CONSTITUTION OF
THE ST.LUCIA ASSOCIATION OF INFORMATION RESOURCE SERVICES
(SLAIRS)

CONSTITUTION

TITLE

1. The Association shall be a voluntary organization and shall be called the St.Lucia Association of Information Resource Services and shall comprise libraries, archives, museums and other information resource services.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION

2. To bring together as a group all persons engaged in the work of information handling, or interested in the development of information services in St.Lucia and to provide opportunities to discuss matters relating to these services.

3. To promote the total development of information services.

4. To establish a high standard of education and training of information personnel and to encourage a high degree of professionalism among these workers.

5. To make recommendations on legislation affecting the establishment, maintenance and development of libraries, archives, museums and information services in St.Lucia; to make recommendations on all issues affecting the availability of information in the society.

6. To encourage the development of a National Information System as a cooperative network of library, archive, museum and information services.

7. To actively promote the development of services to special groups: children, young adults and others marginalised by existing services.

8. To adopt all other appropriate measures as may be necessary to ensure the attainment of the above objectives.

MEMBERSHIP

9. There shall be five categories of membership:

(a) Full membership

(b) Associate membership

(c) Institutional membership

(d) Corresponding membership

(e) Honorary membership

10. Full membership of the Association shall be open to all information service personnel and to such other persons as the Executive Committee may, at its discretion, determine are eligible for full membership.

11. Associate membership of the Association shall be open to all persons interested in the promotion and development of information services.

12. Institutional membership is open to every institution, organization or association in St.Lucia interested in the development of information resources and services. Each institution is entitled to nominate a representative who shall enjoy all the privileges of full membership.

13. Corresponding membership. Any person, institution, organization or association described in paragraphs (9) to (11) inclusive and not resident in St.Lucia is eligible for corresponding membership. Corresponding members may not vote or hold office.

14. Honorary membership. The Association may on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, at an annual general meeting confer honorary membership upon any person or association on the merit of outstanding contribution to the development of information services in St.Lucia.

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

15. The affairs of the Association shall be controlled by an Executive Committee.

16. There shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor and Public Relations Officer elected by the entire body, and an Immediate Past President. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to co-opt persons from time to time at its discretion.

17. Voting for the President shall be done each year by a simple majority vote.

18. The President shall act as Chairperson of all general meetings of the Association. In the absence of the President, the Vice President or the Secretary, in that order, shall stand in their stead. If none of these is present, a Chairperson shall be elected at the meeting.

19. After the Annual General Meeting, each section shall meet separately and nominate their own officers and a representative to the Executive Committee.

20. Four (4) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

21. The Fees shall be determined and reviewed by the Executive from time to time and put to the General Body for approval.

22. Annual subscriptions shall be due and payable on the last day of March each year. Members whose subscription remains in arrears from the previous year shall not be entitled to vote at the ensuing Annual General Meeting of the Association, neither will they be eligible to hold office.

23. The Annual General Meeting shall receive and consider the general report of the Executive Committee and the annual Treasurer's report. Twenty-five percent of the financial membership of the Association shall constitute a quorum at the Annual General Meeting.

MEETINGS

24. Meetings of the Association shall be called four times a year and at least one of these meetings shall be the Annual General Meeting. Meetings for the Executive Committee shall be held as often as is necessary for the transaction of business.

25. The President may summon a special General Meeting at any time.

26. The President shall summon a special meeting on an application by five members provided that the purpose is stated in the application.

27. The Secretary shall give fourteen (14) days written notice of a general meeting.

28. The chairperson of any meeting shall have the right of voting; if the number of votes for and against is equal, the chairperson shall also have a casting vote.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

29. The Executive Committee shall propose such Rules and Regulations as it may deem necessary for the proper functioning of the Association. These Rules and Regulations shall be placed before the Annual General Meeting for approval.

AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION

30. No amendment shall be made to the Constitution unless such amendment is approved by at least two-thirds majority of the members present and voting at a general meeting especially convened for that purpose. Proposed amendments to the constitution must be circulated to members along with the notice calling the General Meeting, at which such amendments are to be considered.