Governance
The System Board is composed of one representative from each participating library and the County appointee from each participating county. They adopt the annual budget and plan of services, approve officers, and amend the bylaws. The System Board meets once a year, on the second Wednesday in August.
The County Appointees are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the local County Commissions. One County Appointee is appointed for each member county. County Appointees serve on the System Board, and at least one County Appointee serves on the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee consists of one member from each county in the System that levies the System tax. The Executive Committee meets monthly and is empowered to conduct all affairs of the System not reserved for the System Board.
The following policies are those developed by the Executive Committee of Northwest Kansas Library System.
Each Policy is reviewed yearly and appropriate changes are made.
Collection Development Policy 2016
The NWKLS Budget and Strategic Plan are developed by standing subcommittees that consists of members from both the Full Board and Executive Committee. Each Budget and Strategic Plan is approved by the NWKLS Executive Committee, the State Library of Kansas Board, and the NWKLS Full Board.
2021
2022
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this regional system of cooperating libraries shall be “The Northwest Kansas Library System.” For the purpose of these bylaws, the term “System” shall be construed to mean the Northwest Kansas Library System.
ARTICLE II: AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
The System is established and shall be operated as a municipality pursuant to, and in compliance with, the laws of the State of Kansas, particularly K.S.A. 75-2547, et seq.
The purpose of the organization shall be to provide through a system of cooperating libraries, improved library service to all citizens in the Northwest Kansas area and to otherwise promote library interests in the State of Kansas.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the System shall consist of those participating libraries designated by the State Library of Kansas Board. Additional libraries shall be included in the future as designated by the State Library of Kansas Board.
Any legally established or club library in the counties of Cheyenne, Decatur, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins, Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace is eligible to participate in the System, provided it files with the System Board. The System Board shall vote approval and petition the State Library of Kansas Board to approve inclusion of such library.
Two types of library membership are possible:
1. Participating members are those libraries in counties that levy the System tax.
2. Contracting members are libraries in counties which do not levy the System tax.
A participating library, or participating libraries of a county, when in unanimous agreement, may withdraw from the System by submitting written notice to the System’s governing body one year prior to the adoption of the annual budget, subject to the approval of the State Library of Kansas Board.
In the event of the withdrawal of a participating library from the System, all System assets and all System property purchased with System funds shall become the property of, and shall be returned to the System.
ARTICLE IV: GOVERNING BODY
The governing body of the System shall be the System Board. The System Board shall be composed of one representative from each participating library and the County appointee from each participating county. Each representative is to be elected by the trustees of the participating library and certified in writing to the System office by the chairman of that library board, the librarian, or school administrator.
Representatives Term of Office:
1. Each library representative shall be elected for a term of four years. In the event the representative is unable to attend a Full System Board meeting, an alternate may be given the right to represent that library by giving notice to the System office
2. No representative shall serve for more than two full consecutive terms. A representative must be off the board for one full year before being eligible for reappointment. County appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the County Commission.
3. In the event of the death or resignation of a representative, an alternate shall complete the unexpired term of the representative.
4. The election of all representatives shall be certified in writing to the System Center prior to taking office.
5. Each member library shall elect its representatives every fourth year. In the event a new member library is added to the System, a representative shall be elected to serve until the next regular election for that library.
The System Board shall adopt the annual budget and plan of services, approve officers and amend the bylaws. It shall delegate to its Executive Committee such other duties as are not specified in these bylaws.
The System Board shall hold a regular annual meeting before the 15th of August at a place and time to be specified in the meeting notification.
1. The Annual meeting shall include an evaluation of the current System programs, the adoption of the annual budget and plan of services,
2. The approval of the election of officers, an end of the year review of System service, and a review of the bylaws.
3. Any member of the Executive Committee or a majority of the System Board members may call a Special meeting of the System Board.
ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of one member from each county in the system that levies the System tax. The System Board members from each taxing county shall appoint one of the members from their county to serve on the Executive Committee for a period of two (2) years beginning in January.
At least one member of the Executive Committee shall be a County appointee. County appointees are eligible to serve as long as they are County appointees.
The duties of the Executive Committee are as follows:
- Chairman–To preside at meetings and appoint special committees.
- 1st Vice Chairman–To act as chairman in the absence of the Chairman.
- 2nd Vice Chairman–To act as chairman in the absence of both of the above.
- Secretary–To ensure that minutes of the System Board and Executive Committee meetings are recorded
- Treasurer–To ensure that accurate financial reports of the System are provided.
The Officers shall be elected by the Executive Committee from the members of the Executive Committee to serve for a period of one year. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive years in the same office.
The System Director shall attend all meetings as a nonvoting technical advisor to the committee.
In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee, a replacement shall be appointed by the System Board members from the county in which the vacancy occurs to fill out the term. If a vacancy occurs in an office the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy by electing a member of the Executive Committee to fill out the term.
The Executive Committee shall meet at least monthly at a place and time to be determined by the majority of the Committee, unless deemed unnecessary by the Chairman.
The Executive Committee shall be empowered to conduct all affairs of the System not specifically reserved for the System Board.
