BYLAWS OF
THE AFRICANA LIBRARIANS
COUNCIL
OF THE
AFRICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION
(Adopted November 2, 1977; revised April 24, 1992, November 20, 1992, November
16, 2000, April 25, 2003)
Section I. NAME
The name of the Council shall be the Africana Librarians Council (ALC)
of the African Studies Association (ASA)
Section II. PURPOSES AND AIMS
The Africana Librarians Council exists to:
A. Provide information related to acquiring resources for those whom the members
serve.
B. Encourage research and publication with the intent of making Africana resource
materials in all formats more accessible.
C. Provide for panel discussions and informative programs at the meetings
of the African Studies Association.
D. Promote and publicize its activities by encouraging and supporting a newsletter,
web sites, and other initiatives by members.
E. Promote improvements in the processing and cataloging of Africana so that
those materials are made more quickly and easily accessible.
F. Foster cooperation and contacts with those in other countries, particularly
in Africa, with similar concerns.
Section III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Council is open to all members of the African Studies Association
who are concerned with providing Africana resources.
Section IV. OFFICERS AND THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
A. Officers: The officers of the Council shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect,
Secretary, and three Members-at-Large.
B. Executive Board: The Executive Board consists of the officers, the immediate
past Chair, the ex-officio representatives and the chairs of Committees. Together
they shall manage the activities of the larger Council.
C. Chair: The Chair shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Board as well
as of the Africana Librarians Council. With the approval of the Executive Board,
the Chair shall call meetings and normally shall preside at such meetings but
may delegate this function to the Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect, or, if he/she is unable
to preside, to any other member of the Executive Board. The Chair will coordinate
the activities of the Executive Board. The Chair's term of office shall be for
one year, beginning immediately after the Business Meeting held at the annual
ASA conference.
D. Vice-chair/Chair-Elect: The Vice-chair/Chair-Elect, shall be elected at the
annual meeting of the ASA and shall serve for one year. He/she shall serve as
a member of the Executive Board and assist the Chair in the performance of duties.
E. Secretary: The Secretary shall be elected at the annual meeting of the ASA
in even-numbered years and shall serve for two years. The Secretary will keep
the minutes of both the Executive Board meetings and meetings of the full Council.
F. Members-at-Large: There shall be three Members-at-Large elected for two year
terms. They shall be elected at the annual meeting of the ASA. Two shall be
elected in odd-numbered years and one in even-numbered years.
G. Ex-officio Members: Ex-officio Members shall represent the Library of Congress,
the Africana Libraries Newsletter, the Cooperative Africana Microform Project,
the ASA Publications Committee, ALC Webmaster, and others as needed. The immediate
past Chair shall be an ex-officio member for one year.
Section V. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A. An elections committee of two persons shall be selected by the Chair at
the spring meeting. This committee will receive written nominations and conduct
elections. A call for nominations should be included in the announcement of
the fall meeting.
B. Additional nominations for each office will be made from the floor. A majority
vote cast by members present and voting shall constitute election to office.
C. Election of the Executive Board shall be by secret ballot.
D. The newly elected officers start their terms immediately after the Business
Meeting held at the annual ASA conference.
E. Vacancies shall be filled by election at the next annual meeting. Should
a vacancy occur at any time other than the annual meeting, it shall be filled
by a vote of the Executive Board
Section VI. MEETINGS
A. The Council will hold an annual meeting concurrent with the annual meeting
of the African Studies Association. Additional meetings shall be held at the
discretion of the officers. All meetings are open.
B. Planning announcements and agenda preparation for meetings shall be the responsibility
of the officers with the assistance of committee chairs and ex-officio representatives.
C. Announcements of meetings, schedules, draft agenda, and minutes shall be
distributed via email prior to the scheduled meetings and printed in the Africana
Libraries Newsletter and submitted to ASA News if appropriate.
D. Priority will be given to agenda items which have been submitted in writing
in advance of the meeting, and for which documentation has been distributed,
where relevant. Documentation must be provided if the issue in question calls
for a vote.
Section VII. COMMITTEES
(Originally approved October 16, 1980)
There will be three standing committees: Bibliography, Cataloging, and Book
Donation. Other committees as needed will be formed on the recommendation of
the Executive Board, with the approval of two-thirds of those present at the
annual meeting. The ALC Chair in consultation with the Executive Board shall
select persons to head these committees. Committee chairs in turn shall recruit
secretaries. Terms for committee chairs and secretaries shall be two years,
with re-appointment possible. The Executive Board shall review all committees
in odd-numbered years.
Section VIII. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Board or by any
member of the Council at regular meetings provided that notice of the proposed
amendment is included in the call for the meeting. Amendments shall require
approval of two-thirds of those present at a meeting of the full Council.
Section IX. AMENDMENT 1: VOTING
(Approved April 19, 1979)
A. Items requiring a vote should be included in the agenda distributed in
advance of the meeting. Approval shall be by majority vote of those members
present. The advance notice requirement may be waived by a 3/4 vote of those
members present.
B. Votes that represent policy decisions in the opinion of the Chair require
approval of 2/3 of those members present at the meeting of the full Council.
Voting on policy decisions shall be by secret ballot.
C. See Section V, B and C for voting in elections.
Section X. BYLAWS REVIEW
A review of these Bylaws shall take place every five years, or earlier, as needed.
Web version created September 10, 2003