Article I. Name
This organization shall be known as The Young Adult Library Services of New Hampshire, hereafter known as YALS.
Article II. Affiliation
YALS shall be a section within the New Hampshire Library Association, hereafter known as NHLA.
Article III. Objective
It shall be the objective of this organization to support and promote library services for young adults throughout the state. The foundation of YALS meetings is the free exchange of ideas with an optimistic and can-do attitude.
Article IV. Membership
Anyone who is a member of NHLA can become a member of YALS upon payment of dues as assessed by the YALS Executive Board. Each member shall have one vote.
Article V. Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of President, Vice-President/President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past-President, Teen Awards Chair, and Media Chair.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected from the general membership of YALS at its fall meeting. New officers shall assume their duties on January 1st of the following year.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall be empowered to transact any business as shall be necessary between membership meetings.
Section 4. If any member of the Board cannot serve after being elected, the President may appoint a member in good standing to serve in that capacity until the next meeting. At the time a special election will be held. Members will be notified of the special election in advance.
Section 5. A majority of the voting board (4) shall constitute a quorum.
Article VI. Committees and Delegates
Section 1. Standing committees may include but are not limited to:
Teen Awards Committee
Programming Committee
Section 2. Delegates may include but are not limited to:
New England Round Table of Teen and Children’s Librarians (NERTCL)
New Hampshire Educational Media Association (NHEMA)
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
Section 3. Committee chairs and delegates shall report at Executive Board meetings. Each committee shall plan and execute its activities with the approval of the Board.
Article VII. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings, and shall be responsible for sending a YALS delegate to full Board meetings of NHLA. The President shall present a written report at the NHLA Annual meeting. The president serves a one-year term, to be followed by a term as Immediate Past-President.
Section 2. The Vice-President/President-Elect shall assist the President, and in the event of absence, shall assume the duties of the President. The Vice-President/President-Elect serves a one-year term, to be followed by a term as President.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep all minutes of membership and Board meetings and shall conduct correspondence. The Secretary serves a two-year term.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall submit all YALS funding according to the NHLA Treasury procedures, and shall submit requests for disbursements and reimbursements in the same manner. This person will submit a YALS Treasury report at each YALS meeting. The Treasurer serves a three-year term.
Section 5. The Immediate Past-President shall nominate a slate of officers at the fall membership meeting. The Immediate Past-President serves a one-year term.
Section 6. The Teen Awards Chair will oversee the Flume and Isinglass Awards. The Teen Awards Chair serves a two-year term.
Section 7. The Media Chair will keep the membership informed through social media channels and maintain the YALS website. The Media Chair serves a two-year term.
Article VIII. Meetings
Section 1. YALS shall plan to meet four times a year, with a minimum of two meetings. Workshops and other group activities may be held at any time. The Executive Board shall meet as needed. Committees may meet as necessary to accomplish their goals.
Section 2. A Quorum for the transaction of business at the YALS meetings shall be 10% of the current membership.
Section 3. YALS members may submit any recommendations for nominations for the YALS Executive Board to the Immediate Past President for consideration prior to the Fall YALS meeting.
Article IX. Bylaw Changes
Changes to these Bylaws may be made at a YALS meeting by an affirmative vote of two thirds of members present. Members must be notified of proposed changes prior to the meeting.
Article X. Dissolution
YALS may be voluntarily dissolved upon an affirmative vote of two thirds of its members. Immediately upon dissolution, all YALS funds in custody of NHLA shall be put into the NHLA general fund. Voting shall take place at a YALS meeting.
Adopted April 24, 2008
Amended September 26, 2019