ambassadors for the Library;
3. to enhance the University community’s and the public’s awareness of the Library;
4. to support the conservation of the Library’s collections;
5. to assist in the development and promotion of Library activities for students, faculty, scholarly communities and the public; and
6. to build membership in the Friends of the Library locally and nationally.

Article III - Membership

1. Membership in the Friends of the Library shall be open to all individuals, organizations, businesses, and clubs supportive of the purposes of the Friends of the Library. There shall be one class of membership.
2. Membership fees and dues shall be established by the Steering Council. The Steering Council will determine and notify the membership of the Friends of the Library of the requirements for being a “member in good standing.”
3. The membership year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Article IV - Administration

1. The Friends of the Library shall be administered by a Steering Council of no fewer than six and no more than fourteen individuals who are members in good standing, elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The officers of the Steering Council shall be a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and the Chair of each of the three standing committees: Program, Development and Membership/Nominating.
2. The Steering Council shall hold at least two meetings each year. Additional meetings may be held by telephonic or electronic means of communication as necessary, with notice to the members of the Steering Council no less than 48 hours in advance.
3. An annual meeting of the membership of the Friends of the Library shall be held in the fall of each year. Additional meetings of the membership may be called by the Chairman of the Steering Council at any time upon notice to the membership no less than two weeks in advance.
4. Nominations for officers and at- large members of the Steering Council shall be presented to the membership for election at the annual meeting. Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the general membership no less than two weeks prior to the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the annual meeting.
5. Steering Council officers and members shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the Friends of the Library in good standing present at the annual meeting. The initial members and officers of the Steering Council shall be those persons listed in the Appendix to these Bylaws, who shall serve for the terms indicated. Thereafter, members of the Steering Council shall serve for terms of three years.
6. Vacancies in the membership of the Steering Council may be filled by appointment by the Chair of the Steering Council, with the approval of a majority of the remaining members of the Council. to serve until the next annual meeting.
7. Steering Council meetings shall be open to all members of the Friends of the Library.
8. The Steering Council shall have the duties and authorities usually exercised by similar councils or Boards of non-profit organizations.
9. The Chair of each standing committee shall appoint the members of that committee. Committees may include individuals who are not members of the Steering Council. The Chair of the Steering Council may establish additional committees as may be deemed necessary and appropriate and appoint members for each.
10. The Chair of the Steering Council and the University Librarian shall be ex officio members of all committees.
11. Members of the Steering Council are expected to attend all regular meetings of the Steering Council. A member who misses three consecutive meetings may be asked to resign by a majority decision of the Steering Council.
12. One half of the members of the Steering Council shall constitute a quorum.

Article V - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Friends of the Library shall be from January 1 to December 31. All funds raised by the Friends of the Library shall be deposited into a restricted account at the Christopher Newport University Educational Foundation and shall be disbursed by the Treasurer of the Steering Council or the Librarian of the University for projects endorsed by the Steering Council.

Article VI - Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by the Steering Council for consideration by the membership at the annual meeting. Notification of a proposed amendment shall be provided in writing to each member of the Friends of the Library no less than two weeks before the annual meeting at which the amendment will be considered. To be effective an amendment must be approved by a majority of the members of the Friends of the Library present and voting.

Article VII - Parliamentary Procedure

Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, when not in conflict with these Bylaws, shall govern the proceedings of the Friends of the Library.

Appendix

Terms of the Initial Members of the Steering Council of the Friends of the Rosemary and Paul Trible Library at Christopher Newport University