Student American Library Association (SALA) Chapter at the University of Washington

Constitution

ARTICLE I: Official Name

The official name of this organization shall be the Student American Library Association at the University of Washington.

ARTICLE II: Purpose

The purposes of this organization are:

  1. To facilitate and encourage participation in the American Library Association.
  2. To increase awareness and use of the resources or the American Library Association, including publications, promotional materials, scholarships, and conferences.
  3. To provide a local forum for the exchange of ideas and information about trends, issues, and opportunities in the profession.
  4. To develop skills and relationships that will enable students to have a creative impact on the profession.
  5. To promote involvement in professional activities beyond the classroom.
  6. To increase awareness of national issues in library and information science.

ARTICLE III: Membership Requirements

All members of the organization shall be:

  1. Currently enrolled in the MLIS program of the Information School at the University of Washington.
  2. Membership in the American Library Association is encouraged but not required.

ARTICLE IV: Activities

  1. The chapter shall hold periodic General Meetings, open to all Information School students, faculty and staff, as the Officers deem necessary.
  2. The chapter reserves the right to hold closed leadership meetings as necessary.
  3. Activities and programs will be planned with the purpose or purposes set forth in Article II.
  4. Activities and programs sponsored by SALA will be open to individuals who are not chapter members.
  5. Only MLIS students of the Information School at the University of Washington who are members of the American Library Association are eligible to vote in matters concerning this organization.

ARTICLE V: Officers

  1. The Officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Publicity Officer, and Web Developer.
  2. An Executive Board shall exist and consist of the Officers and the Faculty Advisor as Member Ex-Officio.
  3. The officers shall have the following responsibilities:
    1. The President shall head the Executive Board and have the ultimate responsibility for the functioning of the organization and its relationship with ALA headquarters. The President shall convene and conduct the General Meetings and has the primary responsibility for recruitment. The President shall be responsible in coordination with the other Officers for the planning of organization activities that relate to the WLA Annual Conference and the ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, if SALA chooses to participate in said conferences.
    2. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall assume the office of President should it become vacated during the stated term of office. The vice-President shall assume the duties of Treasurer and shall maintain control of the bank book and shall be responsible for payment of any bills by SALA.
    3. The Secretary shall be in charge of taking meeting minutes, compiling them, and disseminating them to the Officers for their personal files. The Secretary shall also be responsible for coordinating with the other Officers in the planning and execution of the organization’s activities. The Secretary shall also coordinate the chapter annual registration with the Student Activities Office of the University of Washington.
    4. The Publicity Officer shall be responsible for the planning and coordination of organization activities in cooperation with the other Officers and the general membership. The Publicity Officer shall also be primarily responsible for collecting and disseminating information received from ALA headquarters. The Publicity Officer shall be able to form an ad hoc Program Committee as needed.
    5. The Web Development Officer shall be responsible for creating and maintaining the organization’s presence on the World Wild Web. The Web Development Officer shall coordinate with the other Officers to disseminate the organization’s information electronically.

ARTICLE VI: Elections and Terms of Office

  1. Elections:
    1. All MLIS students currently enrolled at the Information School at the University of Washington are entitled to run for office or vote for the officers of this organization. ALA membership in encouraged but not required for the purpose of Officer Elections.
    2. Student ALA membership is required of Officers.
    3. Nominations for officers shall be invited annually and coordinated by the outgoing officers.
    4. Elections shall take place by ballot at a general election. Judgment of adequate representation shall be at the discretion of the Faculty Advisor.
  2. Terms of Office.
    1. Terms for all Officers shall be for one(1) year.
    2. In the event of a vacancy prior to the expiration of a term of office, the President and the Faculty Advisor will name an interim officer to serve until the next General Meeting, at which time a special election will be held to fill the vacancy.

ARTICLE VII: Committees

Committees shall be appointed as necessary by the Executive Board. the Publicity Officer will work with an ad hoc Planning Committee as needed.

ARTICLE VIII: Parliamentary Procedure

All questions of Parliamentary Procedure shall be decided in accordance with the forms laid down in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX: Amendments

Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be introduced by an member at any meeting or by petition to the President. Ratification shall be determined by a majority of those present at the next meeting of the organization.

ARTICLE X:

Ratification of this Constitution shall be determined by the Officers at a special leadership meeting addressing this specific issue.

ARTICLE XI:

  1. The Student American Library Association (SALA) is a part of the American Library Association which connects MLIS students of the Information School of the University of Washington with the main body of ALA members.
  2. Through this affiliation ALA provides the following:
    1. Information regarding membership to ALA and its various divisions and round tables.
    2. Conference fees and accommodations for one Student ALA member to attend ALA’s annual conference (in exchange for working half-time at the conference).
    3. Information regarding other Student ALA groups at other Library Schools throughout the United States.

Ratified, November 12, 1985, Seattle, Washington.
Article VI, Section A, parts 2 and 3 amended October 29, 1990.
Article IV, Section D, amended October 21, 1991.
Article XI amended October 21, 1991.
Article V, Section C, part 2 amended March 5, 1993.
Amended January 25, 2002 to reflect changes in Officer’s titles and duties.
Amended January 25, 2002 to reflect organization name change to SALA.

Accepted by Executive Board January 25, 2002.

Article III, Section B amended October 11, 2002.
Article IV, Sections A and B amended October 11, 2002.
Article V, Section C, parts 1 and 3 amended October 11, 2002.
Article VI, Section A, parts 1 and 2 amended October 11, 2002.

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