Friends of St Ives Library Constitution (FOSIL)
Name: Friends of St Ives Library (FOSIL)
Aim:
To support the continued provision of a comprehensive, efficient and professional library service in St Ives, which includes the continued maintenance and preservation of the existing library building.
Purpose of the group:
Membership
FOSIL Committee
General Meetings
Finance
Amendments to the Constitution may be adopted by a motion at the AGM or at an EGM on a majority vote.
Aim:
To support the continued provision of a comprehensive, efficient and professional library service in St Ives, which includes the continued maintenance and preservation of the existing library building.
Purpose of the group:
- To be a separate and independent organisation with its own constitution and bank account.
- To raise funds solely for the enhancement of the Library Service in St Ives in those areas which fall outside the statutory provision and to meet the running expenses of the group.
- To operate as a not-for-profit organisation.
- To deliver a programme of events beyond those planned and delivered by the Library Service.
- To act as a link between the Library Service and the wider community.
- To represent library users of all ages.
- To seek a good and close working relationship with library staff at all times.
- To help provide volunteers to assist the library staff in accordance with the Cornwall Council ‘Guidance for Working with Volunteers’.
- To campaign on issues which may impact on the provision of the library service working, where relevant, with all interested parties.
- To work with wider external agencies such as CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals), The Library Campaign and The Reading Agency.
Membership
- Membership will be open to any registered member of the St Ives Library on payment of an annual membership fee. Fees will be determined by the Committee.
- Any data relating to members, such as email addresses, will not be disclosed to third parties and will be used for the expressed purpose of effective communication.
FOSIL Committee
- The FOSIL Committee will normally consist of at least seven members, including the Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and a library employee with the power to co-opt additional members when it is considered appropriate.
- Committee members will be elected at the group’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), where appropriate. All Committee members will serve for a term of 3 years and be eligible for re-election.
- There will be a minimum of 6 committee meetings per annum.
- A quorum will be 5 members.
- In the event of a tied vote, the chair of the meeting will have a second casting vote.
General Meetings
- An Annual General Meeting will be held each year at a date, time and venue to be decided by the Committee.
- Notice of the AGM will be given to all paid members not less than 14 days prior to the AGM, together with nominations to the committee and motions for discussion. The accidental omission to give notice to a FOSIL member or the non-receipt of notice by a person entitled to receive such notice will not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
- A quorum for a General Meeting will be the majority vote.
Finance
- The Treasurer will be responsible for the management of the FOSIL bank account and is empowered to pay out-of-pocket and other expenses as agreed by the committee. Cheques will require 2 signatories.
- The group will make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs, including preparation and audit of an annual statement of accounts.
- In the event of the group ceasing to exist, any remaining funds should go towards the costs associated with the management of the library and be given to whomever expressly for this purpose.
Amendments to the Constitution may be adopted by a motion at the AGM or at an EGM on a majority vote.
April 2017
