Bylaws

Article I – Name

This organization is and shall be known as the Board of Trustees of the Corinth Free Library, a Free Association library district, existing by virtue of the provisions in the Absolute Charter Number 3622 granted by the Regents of the University of the state of New York on December 31, 1926, and exercising the powers and authority and assuming the responsibilities delegated to it under the said charter.

            The purpose of the Corinth Free Library is to assemble, preserve, and provide printed and other materials that will meet the day-to-day educational, informational, cultural, and recreational interests and needs of the community in compliance with local, state, and federal laws.

Article II-Management

  1. The business and affairs of the Board of Trustees of the Corinth Free Library shall be managed and conducted by a board consisting of not less than 5 nor more than 9 members. The number of voting members of the board shall be 9. No paid employee of the library may be a member of the Board of Trustees. A majority of the trustees shall be residents of the chartered service area. Vacancies on the board are filled at the annual meeting by vote of all members present. 
  2. The term of office of Trustees shall be 5 years to begin immediately upon adjournment of the annual meeting and shall end on January of the fifth year following appointment unless the Trustee shall have resigned or otherwise terminated membership on the board.
  3. Vacancies which occur for reasons other than expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term by the Board of Trustees. At the descretion of the board, any Trustee who shall fail to attend three consecutive regular meetings shall be deemed to have resigned as a Trustee, and the vacancy shall be filled at the next regular meeting.
  4. Newly elected-appointed Trustees shall be provided with appropriate orientation by the Board President and the Library Director, and shall be given a copy of the Corinth Free Library By-Laws.

Article III – Officers

  1. The officers of the board shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, where applicable, elected from among the Board of Trustees.
  2. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting by a majority vote of the Board, and shall serve a one year term. Tenure of President of the Board shall be limited to three consecutive full terms.
  3. President-shall preside at all meetings of the Board except the annual meeting, authorize calls for any special meetings, appoint all committees, execute all documents authorized by the Board, serve as ex-officio voting member of all committees, and generally perform all duties associated with that office.
  4.  Vice-President- shall assume and perform the duties and functions of the President in the event of absence or disability of the President, or of a vacancy in that office. In case both the President and the Vice-President are absent from a meeting, any member may call the meeting to order, and members present (there being a quorum) shall elect a chairman pro tem.
  5. Secretary- shall keep a true and accurate record of all meetings of the Board, shall issue notice of all regular and special meetings, and shall perform such other duties as are generally associated with that office. An assistant secretary who need not be a Trustee may be selected by the Board to assist the secretary in performance of his/her duties. 
  6. Treasurer-shall attend to the fiscal affairs of the library. The Treasurer shall pay out funds by check signed by the Treasurer, or in the case of the disability or absence of the Treasurer, by the President. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all moneys received and disbursed and shall make a report thereof to the Board at all regular meetings and at other times as the Board shall require. The Treasurer shall submit the finance section of the annual report to the New York State Education Department as required. An Assistant Treasurer who need not be a Trustee may be selected by the Board to assist the Treasurer in the performance of his/her duties.

Article IV – Committees

  1. The President shall appoint committees of one or more members each for such specific purposes as the business of the Board may require from time to time. The committee shall be considered to be discharged upon the completion of the purpose for which it was appointed and after the final report is made to the Board.
  2. All committees shall make a progress report to the Board at regular meetings.
  3. No committee shall have other than advisory powers unless, by suitable action of the Board, it is granted specific power to act.
  4. A nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President three months prior to the annual meeting to designate a slate of officers. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. The vote shall be by secret written ballot if two or more Trustees have been nominated for one office.

Article V – Meetings

  1. Meetings shall be held on a quarterly basis, at dates and times to be established by the Board at the Annual meeting and shall be open to the public except when individual personnel issues are being discussed. Notice of meetings shall be given to all Trustees by the Secretary at least one week prior to the meeting and a public notice shall be posted on the library bulletin board and on the library’s website by the librarian.
  2. The Annual meeting shall be held in January. The President shall ask a citizen of the community to preside.
  3. Special meetings may be called by the President or any three Trustees.
  4. A majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
  5. The order of business shall include, but not be limited to:
  • Roll call of members
  • Discussion with public or employee visitors
  • Review of minutes of previous meetings
  • Treasurer’s report
  • Library Director’s report
  • Committee reports, if any
  • Nominations and elections, if any
  • Unfinished business
  • New business
  • Announcements and adjournments

    6.  The Library Director shall attend all meetings, may participate in the discussion and offer advice, but is denied a vote upon any question.                 

Article VI – Library Director

  1. The Board shall appoint a qualified Library Director who shall be the executive and administrative officer of the library on behalf of the Board and under its review and direction.
  2. The Library Director shall recommend to the Board the appointment and specify the duties of library employees and no appointments, promotions, or dismissals shall be made without this recommendation.
  3. The Director shall be held responsible for the proper performance of duties as spelled out in the job description provided by the Board.
  4. The Director shall have interim authority to appoint temporary employees without prior approval of the Board provided that such appointments are reported at the next regular meeting.

Article VII

In accordance with section 1116(a), Paragraph 4, of the New York State Sales and Use Tax Law, the Board shall comply with the following provisions:

            1. The corporation hereby created shall be a nonstock corporation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes, and no part of its earnings or net income shall inure to the benefit of any individual; and no officer, member, or employee of the corporation shall receive or be entitled to receive any pecuniary profit from the operations thereof, except reasonable compensation for services.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from  Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future Federal tax code) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future Federal tax code).  No part of the net earning or net income of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director or officer of the corporation, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the corporation), and no member, trustee, director or officer of the corporation, or any private individual, shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets upon dissolution of the corporation.