By-Laws

Adopted: 6-6-89
Amended: 11-21-00
Amended:  4-15-02
Amended:  2-20-06
Amended:  3-19-07

Article I- Name and Responsibilities

Section 1.  This organization shall be called "The Board of Trustees of the New London Public Library and Museum" existing by virtue of the provisions of Chapter 43 of the Laws of the State of Wisconsin and by New London City Ordinance #1115, and exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under said statute.

Section 2. Appointments and Terms of Office. Appointments and terms of office are as provided by the relevant subsections of Wisconsin Statutes Sections 43.54.

Section 3.  The responsibilities of the Board will include:

1. To hire a competent and qualified Library Director according to the Wisconsin State Statutes. 
2. To hire a competent and qualified Museum Director.
3. To determine and adopt written policies governing the operation and program of the Library and Museum.
4. To assist in the preparation of the annual budgets and secure adequate funds to carry on the Library's and Museum's missions and objectives.
5. To know the programming needs of the Library and Museum in relation to the community and to keep abreast of Library and Museum standards and trends.
6. To attend all Board meetings regularly and recognize the legal responsibilities concerning Board membership.  When any trustee fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board without an excuse from the president, or fails to attend five meetings whether excused or unexcused in a calendar year (April to April), the president shall notify the appointing authority, request the disqualification of the trustee, and recommend persons qualified to fill the position.
7. To maintain a good working relationship with the municipal governing body.
8. To support and participate in planned public relation programs where applicable.

Section 4. The Board shall have exclusive control of the expenditure of all moneys collected, donated or appropriated for the Library and Museum fund and shall audit and approve all Library and Museum expenditures.

Section 5. The Board shall 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 and Museum programs.

Section 6. The Board shall approve and submit the required annual report to the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, and the city council.

Article II--Officers

Section 1.  The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary, elected from among the appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the Board.

Section 2.  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 3.  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-officio voting member of all committees, and generally perform all duties associated with that office.

Section 4.  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 all duties and functions of the President

Section 5.  The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office.

Article III--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 election of officers shall be held at the time of the regular meeting in July of each year.

Section 3.  The order of business for regular meetings shall include, but not be limited to, the following items, which shall be covered in sequence shown so far as circumstances will permit:

1. Roll call of members
2. Disposition of minutes of previous regular meeting and any intervening special meeting
3. Action on bills
4. Progress and service report of the Museum Director
5. Progress and service report of the Library Director
6. Action
7. Adjournment

Section 4.  Special meetings may be called by the President, or at the request of four members for the transaction of business as stated in the call for the meeting.

Section 5.  A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting shall consist of four
members of the Board present in person.

Section 6.  Conduct of meetings: Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern Proceedings of all meetings.

Section 7. Minutes. Minutes of all meetings shall, at a minimum, indicate board members present, all items of business, all motions (except those that were withdrawn), and the result of all votes taken. Current board minutes shall be posted on a bulletin board in the Library.

Section 8. Open Meetings Law Compliance. All Board meetings and all committee meetings shall be held in compliance with Wisconsin’s open meetings law (Wisconsin Statutes Sections 19.81 to 19.98).

Article IV--Library Director and Staff

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 Director shall be responsible for the appointment and specify the duties of other employees and shall be held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff, for the care and maintenance of the Library property, for adequate and proper selection of materials in keeping with the stated policy of the Board, for the efficiency of Library service to the public and for its financial operation within the limitations of the budgeted appropriation. 

Article V -– Museum Director and Staff

The board shall appoint a qualified Museum Director who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the Museum on behalf of the board and under its review and direction.  The Director shall recommend to the board the appointment of other employees and shall be held responsible for the proper direction and supervision of the staff, for the care and maintenance of the Museum property, for proper storage, display and acquisition of items to the Museum collections, in keeping with the stated policies of the board, and for its financial operation within the limitations of the budgeted appropriations.                    

Article VI--Committees

Section 1.  The President shall appoint committees of one or more members for such specific purposes as the Board may require from time to time.  The committee shall be considered to be discharged upon completion of the purpose for which it was appointed and after the final report is made to the Board.

Section 2.  All committees shall make a periodic progress report to the Library/Museum Board.

Section 3.  No committee will have other than advisory powers unless, by suitable action of the Board, it is granted specific power to act.

Article VII - Conflict of Interest

Section 1. Board members may not in their private capacity be employed, negotiate, bid for, or enter into a contract with the New London Public Library or the New London Public Museum 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 VIII-General

Section 1.  An affirmative vote of the majority of members of 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.  The by-laws may be amended 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.

Section 3.  Any rule or resolution of the Board, whether contained in these by-laws 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 (five) of the members of the Board shall be present and two-thirds of those present shall so approve.