LHRT (Library History Round Table)

Dear members of LHRT:

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, 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 has been modified by the Executive Board.

Now, we invite all LHRT members to weigh in on our draft.   Please see links below for complete information.

• For reference, LHRT is currently governed by a Constitution and Bylaws, with a supplemental Officers' Handbook.   You may review a document combining all three at this link.

We are proposing two new documents:

• Bylaws which describe the structure of our governing body
• A Handbook which lays out in some detail the actual operations of the round table

The bylaws 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.  We've checked with the ALA Elections Committee and they say the balloting system can handle it.
• 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 document 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 the Nominating Committee, the Research Committee, and the Awards Committees; those are necessary for the immediate 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

You're invited take a look at what we've prepared and share your thoughts.  You can use the comments function in Google Drive.  If you prefer to make comments privately, we welcome them via email, too.  (steven.knowlton@princeton.edu) 

All comments will be reviewed by the Executive Board at our meeting on June 17.  If all goes well,  the Executive Board will vote on these revised bylaws.  If the Executive Board approves them, they will be on the ballot in spring 2025 for the general membership to approve or not.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Steve Knowlton, Chris Cullnane, Michele Fenton

Bylaws Revision Committee

P. S. We recognize that there are some formatting issues, and some areas where the singular/plural agreement needs tweaking.   If you have sharp eyes and catch anything, we welcome that kind of comment, too!

------------------------------
Steven Knowlton
Librarian for History and African American Studies
Princeton University Library
------------------------------

------------------------------
Steven Knowlton
Librarian for History and African American Studies
Princeton University Library
------------------------------