COSEELIS Constitution

Name
The name of the organisation is the Council for Slavonic and East European Library and Information Services (COSEELIS).

Aims
The aims of the Council are

  • To represent the aims and interests of libraries and other information organisations offering services in the field of Slavonic and East European studies and to provide a focus for them.
  • To pursue these aims through consultation and representation as appropriate.
  • To encourage co-operation in the acquisition, dissemination and preservation of library materials needed for Slavonic and East European Studies.
  • To assist in and advise on the provision, recording and use of such materials in national, university and other libraries and information services.
  • To provide a forum for discussion among librarians concerned with the subject and to maintain links between librarians, scholars, researchers and information specialists in the subject.
  • To promote the dissemination of information on these topics through publications and by other means.

The Council is a not-for-profit organisation.

Membership
Tier 1 institutional membership, which is fee-paying, is open to all libraries, archives and information services in the United Kingdom. Membership entitles institutions to send delegates to the annual general meeting of the Council, and other meetings as called by the Committee, not more than two delegates from each institution having voting powers. Membership also entitles delegates to propose members for election to the Committee.

Tier 2 institutional membership, which is free, is open to all libraries, archives and information services. Membership entitles institutions to send delegates to the annual general meeting of the Council, and other meetings as called by the Committee.  Delegates do not have voting rights.

Personal membership is open to interested individuals at the discretion of the Committee, and not normally to representatives of commercial companies. Personal members may attend annual and other general meetings. They do not have voting rights and may not propose or second members for election to the Committee.

Meetings
There will be an annual general meeting and other meetings as called by the Committee. The Secretary will call a general meeting within fourteen days of receipt of a written request by any ten Tier 1 members. The Secretary will give twenty-eight days’ notice in writing of any general meeting.

Officers and Committee
The officers and Committee are Tier 1 member representatives and will normally be elected at the annual general meeting by a simple majority of voting members present, with the consent of those nominated. Exceptionally the Secretary, with the consent of the Committee, may organise a postal ballot of voting members to fill unexpected vacancies.

  • There will be a Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who will normally retire after three years, but will be eligible for re-election.
  • The Committee will consist of the Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer and seven other members.
  • Members will retire every three years, but will be eligible for re-election. The Committee will have the power to co-opt additional members and to determine the length of service of such co-opted members.
  • Nominations for the Committee and for the officials of the group must be proposed by a Tier 1 Institutional Delegate and seconded by another in writing. As far as possible representation of the Committee will reflect the range of interests of the members of the group.
  • The Committee will meet as necessary, normally twice a year.

Subscription
The Committee of the Council is empowered to determine an annual subscription for Tier 1 institutional members and personal members, to be levied for the purpose of promoting the activities of the Council, the level of the subscription to be subject to the approval of the Annual General Meeting.

Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Council for any reason whatsoever, any assets belonging to it will be dispersed according to the wishes of a meeting of Tier 1 institutions.

Amendments to the Constitution
The Constitution may be amended by a simple majority of voting members at a general meeting. The Secretary will give twenty-eight days’ notice of any proposal to amend the Constitution.