Overview

Legislative Research Librarians

The Legislative Research Librarians Staff Section, one of NCSL's eleven professional staff organizations, was established to promote effective information retrieval techniques for legislative libraries; to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to legislative information, operations, and procedures in the states; and to enhance the professionalism of the members.

Purposes

Composed primarily of librarians and information specialists in legislative agencies, the section sponsors an extensive schedule of programs at the NCSL Legislative Summit and the annual Professional Development Seminar. Each of these meetings focuses on current developments in information management, information technology and legislative research.

Membership of the Staff Section

There are two classes of membership in the Association. The classes are as follows:

• Voting Members: The voting membership shall be composed of librarians, or those working essentially in that capacity, employed by state government, serving the state legislatures of fifty states, insular possessions, and territories of the United States of America.
• Associate Members: Associate members include all legislative librarians of the Canadian provinces, as well as persons interested in the goals and programs of the organization.

Activities

The Staff Section meets annually in conjunction with the NCSL Legislation Summit, and holds a professional development seminar each fall.

Members can communicate electronically with others interested in legislative library issues by subscribing to the listserv. Newsletters and other materials are regularly posted to the listserv. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to and type subscribe lrl-l in the body of the message.

For more information, contact: Jeanne Mejeur, NCSL Staff Liaison.

LRL Bylaws 

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LRL BYLAWS - 2013




Article I: Name and Membership

The voting membership shall be composed of librarians, or those working essentially in that capacity, employed by state government, serving the state legislatures of fifty states, insular possessions, and territories of the United States of America. Associate members include all legislative librarians of the Canadian provinces, as well as persons interested in the goals and programs of the organization. Associates shall be non-voting members.

Article II: Purpose

1. To exchange information and ideas relating to legislative library operations and procedures in the states;
2. To provide an information exchange network among the states that has as its purpose efficient, effective, and rapid information retrieval;
3. To promote better working relations between members of the Staff Section and the state legislators and support staff they serve;
4. To serve on the NCSL standing committees and to maintain good relations with NCSL;
5. To enhance the professionalism of the members through its activities; and
6. To promote the deposit of legislative documents with the NCSL and the Council of State Governments. 

Article III: Meetings

A Professional Development Seminar to provide continuing education and to enhance professionalism may be held each year. Written notice shall be provided at least 30 days in advance of the seminar. 

Article IV: Officers

• Preside at all meetings of the Staff Section.
• Prepare agenda and schedules for the meetings.
• Represent the Staff Section on the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee. Designate an alternate in the absence of either the Chair or Chair-Elect.
• Appoint a Staff Section Nominating Committee.
• Coordinate activities and business of the Staff Section.
• Plan annual meeting program.
• Appoint Staff Section committees, the chair of which must be a voting member.
• Appoint Regional Coordinators.

• Plan Professional Development seminar program.
• Serve as second Staff Section representative on NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee.
• Preside at Staff Section meetings in the absence of the Chair.
• Other duties as assigned by Chair.

• Record minutes of Staff Section meetings.
• Deposit a copy of all minutes with NCSL staff contact.
• Duties as assigned by Chair.
• In the absence of both the Chair and Chair-Elect, preside at Staff Section meetings.

Article V: Executive Committees

The Executive Committee shall have the authority to transact the business of the Staff Section. The Chair shall call meetings of the Executive Committee as necessary, by teleconference if outside of regularly scheduled annual meeting or professional development seminar.

Article VI: Elections

The terms of officers commence immediately upon close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and continue through annual meeting the following year.

Article VII: Vacancies-Officers

The Chair-Elect automatically succeeds to the office of the Chair in the event of a vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chair-Elect, the Executive Committee shall appoint a member to assume the duties of that office until the next election. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary, the Executive Committee shall appoint a new Secretary to fulfill the remainder of the term.

Article VIII: Regional Coordinators

• Maintain communications with the states assigned to them.
• Submit reports to the Secretary on activities within their region for inclusion in Newsline.
• Assist in compiling updates for staff directory.
• Assume responsibilities as assigned by the Chair. 

Article IX: Publications

 A directory of legislative research librarians is published annually by the Staff Section, as well as a quarterly newsletter, Newsline. Other publications may be issued. The NCSL staff contact has responsibility for reproduction and distribution of Staff Section publications.

Article X: Amendments

The by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the voting members present at any annual meeting or Professional Development Seminar of the Staff Section. Notice of proposed amendments to the by-laws shall be provided to the membership 30 days prior to the meeting.

History

Amended August 1986
Amended August 1990, Nashville, Tennessee
Amended July 1994, New Orleans, Louisiana
Amended July 1998, Las Vegas, Nevada
Amended August 2007, Boston, Massachusetts
Amended July 2010, Louisville, Kentucky

For more information, contact: Jeanne Mejeur, NCSL Staff Liaison.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE LRL BYLAWS - 2013
 

LRL Bylaws – Proposed 2013

Article I: General Provisions
Section 1: Name and Membership
 
The name of the organization shall be the Legislative Research Librarians (LRL) Staff Section of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). LRL is part of the legislative staff division of NCSL.
 
