It is the Mission of the Morrisville Public Library to serve the residents of the Village of Morrisville and the Town of Eaton, particularly those not reached or otherwise served by our local elementary, secondary, and college library facilities.  The Library addresses informational, educational, recreational, and cultural needs of our citizens by providing and utilizing library resources available on site and through regional and state library resources.  The Library meets those needs through reference books, popular materials, and technical and electronic services in an esthetically pleasing and safe environment.  We uphold our philosophy of interlibrary cooperation, free public access to all information and protection for the last bastion of free education available to all the citizens of our society.
 

The Library Board of Trustees perceives the roles of the Morrisville Public Library to include:  

1.   Popular Materials Center, featuring current, high-demand, high interest materials in a variety of formats for persons of all ages.

2.      Independent Learning Center, particularly for non-school age members of our community not being served by our excellent public school and college resources.  This includes young children and parents, opening preschoolers’ doors to learning through services for children and children and parents together.

3.      Community Information Center, acting as a current information resource concerning community organizations, issues and services.

Article I – NAME

1. This organization is and shall be known as the Morrisville Public Library, existing by virtue of the provisions in the Provisional Charter Number 23431 granted by the Regents of the University of the State of New York on September 13, 2002 and the absolute charter number 24434 on October 23, 2007 and exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under the said charter.

Article II – MANAGEMENT

1. The business and affairs of the Morrisville Public Library shall be managed and conducted by the Board of Trustees and that shall be seven in number, each Trustee to be appointed for a term of five years by the appropriate municipality.
   
   
2. The term of office of trustees shall be five years except that the members of the first board of trustees shall determine by lot the year in which the term of office of each trustee shall expire so that as nearly as possible the terms of one-fifth of the members of such board will expire annually. Thereafter, the successors of such trustees shall be elected annually.


3. No trustees shall hold office consecutively for more than two full terms.

4. The terms of the members of the Board of Trustees shall end on the 31^st day of May of the fifth year following election, unless the Trustee shall have resigned or otherwise terminated membership before that date.

5. Vacancies which shall occur for reasons other than expiration shall be filled for the balance of the entire term.
   

Article III – OFFICERS

1.      The Officers of the Board of Trustees shall be elected at the first regular meeting in January.  They shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and Financial Officer; all to be elected from the membership of the Board

2.      Officers shall serve a term of one year from the January meeting until their successors are duly elected at the January meeting of the following year.

3.      Nominations may be made from the floor.  If two or more candidates are nominated for one office, the vote shall be by secret ballot.

4.      The President shall preside at all Board meetings, authorize calls for any special meetings, execute all documents approved by the Board, serve as ex-officio voting member of all committees, and generally perform all duties associated with that office.

5.      In the event of the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall assume and perform the duties of the President.  A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President.  The Vice President shall notify all board members of all regular and special meeting.

6.      The Secretary shall keep a true and accurate record of all Board meetings and keep accurate records of all correspondence received by the Board.

7.      The Financial Officer shall prepare all orders authorized by the Board for payment, shall prepare and present to the Board an annual financial statement, and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office.

Article IV – MEETINGS

1.      The regular meetings shall be held monthly on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.  Notice thereof shall be given to all Trustees by the President at least one week prior to each such meeting. Legal notice shall be published as of the first of January each year for twelve consecutive monthly meetings. Any change shall be posted seventy-two hours prior in the library.

2.      Special meeting may be called by the President, or at the request of two or more Trustees, for the transaction of business as stated in the call for such special meetings.

3.      A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the entire Board (i.e. four Trustees).  In the absence of a quorum, the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting to a date determined, notice of which shall be given to all Trustees.

4.      A majority vote of all Trustees present shall be necessary for the adoption or passage of any resolution, order, or motion.

5.      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 insofar as circumstances permit:

Roll call of members

Disposition of minutes of previous meeting

Financial report

Action on bills received

Report of the Library Manager

Committee reports

Communications

Old Business

New Business

Announcements and adjournments 

6.      The Library Manager shall attend all meetings (except those meetings or parts of meetings at which appointment or related matters are discussed or decided), may participate in all deliberations and offer professional advice, but may not vote upon any question.

7.      For all contingencies not provided for in this or any other section, Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used as the final authority.

8.    According to NYS Education Law 226, if any trustee shall fail to attend three (3) consecutive meetings without excuse accepted as satisfactory by the trustees, he or she shall be deemed to have resigned.  Satisfactory excuses for absences are: medical emergencies or death in the immediate family* and/or serious illness in which you have seen a medical professional, jury duty and/or any other legal obligation.

*”Immediate family” is defined as spouse, children, parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of the employee.

Article V – COMMITTEES

1. The President shall appoint such committees as the business of the Board may require.  These committees shall consist of one or more members and shall be considered discharged upon the completion of the specific task assigned or at the discretion of the President.
2. Each committee shall make a progress report at each of the Board meetings.  No committee shall have other than advisory powers unless the Board delegates specific power to act on its behalf, pending a subsequent meeting of the Board to confirm such action.

Article VI – LIBRARY MANAGER

1.      The Board shall appoint a qualified Library Manager who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the Library.  The Manager shall implement those policies established by the Board of Trustees and shall serve under its review and direction.

2.      The Manager shall supervise the care and maintenance of the Library property, and be responsible for the selection of books and other materials consistent with the stated policy of the Board, efficient service to Library patrons and for operation within budgeted appropriations.

3.      Terms and conditions of employment for the Manager shall be established annually by the Board, in consultation with the Manager, and an appropriate agreement shall be entered into by both parties.

Article VII – AMENDMENTS

1.      The Board may amend these By-Laws by a majority vote of all members provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been sent or delivered to each member of the Board at least 30 days prior to the meeting.