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Bylaws

Article I

Identification

The name of this organization is the Oakfield Public Library, located in the Village of Oakfield 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 five members as appointed by the Village President and representing the Village of Oakfield or the library’s service area. One member is designated by the School District of Oakfield Administrator. In addition, there may be a non-voting liaison representing the Village Board if none of the five appointed members of the Library Board is a Village Board member.

Section 2. Term of Office. The term of office of trustees shall be three years. If a trustee is appointed to serve an unexpired term of office exceeding 18 months it shall be considered a full term.

Section 3. Disqualifications, Vacancies. Any member who moves out of the library service area that 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 of the vacancy three to five names of persons who may qualify to fill the position. When any trustee fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board the president shall notify the appointing authority, request the disqualification of the trustee, and suggest three to five persons qualified to fill the position.

Article III

Officers

Note: Section 43.52 (2), Wis. Stats. requires the board members only to elect a president “and such other officers as they deem necessary.”

Section 1. The officers shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer, 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 after the vacancy occurs.

Section 2. A nomination committee shall be appointed by the president three months prior to the annual meeting and will present a slate of officers at the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at that time.

Section 3. Officers shall serve a term of one year from the annual meeting at which they are elected and until their successors are duly elected.

Section 4. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board, authorize calls for any special meetings, appoint all committees, execute all documents authorized by the board, serve as an ex-official voting member of all committees, co-sign all checks drawn on trust or endowment funds, and generally performs all duties associated with that office.

Section 5. The vice-president, in the event of the absence or disability of the president, or 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 officer 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 devolve upon the office. 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 annual meeting, which shall be for the purpose of the election of officers and the adoption of an annual report, shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in April of each year.

Section 3. The order of business for regular meetings shall include, but not be limited to the following items:

  • call to order
  • roll call of members, introduction of visitors
  • adoption/amendment of agenda
  • disposition of minutes of previous regular meeting and any
  • intervening special or closed meeting
  • financial report
  • action on bills
  • library director’s report
  • committee reports
  • communications
  • unfinished business
  • new business
  • adjournment

Article V

Duties of the Board of Trustees

Section 1. Determine the policies of the library and develop the highest possible degree of operating efficiency in the library.

Section 2. Select and appoint a competent library director.

Section 3. Advise in the preparation of the budget, approve it, and make sure that adequate funds are provided to finance the approved budget.

Section 4. Through the library director, supervise and maintain buildings and grounds, as well as regularly review various physical and building needs to see that they meet the requirements of the total library program.

Section 5. Study and support legislation that will bring about the greatest good to the greatest number of library users.

Section 6. Cooperate with other public officials and boards and maintain vital public relations.

Article VI

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 the buildings and 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 VII

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 two-thirds (3) of the members of the board shall be present and two-thirds (3) of the board shall so approve.

Section 3. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the board by the majority vote of all members of the board provided written notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed to all members at least ten days prior to the meeting at which such action is proposed to be taken.

Approved by the Oakfield Public Library Board – February 16, 2016