Libraries

The Library Faculty of Indiana University at Bloomington, hereinafter referred to as the “Bloomington Library Faculty” or “BLF,” shall be composed of all persons located on the Bloomington campus who have been appointed as librarians with the rank of Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Librarian. The Bloomington Library Faculty also shall include all the persons located on the Bloomington campus who have been appointed as librarians with adjunct, visiting or part-time rank of Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Librarian. All such persons shall be voting members of the BLF, and all shall be eligible for appointment or election to the Bloomington Library Faculty Council (hereinafter referred to as “BLFC”) and library faculty committees.  Emeriti may participate in meetings but shall be non-voting members of the BLF. 

The principal academic and administrative officer shall be the Ruth Lilly University Dean of University Libraries (hereinafter referred to as “Dean”). Appointment shall be recommended by the Vice-President (Bloomington) after receiving recommendations from a search and screen committee having significant Bloomington Library Faculty representation.

The Dean shall provide a list of Bloomington Library Faculty members to the President of BLF, and certify the rank of each member. 

Subject to limitations imposed by the laws of the state of Indiana, the Board of Trustees of Indiana University, the constitution of the Indiana University Faculty and the constitution of the Indiana University Faculty at Bloomington, this constitution confirms and establishes in the Bloomington Library Faculty the right to exercise the authority herein specified. 

The Bloomington Library Faculty shall share in the responsibility for such activities on the Bloomington campus as:

1. Establishing and maintaining an integrated collection of library materials. 

2. Providing library services to the academic community. 

3. Assessing the need for and planning for the use of library resources. 

4. Overseeing the preservation of library materials. 

5. Establishing library operating policies. 

6. Instructing members of the academic community in the use of library materials. 

7. Recommending guidelines for Bloomington Library Faculty appointment, promotion, tenure, conduct, salary, work and grievance. 

8. Generating proper respect for academic intellectual freedom. 

The Bloomington Library Faculty shall have authority to act in such areas as: 

 1. Organizing itself for the effective governance of its activities. 

2. Establishing procedures for selecting its officers and representatives. 

3. Establishing procedures necessary to carry out its business. 

4. Defining the responsibilities of the BLFC. 

1. The Dean, or their designee, shall routinely preside at the meetings of the Bloomington Library Faculty. The Dean, or their designee, shall be a permanent member of the BLFC and is expected to attend all meetings of the BLFC.

2. The library faculty shall elect a President of the Bloomington Library Faculty, who shall serve as chief officer of the Bloomington Library Faculty Council. Newly-elected Presidents shall serve as President Elect beginning July 1 immediately subsequent to their election, and President during their second year after their election. The President-Elect and President shall both be officers of the BLFC.

3. The BLFC shall appoint a Parliamentarian from among its elected members during the first meeting of the newly elected council. The Parliamentarian serves in their respective role on the BLFC.

4. Officers shall be elected for a term of one year or until their successors have been installed.

The Bloomington Library Faculty shall plan to meet at least two times each academic year, once in the fall and once in the spring, beginning July 1. The Bloomington Library Faculty President shall call other library faculty meetings at the request of the Dean, upon petition of 10 BLF members, by a majority vote of the BLFC, or at BLF President’s discretion as necessary.

The Dean or their designee shall report on the state of the budget at the fall faculty meeting and on the state of the libraries at the spring faculty meeting.

Agendas of BLF meetings will be created by BLF President in coordination with the Dean, the BLF President-Elect, and the Parliamentarian.

The Bloomington Library Faculty shall be notified of the date and the agenda of all regular and special meetings at least one week in advance, barring any special circumstances.

A majority of the total number of BLF members shall constitute a quorum.

Comprehensive minutes of all Bloomington Library Faculty meetings shall be prepared and retained. It is the responsibility of the President-Elect or their designee to record and report the minutes of every Bloomington Library Faculty meeting.

