ACRL Bylaws

Revisions Approved: April 11, 2018, April 29, 2011; May 2, 2008; December 2023
First Approval: April 29, 1998

Additional information on the activities of the Board of Directors is available in Chapter 2 of the ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures.

Article I: Name
Article II: Object
Article III: Relationship to the American Library Association
Article IV: Membership and Dues
Article V: Officers
Article VI: Executive Director
Article VII: Budget and Finance Committee Chair
Article VIII: ACRL Councilor
Article IX. Board of Directors
Article X: Executive Committee
Article XI: Nominations
Article XII: Meetings
Article XIII: Elections
Article XIV: Chapters
Article XV: Communities of Practice
Article XVI: Committees
Article XVII: Vacancies
Article XVIII: Mail and electronic votes
Article XIX: Parliamentary authority
Article XX: Amendment of bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), hereafter referred to as the Association.

Article II: Object

The Association is a forum for and an advocate of academic and research librarians and library personnel. The object of the Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of academic and research library resources and services, and to advance learning, research, and scholarly communication.

Article III: Relationship to the American Library Association

The Association is a division of the American Library Association. The constitution and bylaws of that organization, to the extent that they are applicable, take precedence over the bylaws of this organization.

Article IV: Membership and Dues

Section 1. Members. Any person, library, or other organization that is a member of the American Library Association may become a member of the Association upon payment of ACRL's annual dues.

Section 2. Rights. Every personal member of the Association has the right to vote, to hold any association-wide office, and/or to serve on committees. Personal members may elect membership in any of ACRL's Communities of Practice. Every personal member of a given Community of Practice has the right to vote, to hold any office, and/or to serve on committees in that Community. Organizational members shall receive those publications given as perquisites of membership to personal members.

Section 3. Dues. The amount of personal member dues shall be determined by the ACRL Board of Directors. Annually, the Board of Directors will review and may authorize a dues adjustment not to exceed the percentage change in the most current Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) rounded to the nearest dollar. Adjustments in excess of the percentage change in the most current HEPI are subject to the approval of the membership in a mail or electronic vote. Organizational and corporate member dues shall be determined by the ACRL Board of Directors.

Section 4. Membership year. The Association's membership, fiscal, and program year shall be the same as that of the American Library Association.

Section 5. Elective & appointive year. The term of office for elective and appointive positions of the Association, which are filled annually, shall be the period beginning with the adjournment of the annual conference and ending with the adjournment of the succeeding annual conference. Terms of office for elective positions occupied longer than one year shall be calculated from the adjournment of the annual conference.

Article V: Officers

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Association shall be a president, a vice-president who shall also be the president-elect, and an immediate past president.

Section 2. Terms of office. The vice-president shall be elected from the personal members of the Association and shall serve a one-year term as vice-president, a one-year term as president, and a one-year term as immediate past president.

Section 3. Responsibility and authority. The officers shall perform the duties pertaining to their respective offices and other such duties as may be defined by the Board of Directors.
a) President. The president shall serve as chair of the Board of Directors. The president, during his/her year, shall make appointments to fill positions that become vacant on standing and special committees during the year. The president shall perform such duties as are necessarily incident to the office of president or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The president shall represent the Association within the library and higher education communities, and other appropriate forums, to advance the mission and goals of the Association.
b) Vice-president. The vice-president shall succeed to the office of the president. The vice-president shall perform such duties as are delegated or assigned by the president or the Board of Directors, and shall perform the duties of president in the event that said individual is unable to serve. The vice-president shall make all appointments to fill vacancies on standing and special committees that are due to occur during the year of his/her presidency.
c) Immediate past president. The immediate past president shall perform such duties as are delegated or assigned by the president or the Board of Directors.

Article VI: Executive Director

Section 1. Executive director. The executive director of the Association shall be appointed by the executive director of the American Library Association in concurrence with the ACRL Board of Directors. The Association's officers shall form the personnel committee for the executive director.

Section 2. Responsibility and authority. The executive director shall be responsible for all management functions of the Association. The executive director shall manage and direct all activities of the Association as prescribed by the Board of Directors and shall be responsible to the Board; shall submit reports as required by the Board of Directors; shall serve as an ex-officio member without the vote of the Board of Directors; and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to this position by the Board of Directors. The executive director shall assist the president in representing the Association within the library and higher education communities.