The voting membership shall be composed of librarians, or those working essentially in that capacity, employed by state government, serving the state legislatures of fifty states, insular possessions, and territories of the United States of America. Associate members include all legislative librarians of the Canadian provinces, as well as persons interested in the goals and programs of the organization. Associates shall be non-voting members.
 
Article IISection 2: Membership
Membership is open to state, commonwealth and territorial legislative librarians and other staff providing similar state legislative services. Associate Membership (non-voting) is open to all other interested individuals.
Section 3: Purpose
 
The purposespurpose of the LRL Staff Section are:
 

1. To exchange information and ideas relating to legislative library operations and procedures in the states;
2. Tois to provide an effective information exchange network among the states that has as its purpose efficient, effective, and rapid information retrieval;

To promote better working relations between members of the Staff Section and the state and quality services for legislators and support staff they serve;, their constituents, and legislative staff. The staff section’s objectives to implement this overall purpose are:
 

1. To serve on the NCSL standing committees and to maintain good relations with NCSL;

To enhance1. Enhance the professionalism and skills of the members through its activities; andof the staff section;
To promote 2. Contribute to the depositaccuracy and authenticity of legislative documents withproducts and other pertinent information provided to state legislatures;
3. Sponsor the annual NCSL and LRL Notable Document Awards; and
4. Promote the Councilinvolvement of State Governments.staff section members in the activities of NCSL.
 
Article IIIII: Meetings
 
An annual meeting shall be held to coincide with the NCSL Annual Meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Chair provided written notice for the meeting shall be given to the membership at least 30 days in advance.
 
A Professional Development Seminar to The staff section may sponsor professional development activities to provide continuing education and to enhance professionalism may be held each year. Written notice shall be provided at least 30 days in advance of the seminar.
 
Article IV: Officers
 
The officers consist of a Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, and other officers as may be needed. Each officer must be a voting member of the Staff Section.
The duties of the Chair include:
 

• Preside at all meetings of the Staff Section.
• Prepare agenda and schedules for the meetings.
• Represent the Staff Section on the NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee. Designate an alternate in the absence of either the Chair or Chair-Elect.
• Appoint a Staff Section Nominating Committee.

Coordinate activities and . An annual business of the Staff Section.meeting shall be held to coincide with the NCSL Legislative Summit. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the chair.
 

• Plan annual meeting program.

Appoint Staff Article III: Governance
 

• Section committees, the chair of which must be a voting member.
• Appoint Regional Coordinators.

 
The duties of the Chair-Elect include:
 

• Plan Professional Development seminar program.
• Serve as second Staff Section representative on NCSL Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee.
• Preside at Staff Section meetings in the absence of the Chair.
• Other duties as assigned by Chair.

 
The duties of the Secretary include:
 

• Record minutes of Staff Section meetings.
• Deposit a copy of all minutes with NCSL staff contact.
• Duties as assigned by Chair.
• In the absence of both the Chair and Chair-Elect, preside at Staff Section meetings.

 
Article V1: Executive CommitteesCommittee
 
The Executive Committee is composed of Staff Sectionthe staff section officers and the immediate past Chair.
 
. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to transact the business of the Staff Section. The Chair shall call meetings of the Executive Committee as necessary, by teleconference if outside of regularly scheduled annual meeting or professional development seminar.staff section, including planning and presenting staff section programs at the NCSL Legislative Summit and other NCSL meetings. Meetings may be conducted at the discretion of the chair.
 
Article VI: Elections
 
The Chair appoints a Nominating Committee composed of a past ChairSection 2: Officers
The staff section officers are the chair, vice chair, secretary, and immediate past chair. Each officer must be a voting member of the staff section.
1. The chair shall serve a one year term and shall preside at meetings of the Executive Committee and staff section, and shall have general management and control of the affairs of the staff section subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The chair may appoint special committees to assist in the performance of the Executive Committee’s responsibilities.
2. The vice chair shall serve a one year term and two voting members of the Staff Section with consideration to geographic representation. The Nominating Committee shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the chair. In the absence of the chair, the vice chair shall compile a slate of nominees for the positions of: Chair, Chair-Elect, Secretary, preside at Executive Committee and such other officers deemed necessary.
 
A slate of nomineesstaff section meetings. The vice chair shall be submitted for a vote of the membership at the annual meeting. Additional nominations can be made from the floor by the voting membership. Officers are elected by a simple majority of the voting members of the Staff Section present.
 
The terms of officers commence immediately upon close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and continue through annual meetingsucceed the following year.
 
