Friends of the Havelock-Craven County Public Library Bylaws
Article I: Name
The name of this Organization shall be Friends of the Havelock-Craven County Public Library hereinafter referred to as the “Friends”.
Article II: Purpose:
The purpose of this organization shall be to maintain an association of persons
interested in libraries; to focus public attention on the Library; to stimulate the use of the library's resources and services; to receive and encourage gifts, endowments and bequests for the library; to support and cooperate with the library in developing library services and facilities to meet the needs of the community; to help develop and support a community of readers and lifelong learners; to lend legislative support where needed and when in compliance with the regulations governing a 501(c)(3); and to support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights, Articles 1-4.
Article III: Membership
Section 1: Membership in the Friends shall be open to anyone who supports the purpose of the Friends.
Section 2: The annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Board, and shall be due at the September meeting.
Section 3: Anyone paying dues to join the Friends after June 30 will have their dues applied for the current membership year and for the following membership year.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1.The officers of the Friends shall be the President, Vice- President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three (3) members, three (3) months prior to the Annual Membership Meeting in September.
Section 3: Officers shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee one (1) month prior to the Annual Membership Meeting.
Section 4: Officers shall be elected at the Annual Membership Meeting for a term of two (2) years by a majority vote of members present. Nominations shall be posted on the Friends bulletin board in the Library with the consent of the nominees two (2) weeks prior to the annual meeting in September. Additional nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.
Article V: Duties of the Officers
Section 1: President: presides over and conducts meetings, shall be an ex officio member of all committees, and serve as liaison with the Library Board of Trustees.
Section 2: Vice President: Performs the duties of the President in the absence of the President; assists and/or supports the President, and performs the duties delegated by the President.
Section 3: Secretary: Records monthly attendance and takes minutes at all meetings.
Section 4: Treasurer: Keeps and maintains the financial records of the Friends to ensure financial obligations are met, files required state and federal reports, provides an updated report at each meeting and at the annual business meeting.
Article VI: Executive Board
Section 1: The Executive Board shall consist of the Officers of the Friends and the Chairperson of any subsequent committee chairs. The Librarian shall serve as the ex-officio member of the board.
Section 2: The President, under the advisement of the Executive Board, shall have the authority to appoint committees and to fill vacancies of unexpired terms.
Section 3: Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called at the discretion of the President.
Section 4: A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Article VII: Meetings
Section1: Meetings will be five times during the year with the dates and times to be determined by the Executive Board.
Section 2: The Annual Membership Meeting shall be held in September. Members will be notified two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 3: A special meeting of the Friends may be called at any time by the President or the Executive Board.
Section 4: Anyone may attend, but only paid members may vote.
Article VIII: Funds
Section 1: All funds shall be deposited to the account of the “Friends” and shall be disbursed by the Treasurer in accordance with the approval of the Executive Committee. Expenditures must benefit the Library directly or indirectly.
Section 2: No part of the net earnings, if any, shall accrue to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, officers or other private persons except that the “Friends” shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of its exempt purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the “Friends” shall be the carrying on of propaganda or participating in any political campaign of behalf of any candidate for political office. Notwithstanding any other provisions in these Articles the “Friends” shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding provisions of any future Federal tax legislation.
Section 3: Upon dissolution of the “Friends” by a two-thirds majority of the membership the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provisions for payment of all of the liabilities of the “Friends”, dispose of all the assets of he “Friends” under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding provisions of any future Federal tax legislation.
Section 4: In the event that the Friends is dissolved, its records and all remaining funds shall be turned over to the Havelock-Craven County Public Library Board of Trustees as allowed by the rules governing a 501(c) (3).
Article IX:
Amendments
These By-laws may be amended at any general membership meeting by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the paid members present. Notice of proposed amendments shall be presented in writing to the general membership at a regular meeting and posted in the Library, on the Friends bulletin board, two (2) weeks prior to the meeting at which the voting is to take place.
Article X: Parliamentary Procedure
A Quick Guide to Robert’s Rules of Order,HR Florida State Council 1/9/09, when not in conflict with these By-Laws, shall govern the proceedings of the Friends.
Friends Bylaws
Rev. 09/2023