Article VII: Budget and Finance Committee Chair

The ACRL Budget and Finance Committee chair is a member of the ACRL Board of Directors and serves on its Executive Committee. The Budget and Finance Committee chair provides leadership in maintaining the financial health of the Association and each year brings to the Board a recommended budget and recommended fiscal policies. The Budget and Finance Committee chair is appointed by the vice-president for a term not to exceed two years and may be reappointed for up to three additional years, not to exceed ten consecutive appointed years on the Budget and Finance Committee and five consecutive years on the Board.

Article VIII: ACRL Councilor

The ACRL councilor represents the interests of the Association on the ALA Council. The ACRL councilor is a member of the ACRL Board of Directors and serves on its Executive Committee. The councilor reports to the Board of Directors on ALA Council activities and receives direction from the Board regarding positions to be taken on ALA Council issues. The councilor is elected in accordance with the constitution and bylaws of the American Library Association.

Article IX. Board of Directors

Section 1. Members. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the Association, the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, the ACRL councilor, and eight elected directors-at-large. The ACRL executive director shall be an ex-officio member without vote.

Section 2. Responsibility & authority. The governing body of the association shall be the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall direct the affairs of the association; determine its policies or changes therein; actively encourage support for its goals; establish financial policies of the association and be accountable for association assets; and be responsible for the interpretation of these bylaws. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and may, in the execution of the powers granted, delegate certain of its authority and responsibility to such agents as it may consider necessary. The Board shall delegate the day-to-day operations of the Association to the executive director.

Section 3. Directors-at-Large. Directors-at-large shall be elected from the personal members of the Association for terms of four years.

a) One director-at-large shall be a member of the University Libraries Section; one shall be a member of the College Libraries Section; one shall be a member of from the Community and Junior College Libraries Section; two directors-at-large shall be a member of an ACRL Chapter with experience on Chapters Council; two shall be from ACRL’s Community of Practices; and one director-at-large shall be elected based upon nominations from the Divisional Leadership Recruitment and Nomination Committee.
b) These terms shall overlap so as to ensure continuity of policy. The election of directors-at-large based on section and council nominations shall be scheduled consecutively: year 1, University Libraries Section and Chapters Council; year 2, College Libraries Section and ACRL Communities of Practice; year 3, Community and Junior College Libraries Section and Chapters Council; year 4, ACRL Communities of Practice, and the at-large candidate. On the ballot, all nominees shall be listed as candidates for "directors-at-large."
c) Once elected director-at-large, a Board member may not serve as chair or as Board liaison officer of an ACRL section, interest group, chapter, or council for the duration of the four-year term. Nor may an elected director-at-large serve in that capacity on the Executive Committee of an ACRL section, interest group, chapter, or council.
d) Once elected, a President/Vice-President/Immediate Past President may not serve as chair or as Board liaison officer of an ACRL section, chapter, or council for the duration of the four-year term. Nor may an elected President/Vice-President/Immediate Past President serve in that capacity on the Executive Committee of an ACRL section, chapter, or council.

Section 4. Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a simple majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5. Meetings of the Board. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors will be held at a minimum on a quarterly basis and in conjunction with the American Library Association Annual Conference. Actions of the Board shall be reported in writing not later than the next Board meeting.

Section 6. Participation. In the case of continued failure of a director to participate in the deliberations of the Board, the Board may, by a vote of the majority of its members, declare the seat vacant and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in these bylaws.

Section 7. Compensation. Directors and elected officers shall not receive any compensation for their services.

Article X: Executive Committee

Section 1. Members. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Association, the ACRL councilor, the chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, and the ACRL executive director who shall serve without vote.

Section 2. Responsibility and authority. The Executive Committee may act in place and stead of the Board of Directors between Board meetings and may:
a) act for the Board and make decisions on matters which:
(1) require action before the next Board meeting,
(2) have been specifically delegated by the Board to the Executive Committee,
(3) affect the budget and require immediate action;
b) act for the Board in the administration of established policies and programs and make recommendations to the Board with respect to matters of policy and operations; and
c) review ACRL activities and programs and recommended priorities.
The Executive Committee's actions shall be reported in writing not later than the next meeting of the Board.

Section 3. Call of meetings. The President of the Association shall call meetings of the Executive Committee as the business of the Association requires.

