BYLAWS OF THE SULLIVAN BOCES CHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM COUNCIL 
SEPTEMBER 2001 


AUTHORITY 
In case of conflict and/or omission, regulations of the BOCES Board of Education and/or 
Commissioner of Education shall prevail. 

ARTICLE 1 - THE COUNCIL 

1. MEMBERSHIP 
The Council shall consist of at least 9 appointed members. 

At least one regular member should represent each of the following: 
The Ramapo Catskill Public Library System 
The Southeastern New York Library Resources System 
The non-public schools 

The executive directors of the Southeastern New York Library Resources Council and 
Ramapo Catskill Library System or their designees shall be ex officio members not 
already appointed members. The School Library System Director shall be an ex officio 
member. 

2. APPOINTMENT, TERMS AND VACANCIES 
The Sullivan BOCES Board shall appoint the members of the council and persons to fill 
vacancies: 
In May/June for a 3 year term which begins July 1st or until successors are 
appointed from recommendations offered by the nominating committee of the 
council. 
All terms shall be staggered so that no more than 1/3 of the members are elected 
each year. 
No individual should serve more than 3 successive terms effective 2001-2002 school year. 

3. RESPONSIBILITIES 
The responsibilities of the council shall be to: 
Monitor the School Library System Plan of Service 
Elect the nominating committee 
Report annually to: the BOCES Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education 
Amend the bylaws 
Make recommendations to the BOCES Board of Education regarding the employment, reemployment, and/or termination of the School Library System Director. 


4. REGULAR MEETING 
Regular meetings shall be held at least 4 times a year at such times and places as are 
determined by the council. 

5. SPECIAL MEETINGS 
Special Meetings may be called by the chairperson and shall be called by the chairperson 
at the written request of 3 or more appointed members. 

6. QUORUM 
A majority of the appointed members shall be present to transact business. 

7. VOTING PROCEDURES 
Each appointed member present in person shall be entitled to one vote. 


ARTICLE II - NOMINATING COMMITTEE 
1. COMPOSITION 
There shall be a nominating committee of the council consisting of 3 members. 

2. METHOD OF ELECTION, TERMS AND VACANCIES 
Members of the committee shall be elected from the members of the council by the 
members of the council for a term of 3 years, or until their successors are elected and 
shall not be eligible again for nominating committee membership until after a lapse of 2 
years. 

Terms shall begin July 1st and terminate on June 30th. 

Vacancies shall be filled by the Council Chairperson. 

3. SELECTION AND TERM OF CHAIRPERSON 
The chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the chairperson of the council 
From among the committee members and shall serve a term of 1 year. 

4. QUORUM 
All members must be present in order to transact business. 

5. RESPONSIBILITIES 
The council will then, to the BOCES Board, present the elected members for the 
committee and shall present the nominees to the SLS Council at the Fall Meeting, in 
November and when vacancies have been filled. 

ARTICLE III - PARTIAL TERMS 

A person who has served more than one half of a specific term in an office, as that 
specific term is set forth in the bylaws, shall be considered to have served the full term. 

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS 

1. NUMBER AND TITLES 
The Officers of the council shall be a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. The system director serves without a vote. 

2. NOMINATION, ELECTION, TERM AND VACANCIES 
The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be nominated from the floor and elected by the members of the council for a term of 3 years, or until their successors are elected, and shall serve no more than 2 consecutive terms effective 2001-2002 school year. 

3. DUTIES 
The chairperson shall: 
Preside at meetings. 
See that the plan of service and actions of the council are carried into effect. 
The vice-chairperson shall:
Preside in the absence of the chairperson. 
Ensure meeting minutes are distributed to members. 
See that said minutes are filed and shared at SLS headquarters. 

ARTICLE V – SCHOOL LIBRARY SYSTEM DIRECTOR 

The School Library System Director shall: 
Provide advice and assistance to the council. 
Administer the total operations of the School Library System. 
Convene and chair at least 1 liaisons meeting annually. 
Serve as an officer of the council without vote. 

The School Library System Director shall be an employee of BOCES Board of Education and shall be responsible to the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Support Services. 

ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES 

1. ESTABLISHMENT 
The council may establish standing committees, special committees, and/or task groups, as it deems necessary. 

2. COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT 
The chairperson shall appoint the chairperson of committees and task groups from members of the council with the approval of the council. 

The chairperson of committees and task groups shall appoint members of the committees with the approval of the council. 


ARTICLES VII – LIAISONS 

1. ESTABLISHMENT 
One certified librarian in each member district shall be appointed as liaison to the School Library System Council by each district. 

2. RESPONSIBILITIES 
Shall be determined by the School Library System Director with the approval of the council and shall include such things as: 

Attend at least 1 system-wide meeting annually. 
Prepare and submit reports and statistics as requested. 
Implement the procedures to be followed in the district, within the 
general guidelines and procedures determined by the Director. 
Keep other librarian and staff of the members informed of School Library System policies, activities, and services.

3. REGULAR MEETINGS 
Meetings of liaisons shall be held at least once a year. 

4. SPECIAL MEETINGS 
Special meetings may be called by the Director and shall be called on written request of 3 or more liaisons. 

5. VOTING 
Any votes taken at meetings of liaisons shall be advisory and not binding. 

ARTICLE VIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority governing the meetings of the council, committees, and task groups subject to these bylaws and any special rules adopted by these groups. 


ARTICLE IX – AMMENDMENTS 

These bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of members of the council present and voting at any meeting of the council provided that the proposed amendment shall have been included in the notice of the meeting. 

Final approval of the bylaws shall rest with the BOCES Board of Education.