Article VII: Vacancies-Officers
 
The Chair-Elect automatically succeeds to the office of the Chair in the event of a vacancy. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chair-Electchair.
3. The chair and vice chair, or their designees, shall represent the staff section on the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee (LSCC) of NCSL and shall participate in the activities and projects of such committees of the LSCC to which they are assigned.
4. The secretary shall serve a one year term and shall record minutes of all staff section meetings and perform additional duties as may be assigned by the chair. The secretary shall preside at Executive Committee and staff section meetings in the absence of the chair and vice chair. The secretary shall succeed the following year to the office of vice chair.
5. The immediate past chair shall serve a one year term, and in the absence of the chair, vice chair, and secretary, shall preside at Executive Committee and staff section meetings.
Section 3: Regional Directors
The seven regional directors of the staff section shall be appointed by the chair for a term of one year and are eligible for re-appointment. Former officers may be appointed as directors. The duties of the office include: maintain communications with the states assigned to them; submit reports to the NCSL staff liaison on activities within their region for inclusion in the staff section newsletter; assist in compiling updates for the staff section directory; and assume responsibilities as assigned by the staff section chair.
Section 4: Vacancies
1. If the office of the chair becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a new chair to fulfill the remainder of the term. Wherever possible, consideration should be given to members with prior LRL officer experience.
2. If the office of the vice chair becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a member to assume the duties of that office until the next election. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary, the Executive Committee shall appoint a new Secretary to fulfill the remainder of the term Wherever possible, consideration should be given to members with prior LRL officer experience.
 
3. If the office of the secretary becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall appoint a new secretary to fulfill the remainder of the term.
4. If a regional director position becomes vacant, the chair shall appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the term.
Article VIII: Regional CoordinatorsIV: Elections
 
There are seven Regional Coordinators appointed by the Chair for a one-year term.
 
The duties of the Regional Coordinators include:
 

• Maintain communications with the states assigned to them.
• Submit reports to the Secretary on activities within their region for inclusion in Newsline.
• Assist in compiling updates for staff directory.
• Assume responsibilities as assigned by the Chair.

 
Article IX: Publications
 
A directory of legislative research librarians is published annually by the Staff Section, as well as a quarterly newsletter, Newsline. Other publications may be issued. The NCSL staff contact has responsibility for reproduction and distribution of Staff Section publications.
 
Article XSection 1: Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is composed of the immediate past chair, who shall serve as chair of the Nominating Committee, the vice chair, and one other voting member appointed by the Nominating Committee chair, with consideration to geographic representation. The Nominating Committee shall solicit nominations from voting members for the office of secretary and secure a candidate. The Nominating Committee shall inform the LRL Executive Committee of their proposed slate prior to April 30 of each year.
Section 2: Voting and Elections
LRL Elections will take place during the month of May in a manner prescribed by the Executive Committee. The slate will be approved by a simple majority. Votes will be due no later than midnight in the sender’s time zone on May 15. The newly elected list of LRL officers will be announced to the full membership no later than June 1.
Section 3: Terms of Office
The current chair shall preside at the LRL business meeting held in conjunction with the NCSL Legislative Summit. The term of office of the newly elected officers will commence at the end of the Legislative Summit held in that year.
Article V: Publications and Communications
The staff section shall publish an annual online membership directory, a periodic newsletter and other publications and reports at the discretion of the Executive Committee or chair. The chair or the chair’s designee shall provide the members with a monthly update on staff section activities.
Article VI: LRL Revenue Account
A revenue account for LRL shall be maintained by NCSL and used for professional development purposes of the staff section. Professional development activities include, but are not limited to, speaker honoraria and travel expenses; brochures, handouts and meeting materials; program-related costs such as audio-visual charges, meeting room rental and ground transportation for site visits; and other expenses approved by the staff section Executive Committee.
Article VII: Amendments
 
The by-lawsbylaws may be amended at any staff section meeting by a majority vote of the voting members present at any annual meeting or Professional Development Seminar of the Staff Section. Notice. The Executive Committee or chair shall provide notice of proposed amendments to the by-laws shall be providedbylaws to the membership 30 days prior to the meeting.
 
 
History:
Amended August 1986
Amended August 1990, Nashville, Tennessee
Amended July 1994, New Orleans, Louisiana
Amended July 1998, Las Vegas, Nevada
Amended August 2007, Boston, Massachusetts
Amended July 2010, Louisville, Kentucky
Proposed Amendments, August 2013, Atlanta, Georgia
 
 
 

 

LRL Officers: 2012-2013

The terms of officers commence at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and continue through the next ensuing annual meeting.

LRL Regions and Regional Coordinators: 2012-2013

The terms of office of the Regional Coordinators commence at the close of the annual meeting at which they are appointed and continue through the next ensuing annual meeting.