Bylaws

Bylaws for the 

California Librarians Black Caucus (CLBC) 

Amended on October 8, 2023 

I. NAME. 

The name of this organization shall be the following: California Librarians Black Caucus. 

II. PURPOSE. 

The California Librarians Black Caucus shall be a statewide organization dedicated to the welfare and concern of African American librarians and library employees with specific emphasis on recruitment to the profession, employment in the field, and access to library services by African Americans. 

The mission of the California Librarians Black Caucus shall be the following: 

1. Support all efforts to eradicate inequities that affect African Americans in the profession and in the workplace. 

2. Function as an ombudsman for African American librarians, library workers, and library supporters. 

3. Promote library and information services to African Americans. 

4. Insure that African Americans have access to information in all of its forms. 

5. Evaluate the quality of all forms of information concerning African Americans. 

6. Support and promote African American authors and artists. 

7. Promote African American participation in professional organizations in the area of library and information services. 

8. Monitor legislation and policies that affect African Americans in the area of library and information services. 

9. Provide programs and activities to disseminate information about African American experiences in the United States and the world. 

10. Network with other organizations that have similar interests. 

III. MEMBERSHIP. 

1. Membership shall include: 

a. Librarians and library employees. 

b. Students enrolled in library and information studies programs. 

c. Library commissioners, trustees and Friends of Libraries. 

d. Individuals who support the mission of CLBC.

2. Dues. 

a. Dues shall be assessed annually by the organization in January at a rate that allows the organization to be financially independent and responsible for its own operations. 

b. Dues shall fund statewide functions and activities. 

c. A minimum of twenty-five percent of the dues shall be used to support the organization's Scholarship fund. 

3. Voting Privileges. 

a. Only those persons who have paid dues for the current year shall be in good standing. 

b. Members in good standing shall have voting privileges. 

c. Other memberships can be established without voting privileges. 

IV. MEETINGS. 

1. A statewide membership business meeting and program meeting shall be held annually. 

2. The organization shall hold regular meetings. A minimum of four meetings per year must be held, one of which can be the annual California Librarians Black Caucus membership business meeting 

3. Meetings shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. 

V. OFFICERS. 

1. The officers shall consist of: 

a. President 

b. Vice President/President-elect 

c. Corresponding Secretary 

d. Recording Secretary 

e. Treasurer 

2. Election and Tenure (Terms of Office). 

a. The term of office shall be one year. All officers may serve more than one year. 

b. Officers shall be elected from a slate provided by a Special Nominating Committee each October. 

c. The election shall be by ballot, provided that when there is but one nominee for each office, the Recording Secretary may be instructed to cast the ballot for every nominee. A majority of those present qualified to vote shall constitute an election. 

i. The Special Nominating Committee shall appoint three tellers. 

ii. A majority shall elect any office. In case of a tie, a second ballot shall be taken and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. 

d. Newly elected officers will be announced at the annual business meeting and will take office on January 1. 

3. Duties of Officers 

a. President 

i. Shall be responsible for planning, calling and conducting meetings of the organization. 

ii. Shall appoint replacements to complete the term of any office that becomes vacant. 

iii. Shall appoint Standing Committee chairpersons. 

iv. Shall preside as the President at the annual membership business meeting: 

1. Shall be the statewide spokesperson for California Librarians Black Caucus. 

2. Shall take the leadership role in contacting members when responding to statewide issues. 

3. Shall serve as statewide ombudsman and liaison with other organizations. 

4. Shall make arrangements for the annual membership business meeting and conduct the meeting. 

v. Shall appoint other committees as necessary 

vi. Shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the Special Nominating Committee. 

vii. Shall serve as the ombudsman and liaison with other organizations. 

viii. Shall appoint members in good standing as Parliamentarian and Historian. 

ix. Shall appoint members in good standing to serve in any vacant office or committee position. 

b. Vice President/President-elect 

i. Shall assume the duties of the President in her/his absence or in the event she/he is unable to serve for any reason. 

ii. Shall serve as the coordinator of all program activities. 

iii. Shall assist the President as requested. 

c. Corresponding Secretary 

i. Shall be responsible for keeping and maintaining the data bank of members and the organization’s mailing list. 

ii. Shall mail communiqués to the membership. 

d. Recording Secretary 

i. Shall take minutes at all meetings and forward sufficient copies to the Corresponding Secretary. 

ii. Shall assist the Corresponding Secretary. 

e. Treasurer 

i. Shall be responsible for collecting dues, maintaining accurate records, and paying bills approved by at least two-thirds of the membership or the officers present. 

ii. Shall send copies of the current membership roster to the President, the Corresponding Secretary, and the Recording Secretary. 

iii. Shall give a financial report at each business meeting and other reports as necessary. 

iv. Shall be responsible for maintaining records and preparing reports for the Scholarship Fund (See: Scholarship Fund Bylaw). 