Section 4. Quorum. At any meeting of the Executive Committee, a simple majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Article XI: Nominations

Section 1. Committee. The Leadership Recruitment and Nomination Committee shall select candidates for vice-president, for ACRL councilor, and for eight ACRL directors-at-large. In the case of a special election, the LRNC may need to select additional candidates for a vice-president or ACRL councilor ballot. The LRNC will have a chair and vice-chair and a member each from the University Libraries Section, the College Libraries Section, the Community and Junior College Libraries Section, the Communities of Practice Section and from Chapters Council. The vice-chair is appointed by the vice-president and will become the chair the following year. The members are appointed by their respective communities and each serves a two-year term. The vice-president also appoints a member for a two-year term. Written consent must be secured from each candidate.

Section 2. Reporting. The Leadership Recruitment and Nomination Committee shall report in writing the names of nominees for elective offices of the Association one month prior to the annual conference.

Section 3. Nominations by Others. Nominations other than those of the Leadership Recruitment and Nomination Committee signed by no fewer than 25 members of the Association shall be accepted and placed on the ballot if they are filed with the executive director of the Association at least three months before the date on which the ballots are to be mailed. Written consent of the nominees must accompany such nominations.

Article XII: Meetings

General meetings. The Association shall hold an annual meeting either virtually or at the annual conference of the American Library Association. Other meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board of Directors. One hundred members shall constitute a quorum of the Association for the transaction of all business.

Article XIII: Elections

Section 1. Right to vote. All personal members of the Association shall be eligible to vote on the elective positions of the Association. Only personal members affiliated with a Community of Practice shall vote for its officers.

Section 2. Elections.
a) Association. Elections to elective positions for the Association as a whole shall be held in accordance with ALA bylaws and procedures. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected. In the case of a tie vote, the successful candidate shall be determined by lot.
b) Communities of Practice. Election to elective positions for Communities of Practice shall be made as each determines. The election of officers shall be reported in writing to the executive director.
c) Special Elections. In the event that, in the period between the final reported election results and the commencement of terms of office, an elected vice-president or an ACRL councilor is unable to assume their elected office, a special election is necessary to avoid a vacancy in the vice-president/president-elect and councilor positions. The Executive Committee members and the executive director will communicate with the Leadership Recruitment and Nominating Committee and determine a slate of candidates in a timely manner. Once a ballot is prepared, the special election voting period will be at least one week.

Article XIV: Chapters

Section 1. Affiliation. The Board of Directors may recognize a chapter of the Association in any state, province, territory, or region upon the petition of 25 personal members of the Association residing or employed within the area.

Section 2. Members and officers. A chapter may admit members who are not members of the national Association; however, the president (chair) and the vice-president (vice-chair) of each chapter shall be members of the national Association.

Section 3. Disaffiliation. A chapter affiliation may be dissolved at its request by the Board of Directors and it shall be so dissolved if the chapter becomes inactive or fails to comply with the provisions of this article.

Section 4. Chapters Council. The Chapters Council shall consist of the president (chair) and vice-president (vice-chair) of each ACRL chapter or a delegate who is a member of the executive board of the chapter. Each member of the Chapters Council shall be a member of the national Association and be knowledgeable about both chapter and national ACRL activities.

Section 5. Directors-at-large candidates. The ACRL Chapters Council shall nominate candidates to fill two (2) directors-at-large positions on the Association's Board of Directors.

Article XV: Communities of Practice

The Board shall be authorized to establish Communities of Practice, to monitor their activities, and determine their continuance in consultation with the respective groups. The names of such groups shall be as determined by the Board in consultation with the group. The groups may use the descriptor discussion group, section, interest group, or such other name as the Board, in consultation with the group, determines. The Board shall also be entitled to establish policies to govern the activities of Communities of Practice.

Section 1. Authorization. Groups to facilitate discussion and exploration of common professional concerns that fall within the objectives of the Association shall be authorized by action of the Board of Directors in a manner provided for in the ACRL Guide to Policies and Procedures.

Section 2. Members. Membership in Communities of Practice shall be open to members of the Association who are interested in the purpose of the groups, subject to the provisions in Article IV, Section 2.

Section 3. Governing Procedures. Each Community of Practice shall establish written procedures related to its function and governance that shall be adopted by the membership of the group. A current copy shall be provided to the Executive Director.

Section 4. ACRL Communities of Practice Assembly. The Assembly shall consist of the chairs and vice-chairs of each Community of Practice, excluding discussion groups. The function of this assembly is to facilitate the exchange of ideas among the various Communities of Practice.

