Library Bylaws
Appleton City Public Library Board of Trustees Bylaws
Appleton City Public Library Board of Trustees Bylaws
Adopted March 1996, amended Dec. 2001, Jan. 2003, Feb. 2010, Jan. 2015, and Sept. 2020
Article I: Name
The organization shall be called “The Board of Trustees of the Appleton City Public Library”, existing by
virtue of the provisions of Chapter 3 Section 182.145 of the laws of the state of Missouri, and exercising
the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under said statute.
Article II: Board of Trustees
Section 1. Trustees of this library will be appointed and hold their office in accordance with the laws of
Missouri; that no member has received or is receiving compensation as such; that no member of the city
government is a member of the Board, except in those cities where the library is maintained from city
resources.
Section 2. Board members shall serve a term of three years. No member will serve more than three
terms without an intervening absence from the board of two years. Board members are to attend board
meetings and approved projects. Members who miss more than 6 in a fiscal year, except for an
emergency absence, will be replaced by another appointed member. (Effective July 2003)
Article III: Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer, elected from
among appointed trustees at the annual meeting of the board.
Section 2. A nomination committee shall be appointed by the president three months prior to the
annual meeting, who will present a slate of officers at the annual meeting. Additional nominations may
be made from the floor.
Section 3. Officers shall serve a term of three years from the annual meeting at which they are elected
and/or until their successors are dully 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 ex-officio
voting members of all committees and generally perform all duties associated with that office.
Section 5. 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 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.
Section 7. The treasurer shall be the disbursing officer of the board, sign all checks, and shall perform
such duties as generally devolve upon the office. He/She shall be bonded in an amount as may be
required by the resolution of the board. In the absences or inability of the treasurer his/her duties shall
be performed by such other members of the board as the board may designate.
Article IV: Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings shall be held each month at 4:00 pm. on the second Thursday in the
Appleton City Public Library. (The date and hour to be set by the board at the annual meeting).
Appleton City Public Library Board of Trustees Bylaws
Adopted March 1996, amended Dec. 2001, Jan. 2003, Feb. 2010, Jan. 2015, and Sept. 2020
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 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 the sequence shown so far as circumstances will permit:
- Roll Call
- Disposition of minutes of previous regular/special meetings
- Financial report of the library
- Action on bills
- Progress and service report of librarian
- Committee reports
- Communications
- Unfinished business
- New business
- Approved closed session
- Adjournment
Section 4. Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the direction of the president, or at the
request of 5 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 5 members of the
board, present in person.
Section 6. Conduct of meetings: Proceedings of all members shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Article V: Library Staff
The board shall appoint a qualified librarian who will be under the review and direction of the board.
The librarian will recommend to the board 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 library
property, for an adequate and proper selection of books and media 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 VI: Committees
Section 1. The president shall appoint committees of one or more members each, for such purposes as
the business of the board may require from time to time. The committee shall be considered to be
discharged upon the 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 progress report to the library board at each of its meetings.
Section 3. No committee will have other than advisory powers unless, by suitable action of the board, it
is granted specific power to act.
Appleton City Public Library Board of Trustees Bylaws
Adopted March 1996, amended Dec. 2001, Jan. 2003, Feb. 2010, Jan. 2015, and Sept. 2020
Article VII: General
Section 1. 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 move or second a
proposal before the board.
Section 2. The bylaws may be amended by the majority of all members of the board, provided written
notice of the proposed amendment shall have been delivered to all members at least 10 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 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 board meeting at which two-thirds of those present shall approve.
Section 4. It shall take two signatures (the signature of the president and the signature of the treasurer)
in order to be able to cash in any CD’s.
These bylaws have been amended this 9 th day of Sept. 2020