Youth Services Bylaws
BYLAWS
YOUTH SERVICES SECTION (YSS) INTEREST GROUP, MLA
Article 1: Name
The name of this organization is the Youth Services Section Interest Group of the Maine Library
Association.
Article II: Object
The object of this organization shall be to promote and to improve library service to young
people; to increase the number of people working with children and adolescents in libraries; to provide
opportunities for professional development; to further the awareness of children’s literature and
nonprint media within the library community and the general public. Goals for meeting these objectives
shall be set by the Executive Board of the Youth Services Section in response to membership needs and
current issues in library services.
Article III: Members
Any member of the Maine Library Association interested in the ojectives of the Youth Services
Section may become a member. The membership shall consist of these persons who notify the Maine
Library Association of their intent to join the Interest Group.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1.
The officers of YSS shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Treasurer and
Secretary shall be elected for two years. The Vice-Chair shall be elected for six years, serving two years as
Vice-Chair, two years as Chair of YSS, and two years as Chair of the Lupine Committee. The Vice-Chair
shall be elected on odd-numbered years, the Treasurer and Secretary on even-numbered years. Upon
completion of their terms, the Secretary and Treasurer shall become Lupine Committee members for the
period of two years if they so choose. The Secretary or Treasurer may choose to run for the seat of Vice-
Chair. Election of the officers shall take place at the annual meeting.
Section 2.
A. The Chair shall be the executive officer of YSS and as such shall convene and preside over
meetings of the Executive Board and of the general membership; prepare an annual report for the
membership and for the Maine Library Association; and represent YSS at the MLA Council meetings
when required.
B. The Vice-Chair shall act in the absence of the Chair, and perform such duties as the Executive
Board of YSS deems necessary.
C. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board of YSS and of
the general membership; distribute minutes of all meetings to the Executive Board of YSS at least two
weeks before their next regularly scheduled meeting; assist the Chair in preparing an annual report for
the membership; keep YSS members informed of activities and of the names of the officers and
members of its committees; publicize YSS activities to the library community and to the general public;
and create and preserve correspondence as required.
D. The Treasurer shall assist the Chair and the YSS Executive Board in preparing the annual
budget; keep accurate accounts of recipes and disbursements for YSS; prepare bi-monthly reports to be
presented by the Chair at the bi-monthly MLA meetings to be presented to the MLA president, and
prepare an annual budget report for the membership.
E. At the end of the officers’ terms they shall turn over any and all documents that have been
acquired during their term that would be deemed useful or necessary to the incoming officer of Chair no
more than two weeks after the end of their term.
Article V: Committees
Section 1.
The Lupine Award Committee shall consist of the Past Chair and Chair of YSS as well as two YSS
members from each district. The Lupine Committee shall be responsible for selecting the YSS members
from each district. The Lupine Committee shall be responsible for selecting the Lupine Award
recipients(s) each year. The committee may choose a total of two Lupine Award recipients, one from
each category of Picture Book and Juvenile/YA. In addition, the committee may choose to recognize up
to one title in each category as Lupine Honor books annually. The Lupine Award Committee shall also be
responsible for selecting the Katahdin Award recipient. The committee may choose one recipient
annually.
Section 2.
Other committees, standing or special, may be appointed by the Chair of YSS with the approval
of the Executive Board.
Section 3.
A majority of the members on a committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article VI: Executive Board
Section 1.
The Executive Board shall consist of the four officers and the Committee Chairs. The Maine
Library Association President, the State Librarian, and the Executive Secretary of the Maine Library
Association shall be non-voting, ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
Section 2.
In the event of a vacancy occurring before the annual meeting, the Chair shall appoint a person
from the YSS membership to serve the unexpired term with the approval of a majority of the Executive
Board.
Article VII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. No member of the Executive Board
shall serve on the Nominating Committee.
Section 2.
The names of members of the Nominating Committee shall be made available to the
membership 90 days prior to the annual meeting and the Committee shall welcome suggestions for
nominees from the individual members.
Section 3.
The nominating Committee shall submit to the Executive Board no later than 60 days prior to the
annual meeting a slate of Candidates willing to run for offices. If the Nominating Committee does not
submit a slate of Candidates, the Chair of YSS may notify the membership of available openings and
accept individual nominations to submit at the annual meeting.
Section 4.
At the annual meeting, other candidates may be nominated from the floor, their consent to
serve having been ascertained in advance.
Section 5.
Election shall be a majority vote at the annual meeting.
Article VIII: Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of YSS shall be held during the spring at a time and place determined by the
Executive Board. Special meetings may be held at any time as needed. Ten members shall constitute a
quorum at the annual meeting or at a special meeting.
Article IX: By-Laws
These by-laws can be amended at any regular meeting of YSS by a two-thirds vote, provided that
the amendment has been submitted, in writing, to the Executive Board of YSS no later than 60 days, and
to the membership no later than 30 days before the meeting.
Article X: Programming
YSS shall be responsible for two programs a year, one of which must take place at the Maine
Libraries Conference. YSS is also responsible for being involved in Reading Round up (RRU). RRU
responsibilities are as follows:
1. The Chair of YSS is to appoint an officer of member to represent YSS on the RRU Committee.
2. YSS is to split expenses 50/50 with RRU for one night of lodging and lunch for the Lupine Award
winners and one guest. If the Lupine Winners wish to attend the programs for the day, YSS will be
responsible for reimbursing RRU for the attendance fees.
3. YSS officers will be registered as soon as forms are sent out. The Chair of YSS will be responsible for
sendig the officer’s information to RRU. Payment will be allowed at a later date if necessary, but no later
than the close of registration.
