Uintah County Library Board By-Laws

 Article I. – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Under the provisions of Chapter 7, Title 9 Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended, and Title 2 Chapter 2.26 of the Uintah County Code, the Library Board of the Uintah County Library shall consist of no fewer than five, and no more than 9 board members from Uintah County. One board member shall be a current Uintah County Commissioner. The remaining board members shall be appointed by the Uintah County Commissioners. Each director shall serve without compensation, but any actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the board members’ official duties, including training, may be paid from library funds.

Section 2. The Library Board members are to be appointed to a four-year term, Or until the board member’s successor is appointed. Initially, appointment shall be made for one-, two-, three-, and four-year terms, and the one member of the Uintah County Commission for the term of his or her elected office. Annually thereafter, the Uintah County Commission shall, before the first day of July of each year, appoint, for a four-year term, one board member to take the place of the retiring board member. A board member may be re-appointed for 1 (one) consecutive term. Board members shall serve not more than two consecutive full terms. Board members appointed to fill an unexpired term may serve up to eleven consecutive years. Board members shall annually select a chairperson and a secretary. The Uintah County Commission may, by resolution, remove any board member for misconduct or neglect of duty. Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the unexpired terms in the same manner as original appointments.

Article II – OFFICERS 

Section 1. Library Board officers shall consist of a chairperson and a secretary. Officers shall be elected by a vote of all members of the Library Board attending at its June meeting and shall serve for one year from July 1st through June 30th. An officer may be re-elected to an office. 

Article III – OFFICERS’ DUTIES 

Section 1. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings, authorize calls for any special meeting, and generally perform the duties of the Presiding officer. The Chairperson shall, with the assistance of the librarian, arrange for library staff to take minutes of all board meetings, which staff will (under the supervision of the board secretary) maintain all official records of the board’s actions. The Chairperson shall only vote on election of officers and to break a tie vote of the board.

Section 2. The Secretary of the Board shall (with the assistance of library staff assigned by the Librarian) keep a true and accurate account of all proceedings of board meetings. A typed copy of the minutes for Library Board records shall be approved by the secretary. The minutes, as well as library policies, shall be made available to the public at the front desk of the Library. In the absence of the Chairperson, a member of the board shall preside at meetings and perform the duties of the Chairperson.

Article IV – MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular board meetings shall be held the third Wednesday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. at a Uintah County Library conference room as specified in the notice. All regular board meetings are to be open to the public.

Section 2. The Librarian will create an agenda for each regular meeting. The Librarian will insure the agenda and notice of all regular meetings are published and posted in accordance with county ordinance and state statute. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chairperson, provided that written notice thereof is given to all Board members at least 24 hours in advance, pursuant to Utah Code Section 52-4-201.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of majority of the Board Members.All board members are to have equal voting rights, with the exception of the Chairperson, who will only vote to elect officers, in the case of a tie vote, and for proposed changes to the Bylaws. 

Section 4. Any persons or group wishing placement on the agenda for regular Board meetings shall give written notice to the Librarian or Chairperson of the Board five business days in advance of the meeting. Groups are to be represented by one spokesperson. 

Section 5. The following provisions govern any meeting at which one or more members of the Board appears telephonically or electronically pursuant to Utah Code Section 52-4-207. The anchor location is the physical location from which the electronic meeting originates or from which the participants are connected. The anchor location, unless otherwise designated in the notice, shall be at the offices of Uintah County Library in Vernal, Utah.

If one or more members of the Board participate electronically or telephonically, public notices of the meeting shall so indicate. In addition, the notice shall specify the anchor location where the members of the Board not participating electronically or telephonically will be meeting and where interested persons and the public may attend and monitor the open portions of the meeting.

When notice is given of the possibility of a member of the Board appearing electronically or telephonically, any member of the Board may do so and shall be counted as present for purposes of a quorum and may fully participate and vote on any matter coming before the Board.

At the commencement of the meeting, or at such time as any member of the Board initially appears electronically or telephonically, the Chair shall identify for the record all those who are appearing telephonically or electronically. Votes by members of the Board who are not at the physical location of the meeting shall be confirmed by the Chair.

Article V – COMMITTEES 

Section 1. Administrative responsibilities shall be delegated to the Librarian. No standing committees shall be appointed which are devoted to these activities.

Section 2. The entire board shall act as a “Committee of the Whole” when considering budget requests, personnel, financial reports, etc.

Section 3. Ad Hoc committees for the study and investigation of temporary problems may be appointed by the Chairperson of the Board to serve until the completion of the work for which they are assigned. The participation of the public shall be sought for such study and investigation.

Article VI –DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS The duties of the Board are enumerated in U.C.A. 9-7-504 

Article VII – DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LIBRARIAN

Section 1. Serve as an Executive Officer (non-voting) to the Library Board.

Section 2. Be solely responsible for the administration of the library under the general policies adopted by the Library Board.

Section 3. Recommend such policies and procedures to the Library Board that promote the efficient operation and administration of the library and improve services to its patrons.

Section 4. The Librarian shall hire and supervise all library personnel in accordance with the county merit system, personnel policies and procedures, and compensation plans approved by the County Commission.

Section 5. Be responsible for all properties belonging to the library. 

Section 6. Submit monthly and annual reports to the Library Board on the progress, activities, and finances of the library.

Article VIII – LIBRARY PERSONNEL

Section 1. Library personnel are employees of the county and are subject to the county merit system, personnel policies and procedures, and compensation plans approved by the county commission.

Section 2. All Library personnel are under the direct supervision and direction of the Librarian.

Article IX – CLOSURE SCHEDULE

Section 1. At the November meeting of the Library Board of Directors, the Librarian shall submit a proposed Library Closure schedule for the upcoming calendar year. This schedule shall detail the specific days and times the Library will be open to the public. This schedule will be either approved as presented or modified by both the Board and/or the Uintah County Commission prior to being adopted by the Board at the December meeting.

Article X – PROPOSED BY-LAWS CHANGES

Section 1. Written notification of any proposed changes in the by-laws must be given to the Library Board a month in advance. The changes must be ratified by a 3/5 majority of the Board; or, if notice is not given, they must be passed by unanimous vote.

Article I was amended May 17, 2000

*Articles II and III were affirmed and Article IV was amended July 19, 2000

Articles VII, VIII, and IX were affirmed September 20, 2000 Amended in their entirety July 27, 2005*

Article III, Section 2 and Article VI were amended July 26, 2006

Article IV, Section 1 was amended in October 2018.

Article IV, Section 1 was amended on June 24, 2022.

Article IV, Section 1 was amended on August 30, 2023.