Library Board of Directors Bylaws
BYLAWS
The Board of Trustees
Cranberry Public Library
ARTICLE I – NAME AND LOCATION
This board is known as the Board of Trustees of the Cranberry Public Library (herein after referred to as the “Board”). The principal office for the transaction of business for the Cranberry Public Library (herein after referred to as “the Library”) is 2525 Rochester Road, Suite 300, Cranberry Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania 16066.
ARTICLE II - MISSION
The mission of the Library is to strengthen our community by serving as a hub for information, inspiration, and enrichment.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The Board consists of seven (7) members appointed by the Board of Supervisors of Cranberry Township, or its successors, for a term of three (3) years.
Section 2. The Board of Supervisors of Cranberry Township, or its successors, fills any vacancies occurring from any cause. Vacancies will be filled for the unexpired term. All members, if possible, will serve until their successors have been named.
Section 3. No member of the Board will receive any salary for his/her service.
Section 4. No member of the Board may miss more than two consecutive meetings, or three out of five consecutive meetings.
Section 5. No member of the Board may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Members serving one half or more of an unexpired term will be deemed to have served a full term.
Section 6. A Board member may be removed from the Board with or without cause by majority vote of the Board members, effective immediately.
Section 7. The Board shall operate without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability or handicap, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
ARTICLE IV - ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The Board will elect officers from its membership. The officers will be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. No officer can hold his/her office for more than three (3) consecutive years.
Section 2. The Board shall have standing committees of Finance, Personnel, and Policy. Other ad hoc committees may be created.
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President presides at all meetings of the Board, has general charge and direction of the business of the Board, and executes, in the name of the Board, all contracts and agreements authorized by the Board. The President may call a special meeting of the Board at any time, provided that reasonable notice be given.
Section 2. The Vice-President, in the absence of the President, exercises all the duties of the President.
Section 3. The Treasurer is the custodian of the monies of the Library and is responsible for its accounts and for making regular reports at each meeting. Payments of $1,000 or less may be approved and signed by any one of the following individuals: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, or Library Director. Payment in excess of $1,000 must have two of the above signatures.
Section 4. The Secretary keeps a record of all regular and special meetings of the Board and serves as custodian of all correspondence and records pertaining to the Board.
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings of the Board take place at least every other month on dates determined by the Board, in the library or virtually. A sign designating the time and location of regular meetings will be posted on the Library door in accordance with the Sunshine Laws. Meetings for the year will be announced through a public notice. Notice of time/place of Board meetings shall be communicated in advance and displayed in the Library and on its website, as required by law.
Section 2. Board meetings are subject to laws as stated in the Pennsylvania Library Code, Title 24.
Section 3. Four (4) members constitute a quorum at any meeting.
Section 4. Every regularly scheduled meeting will include time for public comment.
Citizens wishing to make public comment must provide their name for inclusion in the Library Board Minutes. Any presentation is limited to five (5) minutes. This time limit applies to a single individual or an individual presenting on behalf of a group. No person may speak more than once on the same topic. Regardless of the number of individuals who wish to speak, the public comment period shall not exceed a total of twenty (20) minutes. Comments should be presented with respect and courtesy to the Board and others who may be present at the meeting. The Board is neither expected nor required to respond to comments made during this portion of the meeting. The presiding officer is responsible for the orderly conduct of this and all other portions of a Board meeting.
Section 5. Participation in Meetings by Other Means. The Board may permit any or all members to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A member participating by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 6. Action without a Meeting. A vote on action required, or permitted to be taken, at a Board meeting may be taken without a meeting if the vote is consented by a quorum of members of the Board. The result of the vote shall be included in the minutes of the next board meeting and may be described as such in any document.
ARTICLE VII - FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year begins on January 1 of each year.
ARTICLE VIII - AUDIT
An audit of the Library's financial records must be completed each year prior to April 15 of the succeeding year and presented to the Board during a public meeting.
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Amendments may be made to these bylaws at any regular or special meeting of the Board by a vote of the members present with five (5) affirmative votes, provided that a written notice of the proposed amendment(s) is presented to the members one month before the meetings at which the voting is to take place.
ARTICLE X - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Robert's Rules of Order, revised when not in conflict with these bylaws, govern the proceedings of this Board.
Revised Bylaws
Adopted March 6, 1984
Article V, Section 3 - changed December 5, 1988
Article III, Section 4 - added November 30, 1989
Article XI - changed November 20, 1989 (NOW ARTICLE X)
Article III, Section 5 - added March 17, 1997
Article VIII ASSETS-Deleted February 9, 2004, SUCCEEDING ARTICLES RENUMBERED, EG. ARTICLE IX MADE ARTICLE VIII, ARTICLE X MADE ARTICLE IX, ARTICLE XI MADE ARTICLE X.
Revised October 6, 2006 to conform to “Financial Policies and Procedures Manual”.
Revised April 22, 2024