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The Friends of UW-Madison Libraries inspire researchers, the campus, and the public to engage with the Libraries through visible, thought-provoking activities and support. We seek to build a community that encourages intellectual growth, examines diverse perspectives, and values the distinctive collections, their use, and the exemplary services of the Libraries.
The Friends of UW-Madison Libraries aspire to be essential partners with the Libraries to enhance their critical role in advancing discovery and scholarship and to create positive impacts in our state, the nation, and the world.
(Recommended by Board January 9, 2023, approved by Membership vote May 8, 2023)
Friends of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries
Article I. The name of this organization shall be the Friends of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries (short form: “the Friends”). The organization’s purpose shall be to stimulate interest in the advancement, use, and continued strengthening of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries (short form: “the Libraries”).
Article II. Membership in the Friends shall be open to all who make donations of any kind (e.g. time, labor, materials, or money) on behalf of the Libraries.
Article III. The affairs of the Friends shall be managed by a Board of up to 22 Directors, four of whom shall be elected as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The immediate Past President shall remain as a member of the Board whether or not an elected Director.
Article IV. Monies received by this organization shall be credited to the University Gift Account or the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association as appropriate. Funds may be expended in keeping with the purpose of the Friends as stated in Article I. Authorization of at least one officer is required to spend funds.
Article V. This Constitution may be amended either 1) by majority vote of Friends present at any Annual Meeting of the Friends provided that notice of the proposed amendment or amendments has been given in the call to the meeting or 2) by a majority vote of respondents to a ballot giving notice of the proposed amendment(s) and distributed to members either by postal mail or in some electronic fashion.
(Adopted January 21, 1958; revised and amended April 9, 2003; revised and approved by membership May 18, 2016; revised and approved by membership May 23, 2018, revised and approved by membership May 18, 2020)
Friends of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries
Article I. The Board of Directors shall consist of up to 22 ordinary members, each of whom is elected by the Board of Directors and serves a term of three years. Their terms shall expire in a sequence which will ensure continuity on the Board. Directors may continue to be elected to successive terms. The Board may also appoint ex officio members without voting rights and, with voting rights, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student who will serve as a special member of the Board for a term of one year renewable annually at the discretion of the Board but with the tenure of a single person not to exceed three years.
Article II. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by majority vote of the members present. The President and the Vice President shall each be elected to a one-year term. The Secretary and the Treasurer shall each be elected in alternate years to a two-year term. The term of officers shall begin at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected. All officers are eligible for reelection but the tenure of office for the President and the Vice President shall not exceed four years of uninterrupted service.
Article III. All members of the Board shall serve until the expiration of their terms except that they shall serve until their successors have been elected and qualified. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of all current voting members of the Board shall be required to remove an officer or Board member from the Board. The Board shall have the authority to appoint a person to fill on an interim basis until the next Annual Meeting any vacancy occurring through resignation, incapacity, or removal from office.
Article IV. There shall be at least one meeting of the Friends held in the spring of the year and designated as the Annual Meeting. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at the discretion of the Board and shall occur at least four times per year. Meetings of the Board are open to the membership. A quorum of the Board for conducting business shall be defined as 50% of the eligible voting members of the Board, at least one of whom must be an officer.
Article V. The Treasurer shall provide an annual financial report to the membership.
Article VI. The Board shall annually appoint from among its elected members a Nominating Committee to propose candidates for election to office and to advise on the election or appointment of new members of the Board.
Article VII. Every committee of the Friends must include at least two voting members of the Board, one of whom shall serve as the committee’s chair.
Article VIII. These By-Laws may be amended either 1) by majority vote of Friends present at any Annual Meeting of the Friends provided that notice of the proposed amendment or amendments has been given in the call to the meeting or 2) by a majority vote of respondents to a ballot giving notice of the proposed amendment(s) and distributed to members either by postal mail or in some electronic fashion.
(Adopted January 21, 1958; revised April 9, 2003; approved by the membership April 18, 2003; revised and approved by membership May 18, 2016; revised and approved by membership May 23, 2018, revised and approved by membership May 18, 2020)