By-Laws of the Combined Craighead County and Jonesboro Public Library
ARTICLE I – Name and Authorization
The organization shall be called “The Board” for the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library (hereinafter “Library”), which, existing by the virtue of the provision of Library Law of Arkansas and exercising the powers and authority in assuming the responsibility delegated to and under said laws.
ARTICLE II – Board of Directors
Pursuant to A.C.A. § 13-2-508 (e) and A.C.A. § 13-2-502 (a), the Board shall consist of not less than five (5) trustees, nor more than seven (7) trustees, divided between the Craighead County Library and Jonesboro Public Library, each member having one vote on the Board.
ARTICLE III - Term Limits
Pursuant to A.C.A. § 13-2-502 (c)(1-2), regardless of the term length, no person, whether a current Trustee or being considered for appointment as a Trustee, who has served two (2) or more consecutive terms shall be eligible for appointment or reappointment to serve until at least one (1) year has passed since they last served on the Board. Board appointments after January 1, 1998, shall serve terms for five (5) years, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Trustees who assume a partial term will also be eligible to serve two consecutive full terms immediately following a partial term.
ARTICLE IV – Officers
Board officers shall be as follows: Chair, Vice-Chair, and Treasurer. The Library Director or Designee shall serve as Secretary of the Board. All officers shall be elected from among the Trustees by voice vote each even-numbered year at the November regular meeting of the Board. No Chair shall be eligible for reappointment until at least one year has passed since the date of last service.
The Board Chair shall preside at all meetings, certify all actions approved by the Board, authorize calls for any special meetings, enforce all laws and regulations relating to the administration for the Library, and perform the duties of the presiding officer. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall perform all duties authorized for the Chair. The Chair or the Library Director shall advise the Mayor or County Judge of vacancies on the Board (as said vacancy occurs for any reason). Upon ratification of the replacement nominee by the Quorum Court or the City Council, the replacement member will serve out the term of the vacated position.
The Chair shall note the absence, without due explanation, of a Board member from two (2) consecutive regular meetings which absence will be considered by the Chair and the Board as a resignation from the Board. It shall be the duty of the Library Director to keep the Chair advised in writing with proper information regarding this Section of the By-laws.
Any Board member whose term has expired and has not been renewed, may continue to serve on the Board for sixty (60) days, and until such member’s replacement has been properly ratified and confirmed by the Quorum Court or the City Council.
The Library Director shall keep a true and accurate account of all proceedings of the Board meetings; issue notices of all proceedings at the Board meetings; issue notices of all regular meetings and, with the authorization of the Chair, notice of all special meetings; and have custody of the minutes and the other records of the Board.
ARTICLE V – Committees
The Board shall establish regular committees to help oversee the operations of the Library. The Chair shall appoint all standing and special committee members.
The Chair may appoint special committees for the study and investigation of special problems to serve until they have completed the work for which they were appointed.
An executive committee may act on routine matters on behalf of the Board. An executive committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and one (1) other Board member elected at large by the Board for one (1) year term.
ARTICLE VI – Finance Committee
There shall be a finance committee selected by the Chair at the regular November Board meeting. After consultation with the Finance Committee, the Chair, and the Library Director, the Business Manager will present an annual budget to the Board for approval.
ARTICLE VII – Director of the Library
It shall be the duty of the Board to elect a qualified Library Director in full compliance with State law and State Department of Education regulations, and to fix the Director’s salary. It shall be the duty of the Library Director to function as Head Librarian and to have general charge of the Library and all its branches under the direction of the Board. The Director of the Library shall be an ex-officio member of the Board, without vote, and serve as Secretary of the Board, except for executive action. The Library Director will direct the library in accordance with the Library Director’s Board approved job description.
ARTICLE VIII – Quorum
A quorum for the transaction of business shall be a simple majority of the Board members. Proxy votes of any form will not be considered.
ARTICLE IX – Regular Meetings
A regular meeting shall be held at least once each quarter and at such time and place as the Board shall from time to time select.
ARTICLE X – Order of Business
The order of business at the regular meetings shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Approval of previous meeting’s minutes
- Director’s Report
- Business Manager’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
- Business
ARTICLE XI – Meeting Agenda
The Library Board or any Board member is authorized to place a subject on the agenda of the next regular or special Board meeting by notifying the Library Director in writing. The Library Director will prepare the agenda for the forthcoming meeting, and a copy of the agenda will be included with the notice to each Board member of the forthcoming meeting seven (7) days prior to said meeting, if possible.
ARTICLE XII – Record of Meetings
All Board meetings will be audio recorded and permanently kept by the Business Manager, who will make proper inserts therein of all substantive matters discussed and/or acted upon into the written minutes of the meeting. A copy of these minutes is sent to each Board member along with the seven (7) days’ notice of the meeting. At the next meeting, the approval or disapproval of these minutes will be at the first order of business, after the calling of the roll of the Board members.
ARTICLE XIII – Succession of Chair
In the event of death, incapacity or resignation of the Chair, Vice Chair, or any other officer, the remaining members of the Board shall select from among their members a successor to fulfill the unexpired term.
ARTICLE XIV – Amendments
Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be presented in writing to the Board membership thirty (30) days prior to a regular meeting. Amendments may be accepted by a majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE XV – Financial Records
The financial records of the Library will be audited at the end of the fiscal year by an independent auditor. Upon completion of the audit, the auditor will present the Board with a written opinion of his/her analysis and the propriety of the audited year’s expenditures.
The above revised bylaws are hereby adopted by the Board of Trustees at the regularly scheduled meeting on this 24th day of August 2026.