On your ALA ballot this spring, you will be asked to vote on adoption of restated Rules for the Library History Round Table. "Rules" is the currently preferred term for the document that was formerly called "Bylaws".
If a majority of Round Table members adopt the new Rules, they will go into effect in 2026.
For background, the ALA has asked all of its round tables to revise their bylaws, to accord with a newly issued template from the Round Table Coordinating Assembly.
To that end, in 2023 we convened a Bylaws Revision Committee (Steve Knowlton, Michele Fenton, and Chris Cullnane). The committee met with past officers, the current board, and the ALA Parliamentarian to consider how our round table might best be governed. The committee prepared a draft, which was open to comments from LHRT members, and was modified and then approved by the Executive Board.
The proposed new Rules are accompanied by a new Handbook.
Per the ALA, the Rules can only be modified by a majority vote of round table members. The Handbook can be modified by a majority vote of the executive board.
The Rules and Handbook offer some changes to the current structure:
- The number and nature of the elected officers is slightly modified; the idea is to reduce the burden on any given elected officer and give each officer specific opportunities to contribute to the work of the round table. The creation of four members-at-large with designated areas of responsibility appears to be a novelty in ALA.
- There are provisions for filling vacancies if they arise, and for orientation of new officers, and methods of redress should officers be unable to fulfill their duties
Some language we've introduced that we think will help make the documents clearer:
- We distinguished elected officers (Chair, Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, Immediate Past Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Member-at-Large A, Member-at-Large B, Member-at-Large C, Member-at-Large D, and ALA Councilor), from appointed administrators (editors, social media coordinator, web manager)
- When a vacant office is to be filled, we are using the term "selection" rather than "appointment"
We also hope the new system allows the round table to shape its own future:
- The only standing committees in the Handbook are those that are necessary for the immediate continuing needs of the round table
- The Handbook prescribes areas of authority to the elected officers and empowers them to create ad hoc committees to help make sure the work gets done; we think this will enable the round table to act more flexibly. If a standing committee seems necessary, there is a provision for creating them
The LHRT Executive Board believes the new Rules and Handbook offer solutions to some problems that arose in the past, while allowing flexibility for future LHRT leaders to shape the direction of the organization as the needs of the membership and the profession change. We ask that you carefully consider this ballot proposal and vote Yes if you agree.
Immediate Past President, LHRT; former chair, Bylaw Revision Committee
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Steven Knowlton
Librarian for History and African American Studies
Princeton University Library
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