Guthrie library advisory board votes to meet monthly, moves officer elections to September

The Guthrie Public Library Advisory Board voted Oct. 10 to amend its bylaws so the board will meet monthly on the third Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., with the September meeting designated as the annual meeting to elect officers.

Board president Jamie Newton opened the meeting and the board discussed options for changing its schedule from quarterly to monthly, citing a desire to be more engaged on policy and to provide timelier review of director recommendations. After discussion, "I would like to make a motion to change the bylaws article 3 section 2, meeting schedule to our regular meetings in the library shall be held monthly on the 3rd Wednesday at 5:30 PM, and the September meeting will serve as our annual meeting," a board member stated during the vote. The motion was seconded and carried with all members voting aye.

The board also approved two other bylaws amendments. Gracelyn Lorenz moved to change Article 4, Section 1 so that officers will be elected at the September meeting rather than in July; Samantha Stewart seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. The board then voted to transfer responsibility for preparing meeting agendas to the library director (removing the president's automatic role), with the expectation that the director will prepare agendas with input from board members. Members also voted to strike a sentence in the bylaws that referenced a city council resolution the board said had been revoked.

All motions passed without recorded opposition. The board noted that the bylaws changes will be dated Oct. 10, 2024, and the chair said she would update the bylaws file and distribute the revised version to members.

What happens next: The board will implement the new schedule at its next meeting and will elect officers at the September meeting designated as the annual meeting. The director and board will follow up by circulating the revised bylaws and noting the effective date.