Section 5. Discontinuance. A Community of Practice may be dissolved by the Board of Directors at the request of the group. It may also be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the Board if the group is determined by the Board to be inactive or ineffective or if drops below a minimum membership size determined by the Board in consultation with the group. A committee may be discontinued only by the agency authorizing it at the request of the group’s leadership.

Article XVI: Committees

Section 1. Authorization. Committees of the Association as a whole shall be authorized by action of the Association or the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in the bylaws.

Section 2. Standing committees. Standing committees may be established to consider matters of the Association that require continuity of attention by the members. When such a committee is established, its function, name, and size shall be determined. Unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, full members of standing committees shall be appointed for terms of two years and may be reappointed for a second, but not a third consecutive term. In no case shall a person serve on a committee for more than five consecutive years. Appointments shall be made in such a manner as to provide continuity in membership.

Section 3. Appointment. The vice-president shall appoint committee members to fill the vacancies due to occur during his/her term as president. Committees may have chairs and vice-chairs, which each have one-year terms. Special appointments to fill vacancies on committees may be made by the president. Committee members must be personal members of ACRL, and they must adhere to American Library Association policies.

Section 4. Discontinuance. A committee may be discontinued only by the agency authorizing it.

Article XVII: Vacancies

Section 1. Elective positions. Appointments to fill vacancies in elective positions of the Association as a whole, with the exception of president and vice-president, shall be made by the Board of Directors until it is possible for the Association to fill the vacancy at the next regular annual election.
a) A vacancy in the office of the president shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the vice-president. This succession shall not prevent a person who succeeds to the presidency because of a vacancy from serving his/her normal term as president the next year.
b) A vacancy in the office of the vice-president shall be filled by election at the next regular annual election. The successful candidate shall then serve a one-year term as president and a one-year term as immediate past president.
c) If vacancies occur in the offices of president and vice-president within the same term, the Board of Directors shall elect as president one of the directors-at-large for the remainder of the term. When a regular election is next held, a president and vice-president shall be elected.
d) A vacancy in the office of immediate past president shall not be filled until that term expires.
e) Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by election for the remainder of the vacating members' term. Elections will occur at the regular election immediately following the vacancy.
f) Appointments to fill vacancies on a committee of the Association as a whole shall be made by the president.

Article XVIII: Mail and electronic votes

Section 1. Membership. Votes of the membership of the Association may be authorized between meetings by the Board of Directors, provided all members are canvassed simultaneously. Such votes shall be conducted under the same requirements as votes at meetings. If no time limit is set, no vote shall be counted unless received within 30 days from the day the text of the matter voted upon was sent and properly addressed to those entitled to vote upon it.

Section 2. Board of Directors. Votes of the Board of Directors may be taken provided they are authorized by the officers of the Association and all voting Board members are canvassed simultaneously. An affirmative vote of a simple majority of the voting Board members shall be required to pass a motion. On each ballot, each voting Board member shall have the option of voting for or against the motion, to abstain, or to hold for discussion at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Time limits shall be the same as stated above in Section 1 of this article. Actions shall be confirmed at the next regular meeting of the Board.

Section 3. Committees. Votes of duly constituted committees may be taken by the chair of such committees. An affirmative vote of a simple majority of the committee members shall be required to pass the motion. Voting option and time limits shall be the same as stated above in Section 2 of this article.

Article XIX: Parliamentary authority

The parliamentary authority used by this Association shall be the same as that used by the American Library Association.

Article XX: Amendment of bylaws

Section 1. Proposals. Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors; by any standing committee of the Association in writing to the Board of Directors; or by a petition signed by 25 or more members of the Association.

Section 2. Board action. A proposed amendment to the bylaws shall be voted upon by Association members after it has been approved by a majority of the Board members and then published in any official ACRL publication thirty days or more prior to the date of the distribution of the ballot.

Section 3. Notice. Written notice of the text of the amendment shall be provided to members at least one month before consideration.

Section 4. Voting. Amendments may be voted upon by members by mail or electronic ballot or at a public membership meeting.
a) If by mail or electronic ballot, the bylaws amendment is accepted if a majority of those members participating vote in favor of the amendment.
b) If at a public membership meeting, the bylaws amendment is accepted if a majority of the members, present and voting, votes in favor of the amendment.
Section 5. Adoption. If not otherwise specified, a proposed amendment becomes effective as soon as it has been approved as described above.