Mission:

Friends of the EMU Library include current and retired faculty and staff, alumni, community residents, and other supporters who believe that libraries are vital for enhancing our lives. The Friends share these goals:

• to promote the development and achievements of the Library;
• to encourage greater visibility and interaction between the Library, the University, its host community, alumni, and friends;
• to enrich the cultural life of the University and its larger community through exhibits, programs, and publications;
• to support the goals of the Library through volunteer activities and programs;
• to assist in developing resources to benefit the Library and its departments and programs by:
  • serving as a liaison with the private sector and building strong relationships between the Library, corporations, and foundations;
  • giving counsel and assistance to the University Librarian in developing financial, human, and other resources for the Library.

Bylaws:

1. Name

This organization shall be known as the Friends of the Eastern Michigan University Library.
2. Purpose

The purpose of the Friends shall be to strengthen the University library system, enhance its collections, and promote its usefulness on campus and in the community, in accordance with the mission of the University.
3. Membership

Membership shall be open to all persons or organizations who have shown an interest in the Library by, for example, volunteering personal time or contributing money, books, manuscripts, periodicals, or other materials to the University library system, and have been approved by the Board.
4. Meetings

The annual meeting shall be convened by the Board of Directors and held in the spring of each year. Other meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or by the written request of at least 25 members. All meetings shall be duly publicized among the membership via the mail to their submitted addresses, among the departmental liaisons, and through the University calendar. The members present shall constitute a quorum.
5. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of 13 members, seven of whom shall be at large, be elected at the annual meeting, and have the vote. Three other voting members shall be drawn one each from the Emeritus Faculty Association, the student body through Student Government, and the Alumni Association. Three members shall be ex officio (nonvoting): the University Librarian, the Provost or a representative from the Provost’s office, and a representative from the University Foundation. All terms shall coincide with the University’s fiscal year. The Board shall elect from its voting members the President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer. The President, Vice President, and Past President shall serve one-year terms in their respective offices. The Vice President shall automatically succeed to the presidency, and the President shall immediately become Past President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve for three years, with possible appointment for an additional three years in office. These officers and the Past President, who also votes, shall serve as the Executive Committee, which shall meet as needed. Each elected Board member shall serve for three years, terms to be staggered, original terms to be determined by lot, and may serve for one additional three-year term. The Board of Directors shall establish goals and coordinate the functions of the Friends with the University Library system and the University mission and calendar. The Board may establish such standing committees as are deemed desirable, the chairs to be drawn from the Board and the committee members to be selected from the general membership. The Board shall establish the dues structure and publish it annually. All meetings of the Board shall be duly announced, and the members present shall constitute a quorum. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Board.
6. President, Vice President, and Past President

The President shall draw up the agenda for and preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and the membership. The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President in the event the President cannot serve. The Past President and the Vice President shall serve as the nominating committee, with a special view toward recruiting faculty, emeritus faculty, and alumni to run for election.
7. Secretary-Treasurer

The Board of Directors shall appoint from among the Board members a Secretary-Treasurer who shall administer the office for the Friends, including keeping the minutes and the history of the organization, maintaining the membership list, performing the normal duties of the treasurer, and serving as liaison to the University Foundation.
8. Amendments

Amendments to the bylaws shall be made by a majority vote of the members present and voting at an annual meeting, after being duly presented to the Board of Directors and publicized among the membership via the mail to their submitted addresses.

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