VI. STANDING COMMITTEES. 

1. Candidate 

a. Actively recruit and submit names of African American candidates for offices in professional organizations and/or to serve on Boards/ Commissions, etc. 

b. Make recommendations to membership on candidates who are supportive of the objectives of this organization. 

c. Serve as liaison to other organizations' nominating committees and maintain a current contact list. 

2. Complaint and Grievance. 

This committee receives, reviews, investigates and analyzes complaints presented to the organization and makes recommendations of appropriate action for the California Librarians Black Caucus. 

a. Maintain a current contact list of agencies/organizations/individuals who handle discrimination complaints or unfair employment practices complaints. 

b. Identify unique or other employee representation groups/organizations who handle grievances. 

3. Library Training and Recruitment 

a. Inform members of continuing education opportunities and other resources for self-development. 

b. Make efforts to recruit new persons to the library professions at high schools, colleges and other locations. 

c. Maintain a list of available scholarships, grants, fellowships, internships, etc. and recommend African American candidates. 

d. Maintain a list of California Librarians Black Caucus scholarship applicants and winners for possible mentoring by members. 

e. Serve as liaison to library education programs and identify African American students who may wish to be mentored by a member. 

f. Keep the organization informed of African Americans who are new to their job or are seeking to be upward mobile and need/seek mentoring or counseling. 

4. Public Relations 

a. Maintain contact with local media and keep that contact informed about library issues affecting the African American community. 

b. Publicize activities of the organization. 

c. Work with other groups who support the goals of this organization 

d. Maintain a resource file of organizations, individuals, schools, etc. who will assist this organization to inform the African American community and the library community about activities of the California Librarians Black Caucus. 

5. Program 

Chaired by the Vice President/President-elect, or a designated appointee, who shall serve as chair, to assist with planning of the annual scholarship program and who may serve as chair of other program activities at the discretion of the President. 

6. Scholarship 

(See Scholarship Bylaws) 

Appointed by the President to award the organization's scholarship. Shall work with the Treasurer in maintaining the bestowment of the scholarship award in accordance with the bylaws for the scholarship. 

7. Ways and Means 

Appointed by the President and the Treasurer. Shall make recommendations to increase the amount of monies in the general fund and in the scholarship fund. Shall make recommendations to the officers for the integrity of the scholarship and general funds. 

8. Membership 

Appointed by the President. Shall maintain records of the organization’s membership. Shall recommend and support efforts to increase the organization’s membership. 

VII. SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS 

1. Parliamentarian. 

This is a special assignment by the President for a minimum two-year term. The duties of this position: 

a. Shall know the bylaws and parliamentary procedures. 

b. Shall pass on all questions that may arise according to bylaws and parliamentary procedure. 

c. Shall advise the President, in an unobtrusive way, when something may be happening that is not in accordance with parliamentary procedures or the bylaws. 

2. Historian. 

This is a special assignment appointed by the President for a minimum two-year term. The duties of this position: 

a. Collect copies of all organization records (e.g., minutes, correspondence, reports, photographs, etc.). 

b. Organize and maintain the organization's Archives. 

c. Produce historical reports as necessary. 

VII. AMENDMENTS. 

1. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the statewide membership. 

2. These bylaws shall be reviewed every five years. 

VIII. DISSOLUTION OF ASSET. 

In case of dissolution of CLBC, let funds be dispersed to Library and Information Science programs (San Jose State University, UCLA, University of Southern California). If one of these programs closes, the funds will be dispersed among the schools left. These funds are for African American students 

Ratified May 1, 2022 

Amended October 8, 2023 

Eric Brasley, CLBC President 

Carolyn F. Norman, Vice President/President Elect 

Secretary: Sharon Johnson