DLS Manual: Bylaws
	Distance Learning Section

Article I: Name
Section 1.
The name of this organization shall be the Distance Learning Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association.

Article II: Object
Section 1.
The primary objectives of the section shall be to advance distance learning librarianship and to foster and share information on extended campus library services. It shall be the further purpose of this section to contribute to library service and librarianship through programs, lectures and publications and to represent extended campus librarians.

Article III: Membership
Section 1.
Any member of the Association of College and Research Libraries may select membership in the Distance Learning Section. Every personal member of the section has the right to vote and is eligible to hold office.

Article IV: Officers
Section 1. Officers.
The officers of this section shall be: chair, vice-chair/chair-elect, immediate past chair, secretary/archivist-elect and archivist.

Section 2. Terms of Office.
The vice-chair will serve successively for one year as vice-chair, chair and immediate past chair.
The secretary/archivist-elect will serve successively for one year as secretary/archivist-elect and archivist.
All terms of office shall begin at the adjournment of the Annual Conference.

Section 3. Vacancies.
Chair and vice-chair/chair-elect. If the offices of both chair and vice-chair become vacant within the same year, the Executive Committee shall designate one of its members to act as chair until a chair is duly elected. At the next election, two candidates shall be elected, one to take the office of chair immediately and to serve for one year, the other to serve as vice-chair/chair-elect.
Secretary/archivist-elect. If the office of secretary/archivist-elect becomes vacant, a secretary/archivist-elect shall be elected at the next election for a two year term. A member of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by the chair to serve as interim secretary/archivist-elect until the election takes place.
Archivist. If the office of archivist becomes vacant, the current section secretary will assume the responsibilities of the position.

Article V: Executive Committee
Section 1. Composition.
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the section and two elected members-at-large. In addition the chairs of the standing committees and the chair of the Discussion Group shall serve as voting members. The chair of the section shall serve as chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Terms of Office.
The elected members-at-large serve for two years with one new member elected each year.

Section 3. Vacancies.
If a member-at-large resigns, the chair, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a successor to complete the unexpired term.

Section 4. Meetings.
Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at the time and place of the Annual and Midwinter Conferences of the American Library Association. Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the chair.

Section 5. Duties and Authority.
The Executive Committee shall have general oversight and direction of the affairs of the section. It shall conduct all business pertaining to the section, and shall have authority to make decisions for the section during the period between meetings.

Section 6. Quorum.
A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.

Article VI: Committees
Section 1. Authorization and Discontinuance.
Committees of the section as a whole shall be authorized or discontinued by action of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Standing Committees.
Standing committees may be established to consider matters of the section that require continuity of attention by the members. When such a committee is established, its charge, name, and size shall be determined. Unless otherwise approved by the Executive Committee, members of standing committees shall be appointed for two years and may be reappointed for a second term. In no case shall a person serve on a committee for more than four consecutive years. Appointments shall be made in such a manner as to provide continuity in membership and allow for broad representation from the membership.

Section 3. Special or Ad hoc Committees.
Special or ad hoc committees may be established at any time by the chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, for the performance of a particular assignment. No such committee may be continued beyond three years without review and reapproval by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Appointment
The vice-chair/chair-elect of the section shall appoint committee members to fill the vacancies due to occur during his/her term as chair. The vice-chair will name the chair of each committee. Special appointments to fill vacancies on committees may be made by the chair of the section on the advice of the committee chair.

Article VII: Discussion Groups
Section 1. Establishment
Any group of ten or more members of the section interested in discussing common concerns which fall within the objectives of the section may form a discussion group upon written petition from the group and approval by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Members.
Membership in a discussion group shall be open to all members of the section.

Section 3. Officers.
Officers are chair, vice-chair/chair-elect and secretary.

Section 4. Dissolution.
Discussion groups must petition every three years and be approved by the Executive Committee in order to continue meeting. A discussion group may be dissolved at its own request or by the Executive Committee if it becomes inactive or fails to comply with the provisions of this article.

Article VIII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Nominating Committee
The vice-chair/chair-elect of the section shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least three members who will serve for one year, designating one member as chair. The committee shall choose, in accordance with the deadlines prescribed by the Executive Director of the Association of the College and Research Libraries, a slate of two nominees for each of the offices of section vice-chair/chair-elect, section secretary/archivist-elect, two section members-at-large. All nominees must be personal members of the section and have consented in writing to their candidacy.

Section 2. Statement of Objectives.
To assist the membership of the section in making informed choices, each candidate shall be asked to provide a brief statement of objectives for the section in time for the statement to be published prior to balloting.

Section 3. Additional Nominees.
Additional nominations may be made by petition signed by at least ten members of the section. Petitions must be filed with the secretary/archivist-elect of the section and the Executive Director of the Association of College and Research Libraries at least three months prior to the date on which ballots must be mailed. Any such nominees must be personal members of the section and must submit written consent to stand for election and a statement of objectives.

Section 3. Election.
Elections shall be conducted by mail ballot. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected and the results reported to the Executive Director of ACRL. In the case of a tie vote, the successful candidate shall be determined by lot.

Article IX: Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the section shall be held at the time and place of the annual conference of the American Library Association.

Section 2. Special Meetings.
Other meetings of the section may be called by the chair with the approval of the Executive Committee. The section, with the approval of the Board of Directors of ACRL, may hold closed meetings or joint meetings with other sections.

Section 3. Quorum.
Members of the section present at an annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Article X. Amendments
Section 1. Proposals.
Amendments to the Bylaws may be proposed by any committee of the section or by petition signed by ten members of the section. Proposed amendments shall be presented in writing to the chair.

Section 2. Procedure.
Proposed amendments must be approved by the Executive Committee of the section and by the Board of Directors of the ACRL, following review by the ACRL Constitution and Bylaws Committee before membership can be notified of the proposed revisions.

Section 3. Voting.
The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at an annual meeting of the section or by mail vote approved by two-thirds of the members voting. Notice of the proposed changes must be published nor less than one month before final consideration.