Mission
The mission of the Hawaii Association of School Librarians (HASL) is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, develop and provide leaders in the school library media field through collaborative efforts.
Who are we?
A state-wide organization composed primarily of librarians from public schools, private schools, academic libraries, and special libraries.
What do we do?
For Librarians -- exchange and share ideas, network with other librarians both state-wide and nationally, offer professional programs and support groups, coordinate activities with other professional associations, coordinate legislative action groups.
For the Community -- Colloquiums for UH Manoa, College of Education, National Library Week activities, Great American Read Aloud Literacy program participation, and involvement of cohort/student teachers.
Goals
At the school level:
HASL supports members of the school library media field as they collaborate to:
- provide leadership in the total education program,
- participate as active partners in the teaching learning process,
- connect learners with ideas and information, and
- prepare students for lifelong learning, informative decision making, a love for reading and the use of information technologies
At the organizational level:
HASL works to realize its mission by using various means of collaboration and communication to:
- systematically design and operate an effective program of library advocacy,
- plan and implement professional development activities to meet members' needs, and
- nurture and build grassroots systems for collegial support
By laws [Download PDF version here]
BY LAWS OF THE
HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS
ARTICLE I
NAME
This corporation shall be known as the Hawaii Association of School Librarians (HASL) and shall be affiliated with the American Association of School Librarians.
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Regular Members. Any persons actively or previously engaged in library media work on a professional basis may become regular members upon payment of their annual dues. A regular member is entitled to all rights and privileges. (S)he may vote and hold any elective or appointive office.
Section 2. Associate Members. Clerical staff, aides, college students, and interested lay people may become associate members upon payment of their annual dues. An associate member is entitled to all rights and privileges except that (s)he may not vote nor hold any elective office. However, (s)he may serve on any duly authorized committee.
Section 3. Institutional Members. Any institutions or organizations actively engaged or interested in the school library media field may become members upon payment of their annual dues. An institutional member, through its authorized representative, is entitled to all rights and privileges except the rights to vote and to hold elective office. However, the representative may serve on any duly authorized committee.
Section 4. Honorary Members. Any persons who have unselfishly contributed their time and talents toward the improvement of school library media centers and services may be nominated for honorary membership. All nominations must be submitted to the Executive Board on a petititon signed by at least twenty-five (25) other members of the Association. At least five of the voting members of the Executive Board must approve before the honorary membership is bestowed upon the honoree. An honorary member is entitled to all rights and privileges except that (s)he may not vote nor hold any office.
Section 5. Membership Year. The membership year shall begin on October 1st and shall run for a full calendar year.
Section 6. Dues. Annual dues shall be paid by all members except honorary members. Dues shall be payable by October 31st for all members. Members whose dues are unpaid by October 31st shall be dropped from membership. They may be reinstated for the remainder of the year upon payment of dues. Any changes in dues shall be made by two-thirds vote of members voting. Members will be informed of proposed changes at least two weeks prior to voting.
OFFICERS
Section 1. Kinds of Officers. The officers of this Association shall be the president, the first vice-president, the second vice-president, the recording secretary, the corresponding secretary, and the treasurer.
Section 2. Term of Office. Each officer shall be elected for a single term except for the treasurer and the second vice-president who will be elected for two terms. A term of office shall begin on June 1 and terminate on May 31 of the following year. The terms of the treasurer and second vice-president shall begin in alternating years. No member shall hold the same elective office more than twice in succession.
Section 3. Duties of the President. The President shall preside over the regular, special, and Executive Board meetings of the Association, but (s)he shall vote only when a single vote is needed to decide the issue being voted upon. (S)he shall appoint the chairperson of all standing, special, and ad hoc committees and may assist in the selection of committee members. (S)he shall serve as an ex-officio member, without vote, of all committees except the Auditing Committee and the Nominating committee. With the consent of the Executive Board, (s)he shall appoint an Association member to fill a vacancy on the board. The first vice-president shall perform all the duties of the president in the latter's absence. (S)he shall serve as the program chairperson. The President shall have had experience as a HASL Executive Board member. (amended March 2, 2002)
Section 4. Duties of the First Vice-President. The first vice-president shall perform all the duties of the president in the latter's absence. (S)he shall serve as the program chairperson as listed in the paragraph below.
