BY-LAWS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE FIELDS CORNER LIBRARY

NAME: The name of the organization is Friends of the Fields Corner Branch Library of the Boston Public Library. The common name shall be “Friends of the Fields Corner Library.”

PURPOSE: To create public support for the Fields Corner Branch of the Boston Public Library and support for expanding programs for the branch. To intensify community awareness and use of the library, to aid in public education, to raise funds for equipment and projects in support of these aims, to act in cooperation with Library staff, and to preserve the continuity of the Boston Public Library system.

I. MEMBERSHIP

Anyone high-school age or older who is interested in promoting the library and agreeing to the purpose of the organization may join. Dues of $5/person are required annually, payable at the Annual Meeting. Fees are waived for high-school students.

II. OFFICERS

Officers are: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer. Officers will be elected by the membership at the annual meeting. They will serve until new officers are elected at the next annual meeting. Service to the Fields Corner Library and regular attendance at Friends meetings (at least two-thirds of meetings in the prior year) are required of members who wish to be officers.

III. MEETINGS

General membership meetings will be held annually in April. Other meetings will be called as needed throughout the year. Meetings may be called by any officer.

IV. QUORUM

A quorum will consist of 10% of the membership at the time of Annual Meeting.

V. AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended by vote of the membership present and voting at any Annual Meeting or at any meeting specifically called for this purpose.

VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Shall preside at all meetings, be an ex-officio member of any committees formed, and perform all other duties pertaining to that office.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Shall act in the absence of the President and perform all the above duties.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Shall attend to all correspondence, notify members of meetings, keep and read minutes of all meetings, receive and hold and disburse all monies as authorized by the Organization, and report on expenditures, both at meetings and at the Annual Meeting.

VII. GENERAL PURPOSES (in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws and Federal Law)

The Friends of the Fields Corner Branch Library, a branch of the Boston Public Library, is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

VIII. FINANCIAL, POLITICAL, AND TAX PROVISIONS

No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the preceding article.

No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

IX. PROVISIONS FOR DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION

Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors or Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at any time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors or Executive Committee shall determine.

Any such assets not so disposed shall be disposed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Adopted June 2015