Texas Library Association

“There are the following classifications of membership: individual, institutional, commercial, and affiliate. Individual memberships include the following categories: personal, library school students, trustee, lay, supporting, retired, honorary, life, and out-of-state. Definitions: personal member - individuals who are texas library employees. Library school student - individuals enrolled in a recognized program of library studies in a college or university. Trustee - individuals who are a member of a library board. Lay - individuals who are interested in libraries but are not associated with an individual library. Supporting - individuals who make financial contributions to tla and its activities. Retired - individuals who are retired from active employment in a library. Honorary - individuals who have been awarded memberships for outstanding service to texas libraries. Life - individuals who have paid a life membership fee or been recommended by the executive board and approved by a 3/4 vote of council for substantive service to tla. Commercial - business entities institutional - school, public, special and academic libraries. Affiliate - non-profit organizations, subject to approval by the executive board, whose stated purposes cause them and tla to have kindred purposes and make them "interested in texas libraries". These organizations must be organized at the statewide level, have one set of officers for the entire state, and enjoy the same type of tax exempt status as tla. Affiliated members accepted after january 1, 1981, will pay annual dues. The privileges shall be stated in the standing rules. Out-of-state - individuals living outside the state of texas who are interested in the activities and programs of the tla.”

“Elections are held annually through mail ballot or electronic ballot by the membership; a majority of the votes cast elects.”

“Annual budget and certain bylaws changes must be approved by council.”

“A draft of form 990 is prepared by tla's audit firm and reviewed by the executive director. After any changes resulting from that review are incorporated into the return, a final draft of the return is forwarded to the entire voting board before it is finalized and filed.”

“All board members are required to sign a new conflict of interest statement each year. They are asked at the beginning of every board meeting to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.”

“Tla's independent board draws upon statewide compensation surveys and reports for associations and non-profit organizations in texas. Salaries are reviewed every 2-3 years to ensure compatibility with market and budget considerations.”

“Governing documents such as bylaws, standing rules are available on the tla website, all other documents are available upon request made by writing the tla executive director.”