The BLFC shall be the elected representative body of the BLF and shall execute the BLF’s Areas of Authority and Responsibilities outlined in Article II, Sections 2.2 and 2.3 by performing the following functions and such others as it deems necessary.

1. Initiate proposals to and consider proposals by the Bloomington Library Faculty and library administrators and recommend appropriate actions.

2. Create, staff, and dissolve ad hoc committees as necessary.

3. Select and appoint committee members as provided in the by-laws.

4. Fill vacancies for unexpired terms which occur in any committee or office except that of council member.

5. Expedite committee reports, recommendations and actions approved by the Bloomington Library Faculty.

6. Recommend allocation of available resources.

7. Recommend members for appointment to committees other than those of the Bloomington Library Faculty upon request.

8. Provide liaison to the Bloomington Faculty Council pursuant to Sections 5.5A and 5.6 of the Bloomington Faculty Constitution.

The BLFC shall be composed of the BLF President, the BLF President-Elect, eleven members elected at-large, one member elected Bloomington Faculty Council representative as in Article V. Section 5.3.2 below, and the Dean. All shall be voting members.

1. Eleven BLFC members shall be elected at-large. All Bloomington Library Faculty members are eligible for election to any open seat and may vote in the election. They shall be elected for a term of two years, with six members being elected in even-numbered years and five in odd-numbered years. BLFC will have the authority to adjust term lengths to ensure staggering of terms.

2. The librarian newly elected to serve as the Bloomington Faculty Council (hereinafter referred to as BFC) unit #7 representative may not serve as an elected at-large BLFC representative during the year in which they serve as BFC unit #7 representative.

3. Each year the newly elected BFC unit #7 representative will serve a one-year term on BLFC and will serve as official liaison to the BFC.

4. In the event that a member is unable to attend a meeting, any member of the Bloomington Library Faculty may serve as a voting alternate for the meeting. Barring a pre-approved family or medical leave, a member who misses three consecutive meetings shall be replaced by the alternate with the next highest number of votes.

5. The Election Committee shall maintain a ranked list of returns from the Council elections. In the event that a Council member is unable to complete their term, the highest-ranking nominee on said list may, if willing, serve out the unexpired term as a replacement member. Replacement members shall be full members and shall be eligible for nominations in the following term, regardless of length of service as a replacement.

The council shall plan to hold monthly meetings each year. Council meetings shall be open to all members of the library faculty, professional staff and support staff. Special meetings shall be called at the discretion of the Dean or upon petition of four members of the council.

A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.

Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by the BLFC to the Bloomington Library Faculty at any regular or special meeting. After discussion, the proposed amendment shall be sent to a ballot for a vote. Amendments shall require approval by a two-thirds majority of the faculty.

A motion to amend this constitution may be presented to and discussed at a meeting of the faculty when endorsed by fifteen members of the faculty. After discussion, the proposed amendment shall be sent to a ballot for a vote. Amendments shall require approval by a two-thirds majority of the faculty.

This constitution shall be reviewed by the Bloomington Library Faculty on a regular basis and such amendments as are deemed necessary shall be proposed in accordance with sections 6.1 and 6.2.

Enactment, amendment, and repeal of the By-Laws shall be proposed by the BLFC to the Bloomington Library Faculty at any regular or special meeting. After discussion, the proposed change shall be sent to a ballot for a vote. Enactment, amendment, and repeal of the By-Laws shall require approval by a majority of the faculty.

Enactment, amendment, and repeal of the By-Laws may be presented to and discussed at a meeting of the faculty when endorsed by ten members of the faculty. After discussion, the proposed change shall be sent to a ballot for a vote. Enactment, amendment, and repeal of the By-Laws shall require approval by a majority of the faculty.

The By-Laws shall be reviewed by the Bloomington Library Faculty on a regular basis and such changes as are deemed necessary shall be proposed in accordance with sections 7.1 and 7.2.