Amended 1992, 1993, 2000, and 2005
YOUTH SERVICES SECTION (YSS) INTEREST GROUP, MLA
Article 1: Name
The name of this organization is the Youth Services Section Interest Group of the Maine Library
Association.
Article II: Object
The object of this organization shall be to promote and to improve library service to young
people; to increase the number of people working with children and adolescents in libraries; to provide
opportunities for professional development; to further the awareness of children’s literature and
nonprint media within the library community and the general public. Goals for meeting these objectives
shall be set by the Executive Board of the Youth Services Section in response to membership needs and
current issues in library services.
Article III: Members
Any member of the Maine Library Association interested in the ojectives of the Youth Services
Section may become a member. The membership shall consist of these persons who notify the Maine
Library Association of their intent to join the Interest Group.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1.
The officers of YSS shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Treasurer and
Secretary shall be elected for two years. The Vice-Chair shall be elected for six years, serving two years as
Vice-Chair, two years as Chair of YSS, and two years as Chair of the Lupine Committee. The Vice-Chair
shall be elected on odd-numbered years, the Treasurer and Secretary on even-numbered years. Upon
completion of their terms, the Secretary and Treasurer shall become Lupine Committee members for the
period of two years if they so choose. The Secretary or Treasurer may choose to run for the seat of Vice-
Chair. Election of the officers shall take place at the annual meeting.
Section 2.
A. The Chair shall be the executive officer of YSS and as such shall convene and preside over
meetings of the Executive Board and of the general membership; prepare an annual report for the
membership and for the Maine Library Association; and represent YSS at the MLA Council meetings
when required.
B. The Vice-Chair shall act in the absence of the Chair, and perform such duties as the Executive
Board of YSS deems necessary.
C. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board of YSS and of
the general membership; distribute minutes of all meetings to the Executive Board of YSS at least two
weeks before their next regularly scheduled meeting; assist the Chair in preparing an annual report for
the membership; keep YSS members informed of activities and of the names of the officers and
members of its committees; publicize YSS activities to the library community and to the general public;
and create and preserve correspondence as required.
D. The Treasurer shall assist the Chair and the YSS Executive Board in preparing the annual
budget; keep accurate accounts of recipes and disbursements for YSS; prepare bi-monthly reports to be
presented by the Chair at the bi-monthly MLA meetings to be presented to the MLA president, and
prepare an annual budget report for the membership.
E. At the end of the officers’ terms they shall turn over any and all documents that have been
acquired during their term that would be deemed useful or necessary to the incoming officer of Chair no
more than two weeks after the end of their term.
Article V: Committees
Section 1.
The Lupine Award Committee shall consist of the Past Chair and Chair of YSS as well as two YSS
members from each district. The Lupine Committee shall be responsible for selecting the YSS members
from each district. The Lupine Committee shall be responsible for selecting the Lupine Award
recipients(s) each year. The committee may choose a total of two Lupine Award recipients, one from
each category of Picture Book and Juvenile/YA. In addition, the committee may choose to recognize up
to one title in each category as Lupine Honor books annually. The Lupine Award Committee shall also be
responsible for selecting the Katahdin Award recipient. The committee may choose one recipient
annually.
Section 2.
Other committees, standing or special, may be appointed by the Chair of YSS with the approval
of the Executive Board.
Section 3.
A majority of the members on a committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article VI: Executive Board
Section 1.
The Executive Board shall consist of the four officers and the Committee Chairs. The Maine
Library Association President, the State Librarian, and the Executive Secretary of the Maine Library
Association shall be non-voting, ex-officio members of the Executive Board.
Section 2.
In the event of a vacancy occurring before the annual meeting, the Chair shall appoint a person
from the YSS membership to serve the unexpired term with the approval of a majority of the Executive
Board.
Article VII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members. No member of the Executive Board
shall serve on the Nominating Committee.
Section 2.
The names of members of the Nominating Committee shall be made available to the
membership 90 days prior to the annual meeting and the Committee shall welcome suggestions for
nominees from the individual members.
Section 3.
The nominating Committee shall submit to the Executive Board no later than 60 days prior to the
annual meeting a slate of Candidates willing to run for offices. If the Nominating Committee does not
submit a slate of Candidates, the Chair of YSS may notify the membership of available openings and
accept individual nominations to submit at the annual meeting.
Section 4.
At the annual meeting, other candidates may be nominated from the floor, their consent to
serve having been ascertained in advance.
Section 5.
Election shall be a majority vote at the annual meeting.
Article VIII: Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of YSS shall be held during the spring at a time and place determined by the
Executive Board. Special meetings may be held at any time as needed. Ten members shall constitute a
quorum at the annual meeting or at a special meeting.
Article IX: By-Laws
These by-laws can be amended at any regular meeting of YSS by a two-thirds vote, provided that
the amendment has been submitted, in writing, to the Executive Board of YSS no later than 60 days, and
to the membership no later than 30 days before the meeting.
Article X: Programming
YSS shall be responsible for two programs a year, one of which must take place at the Maine
Libraries Conference. YSS is also responsible for being involved in Reading Round up (RRU). RRU
responsibilities are as follows:
1. The Chair of YSS is to appoint an officer of member to represent YSS on the RRU Committee.
2. YSS is to split expenses 50/50 with RRU for one night of lodging and lunch for the Lupine Award
winners and one guest. If the Lupine Winners wish to attend the programs for the day, YSS will be
responsible for reimbursing RRU for the attendance fees.
3. YSS officers will be registered as soon as forms are sent out. The Chair of YSS will be responsible for
sendig the officer’s information to RRU. Payment will be allowed at a later date if necessary, but no later
than the close of registration.
Amended 1992, 1993, 2000, and 2005
