2.1 Composition of the Council

The Section Council is composed of one Representative and one Representative-Elect from each Section, and a Chair chosen from among the representatives.

The number of Sections, and therefore the number of Section Council members, may increase or decrease as provided in the Association's bylaws. Currently the Section Council is comprised of Representatives and Representatives-Elect from the following twenty-three sections:

• Cancer Librarians Section
• Chiropractic Libraries Section
• Corporate Information Services Section
• Collection Development Section
• Consumer and Patient Health Information Section
• Dental Section
• Educational Media and Technologies Section
• Federal Libraries Section
• Health Association Libraries Section
• History of the Health Sciences Section
• Hospital Libraries Section
• International Cooperation Section
• Leadership and Management Section
• Medical Informatics Section
• Medical Library Education Section
• Nursing and Allied Health Resources Section
• Pharmacy and Drug Information Section
• Public Health/Health Administration Libraries Section
• Public Services Section
• Relevant Issues Section
• Research Section
• Technical Services Section
• Veterinary Medical Libraries Section

2.2 Selection of Representatives and Representatives-Elect

The representative from each Section must be a voting member of the Association, selected in accordance with the bylaws of the Section. Participation in the selection of representatives is limited to voting members of the Association.

In 1998, the Section Council and MLA Board of Directors approved a motion to change the structure of the Council. The position of alternate was eliminated and the Representative would continue to serve a three-year term, but the first year would be as Representative-Elect and then as full Representative for the remaining two years. The normal term would be:

• Representative-elect -- Year/Term One, training/backup year
• Full Representative -- Year/Term Two
• No representative-elect during this year
• Full Representative -- Year/Term Three, Last term
• NEW Representative-elect serves first term as training/backup year

The new structure became effective at the end of the May 2000 meeting. The implementation began with the Section elections in Spring 2000. Since there is a change in the frequency of elections for the Council representatives, an implementation plan for switching elections from every three years to every two years has been developed.

2.3 Duties of Representatives

To attend all Section Council meetings and represent his/her Section on the Council and in the conduct of Council business. At the meetings the Representative votes on issues presented in the Section Council, participates in Section Council deliberations, and responds on behalf of his/her Section to matters affecting it.

To implement Council decisions, gather information as requested, inform Section membership of issues under discussion by the Council, and solicit comments and suggestions.

To communicate concerns to the Section Council and potentially through the Council Chair to the MLA Board. Conversely, the Representative carries issues to the Section from the Council for membership response. Appendix 1 outlines the interactive responsibilities of the Section Representative, Representative-Elect and Section Chair.

To keep his/her Section informed on MLA policies relating to Section business, such as MLA Guidelines for Seeking Outside Funding (Appendix 2), Submitting Articles to MLA News (Appendix 3 ), Membership Lists for Chapters and Sections ( Appendix 4), and the revision and submission of Section bylaws (Appendix 20 and 21).

To ensure the selection of an MLA Nominating Committee nominee from his/her Section, and to submit 26 copies of the biographical form (Appendix 9) to the Elections Committee Chair before the vote is taken.

To keep the Representative-Elect and Section Chair informed of all significant business and events emanating from the Section Council.

To serve on at least one Council committee, but no more than two at the same time. To serve, if appointed, as Chair of a Council committee, and to submit the committee's objectives, a midyear report, and an annual report by the assigned date to the Council Chair.

To transfer documentation as outlined in the Document Retention Guidelines (Appendix 5) to the incoming Representative or Representative-Elect.

2.4 Duties of Representatives-Elect

To attend, if possible, all Council meetings.

To take his/her seat on the Council whenever the Section Representative is unable to attend a meeting. When sitting on the Council in place of the Representative, the Representative-Elect shall have the same rights and privileges as the Representative, including voting.

To assume the role of the Section Representative should s/he be elected Section Council Chair or become unable to complete the term of office.

To serve on a Council committee if appointed.

2.5 Duties of Recorder

To attend all scheduled Council meetings, take minutes, and submit them to the Section Council Chair before the first scheduled Council mailing.

Procedure Manual Table of Contents

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Last updated on: May 6, 2002.