Section 5. Duties of the Second Vice-President. The second vice-president shall have the major responsibility for membership and recruitment. (S)he shall collect membership dues and membership data. (S)he shall maintain an accurate record of all members in good standing and shall be responsible for the organization, publication and distribution of the Membership Directory at least in alternating years. (S)he shall make accurate and up-to-date mailing labels available as needed for Association business. In the absence of the president and first vice-president, (s)he shall call the meeting to order and preside until a chairperson pro-tem has been elected.
Section 6. Duties of the Recording Secretary. The recording secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all regular, special, and Executive Board meetings. (S)he shall duplicate and distribute copies of the minutes and committee reports as directed by the president or Executive Board. Also as directed, (s)he shall notify the members concerned when and where regular, special, and Executive Board meetings are to be held. (S)he shall collect and maintain a complete file of all committee reports and minutes. These are official records of the Association which shall be turned over to the new incoming president.
Section 7. Corresponding Secretary. The corresponding secretary shall perform all the duties of the recording secretary in the latter's absence. (S)he shall carry on all necessary correspondence for the Association as directed by the president of the Executive Board. (S)he shall collect and maintain a complete file of pertinent correspondence, news clippings, photographs, newletters, and other publications of the Association. These are official records of the association which shall be turned over to the new incoming president.
Section 8. Duties of the Treasurer. The treasurer shall be the authorized custodian of funds of the Association. (S)he shall submit a financial report at each Executive Board Meeting. For each business meeting of the Association, (s)he shall prepare for the general membership a written report concerning receipts, disbursements, and investments of the Association. (S)he shall sign all the checks to pay all bills authorized by the Executive Board. If the treasurer is unable to sign a check due to illness, absence or other legitimate reason, checks may be signed by the president or vice-president, but only until the treasurer is able to assume this responsibility. The treasurer shall be responsible for the accounting of dues and shall maintain a record of paid membership.
Section 9. Filling vacancies. If the president is unable to complete the full term, the vice-president shall become president, complete the remainder of the unexpired term, and then continue through his/her term. Any other vacancy occuring among the elected members of the Executive Board shall be filled by an Association member appointed by the president with advice and consent of the Executive Board. The new appointees shall complete the remainder of that term of office. Appointment to an unexpired term of at least six months shall be considered the equivalent of one term in that office.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. Voting Members. The Executive Board shall consist of eight voting members who shall be elected by the membership. They are the six officers plus two members-at-large called directors. At the first election one director will be elected for a single term and the other for two terms. Thereafter, one director will be elected annually for two terms.
Section 2. Ex Officio Members. The chairpersons of all standing, special, and ad hoc committees, editors of official publications of the Association, and liaison persons to other professional groups shall be ex officio, non-voting members of the Executive Board.
Section 3. Balance Representation. The Executive Board should, to the extent possible, reflect the general membership of the Association with representatives from public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools as well as other kinds of members.
Section 4. General Duties. The Executive Board shall administer the business of the Association and shall have the power in the intervals between business meetings of the Association to act on all matters on which at least five of the voting members agree. However, the Executive Board shall not act contrary to the expressed desires of the membership.
Section 5. Responsibility for Budget. Preceding the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal lyear, the current Executive Board shall prepare a tentative working budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1st. This budget shall be submitted for approval by the membership at the next Association business meeting.
Section 6. Meetings. The out-going and in-coming Executive Boards shall meet jointly within one month following the election meeting. Thereafter, meetings shall be called at the discretion of the president or at the request of a majority of the voting members of the Executive Board.
Section 7. Quorum. Five voting members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Authorization. Standing, special, and ad hoc committees shall be authorized by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The president shall appoint all committee chairpersons and may assist in recruiting other committee members.
Section 2. Term of Office. Unless otherwise specified by the Executive Board, all committee memberships will be for a single term and shall expire at the same time as the terms of the elected officers.
Section 3. Nominating Committee. At least forty-five (45) days prior to the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year, the president shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three members. Executive Board members are not eligible to serve on this committee, except the Director of Nominations.
Section 4. Auditing Committee. Every year at least thirty (30) days prior to the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year, the president shall appoint an auditing committee of at least three members. Executive Board members are not eligible to serve on this committee. The committee shall carefully examine and check the treasurer's financial records and report from the time(s) he first assumed this office to the present. An official written report of the audit shall be submitted by the committee at the following school year Fall Conference.
MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Business Meetings. The association shall hold at least two regular business meetings per year, one during each half of the fiscal year. These shall be held in conjunction with planned programs and/or exhibits of a professional nature.
Section 2. Special Business Meetings. Special business meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the voting members of the Executive Board. In addition, the president must call a special business meeting upon receiving a petition signed by at least twenty-five (25) members of the Association. At least two weeks notice of the meeting must be given to the membership and only the business for which the meeting is being called may be transacted.
Section 3. Quorum. Ten percent (10%) of the members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 4. Special Program Meetings. Special program meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the voting members of the Executive Board whenever such an action appears to be desirable and beneficial.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Time of Election. The election of officers shall be held prior to the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year. This meeting may be referred to as the election meeting.
Section 2. Nominating Committee. At least forty-five (45) days prior to the election meeting, the president shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three members.
Section 3. Duties. The Nominating committee shall present, whenever possible, at least two nominees for each position which needs to be filled that year. The committee shall also provide for write-in candidates. In all cases, the consent of the nominee must be obtained before the name can be placed oln the ballot.
Section 4. Voting Procedure. Voting shall be by mail.
Section 5. Reporting Election Results. The Nominating Committee shall report the results of the balloting to the president as soon as the ballots have been counted. The president shall confidentially notify each candidate of the election results prior to the meeting at which the results will be officially announced.
Section 6. Vote Necessary to Elect and Term of Office. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes for a given office shall be elected to that office and shall serve for the term(s) specified in the bylaws or until a successor is elected. (S)he shall assume the official duties on June 1 following the election meeting or as soon thereafter as possible in a situation where no nominee was elected to fill the position.
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The latest edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER shall be the parliamentary authority governing the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with these bylaws or any special rules of order the Association may adopt. When necessary, the services of a qualified parliamentarian may be requested.
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended at any regular of special business meeting by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting. The proposed amendment(s) must be presented to the membership in writing at least two weeks before the meeting.
DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution or other termination of this organization, the net assets shall be transferred to another organization organized and operated for a similar exempt purpose, or to the Federal, state, or local government for a public purpose.
Duties of the Director(s):
The Director of Nomiantions will preside over the nomination committee.
-with the assistance of the committee, will solicit nominations and conduct the elections for next year's Executive Board.
The Director of Awards will coordinate the selection process.
-with assistance of the committee, (s)he will solicit nominations and conduct the selection of the best qualified candidate for the perspective award.
Members of the Executive Board (Voting Members):
The Executive Board shall consist of eight voting members who shall be elected by the membership. They are the six officers plus two members-at-large called directors.
The Executive Board should, to the extent possible, reflect the general membership of the Association with representatives from public, private, and parochial elementary and secondary schools as well as other kinds of members.
The Executive Board shall administer the business of the Association and shall have the power in the intervals between business meetings of the association to act on all matters on which at least five of the voting members agree. However, the Executive board shall not act contrary tot he expressed desires of the membership.
Preceding the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year, the current Executive Board shall prepare a tentative working budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1st. This budget shall be submitted for approval by the membership at the next Association business meeting.
The out-going and in-coming Executive Boards shall meet jointly within one month following the election meeting; thereafter, meetings shall be called at the discretion of the president or at the request of a majority of the voting members of the Executive Board.
Five voting members of the Executive Board shall contitute a quorum.
Authorization:
Standing, special, and ad hoc committees shall be authorized by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Nominating Committee:
At least forty-five (45) days prior to the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year, the president shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three members. Executive Board members are not eligible to serve on this committee.
The election of officers shall be held prior to the regular business meeting held during the second half of the fiscal year. This meeting may be referred to as the election meeting.
The Nominating committee shall present, whenever possible, at least two nominees for each position which needs to be filled that year. The committee shall also provide for write-in candidates. In all cases, the consent of the nominee must be obtained before the name can be placed on the ballot.
Voting shall be by mail.
The nominee receiving the highest number of votes for a given office shall be elected to that office and shall serve for the term(s) specified in the bylaws or until a successor is elected. (S)he shall assume the official duties on June 1 following the election meeting or as soon thereafter as possible in a situation where no nominee was elected to fill the position.
The Nominating Committee shall report the results of the balloting to the president as soon as the ballots have been counted.
The committee shall announce the winners of the election at the election meeting and shall submit an official written report.
Parliamentary Authority:
The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority governing the Association in all cases in which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with these bylaws or any special rules of order the Association may adopt. When necessary, the services of a qualified parliamentarian may be requested.
Revised 02/17/07