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
Standing Committees:
1. The Chairman shall appoint a Budget Committee to be composed of the Treasurer and additional members of the System Board. The committee shall prepare and submit to the full System Board at the Annual meeting.
2. The Chairman shall appoint a Planning Committee to be composed of members of the System Board. This committee shall prepare and submit to the Full System Board at the Annual meeting.
3. The Chairman shall appoint a Policy Committee to be composed of members of the System Board. The committee shall review and revise the NWKLS Policies to submit to the Executive Committee. The Committee shall review and revise the NWKLS Bylaws for submission to the Full System Board.
Other committees shall be appointed by the Chairman when the Executive Committee or Board deems it necessary to carry on the business of the Board.
The Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING
Each representative or alternate shall have one vote at System Board meetings. The representatives of contracting libraries and non-legally established public libraries shall have voting power on all matters except those related to the budgeting of regional tax funds.
Quorum:
1. System Board–a quorum for System Board meetings is forty per cent of the total members of the Board.
2. Executive Committee–a quorum is the majority of the members of the committee.
Voting by proxy is not allowed.
ARTICLE VIII: RULES OF ORDER
“Robert’s Rules of Order“, current revision, shall apply except when in conflict with state statutes or these bylaws.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these bylaws require a majority vote of the total number of qualified members of the System Board, subject to the approval of the State Library Advisory Commission, and provided the proposed amendment is printed, with the changes and corrections delineated, and mailed prior to or with the agenda for the meeting.
Revised August 8, 2018
Board members representing each member library serve four year terms. The following listing shows the city in which each member library is located, the name of the library, the term of office for the representative, and the representative to the System Board from that library.
To facilitate attendance at board meetings, libraries are permitted to appoint alternate representatives. The alternate should be specified to NWKLS before the meeting.
Cheyenne
- Bird City Public Library / Dian Burns / 2020-23 (1st)
- St. Francis Public Library / Nathan Fiala / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 103 Cheylin / Melissa Dart / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 297 St. Francis Schools / Lisa Holzwarth / 2020-23 (1st)
Decatur
- Jennings City Library / Joan McKenna / 2021-24 (1st)
- Norcatur Public Library / Cathy Anthony / 2018-21 (1st)
- Oberlin City Library / Jody Shike / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 294 Decatur County Schools / Leia Gallentine / 2021-24 (1st)
Gove
- Gove City Library / Ferol Powers / 2020-23 (2nd)
- Grainfield City Library / Lisa Rieth / 2020-23 (1st)
- Jay Johnson Public Library / DesiRae Churchwell / 2021-24 (2nd)
- Moore Family Library / Melissa Meier / 2021-24 (1st)
- USD 291 Grinnell Schools / Patricia Baalman / 2021-24 (1st)
- USD 292 Wheatland Schools / Paula Chapin / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 293 Quinter Schools / Sandii Ostmeyer / 2021-24 (1st)
Logan
- Oakley Public Library / Steve Johnson / 2020-23 (1st)
- St. Joseph’s School / Vacant
- USD 274 Oakley Schools / Lana Steiner / 2020-23 (2nd)
- USD 275 Triplains / Jana Gfeller / 2019-22 (2nd)
Norton
- Almena City Library / Harold Rivera / 2019-22 (1st)
- Lenora Public Library / Maxine Mai / 2019-22 (1st)
- Norton Correctional Facility / Brenton Bogart / 2020-23 (1st)
- Norton Public Library / Patricia Hart / 2018-21 (UN)
- USD 211 Norton Community Schools / Ashley Brown / 2021-24 (1st)
- USD 212 Northern Valley Schools / Nicole Simeon / 2019-22 (1st)
Sheridan
- Selden Public Library / Marsha Rogers / 2021-24 (2nd)
- Sheridan County Health Complex / Vacant
- Sheridan County Public Library / Kaylene Oelke / 2021-24 (2nd)
- USD 316 Golden Plains Schools / Judith Rogers / 2021-24 (2nd)
- USD 412 Hoxie Community Schools / Cyndie Aumiller / 2021-24 (2nd)
Sherman
- Goodland Public Library / Karen Gillihan / 2018-21 (1st)
- Northwest Kansas Technical College / JoAnn Wahrman / 2019-22 (1st)
- USD 352 Goodland Schools / Barb Bedore / 2020-23 (1st)
Thomas
- Heartland Christian School / Rhonda Myers / 2020-23 (2nd)
- H.F. Davis Memorial Library CCC / Tara Schroer / 2020-22 (UN)
- Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management / Wynn Duffey / 2019-22 (2nd)
- Northwest Kansas Heritage Center / Vacant
- Pioneer Memorial Library / Melany Wilks / 2019-22 (2nd)
- Sacred Heart Catholic School / Amanda Juenemann / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 314 Brewster Schools / Chris Hoyt / 2020-23 (1st)
- USD 315 Colby Schools / Sandy Wilks / 2021-24 (2nd)
Trego
- Trego County Hospital / Vacant
- WaKeeney City Library / Mary Deaver / 2019-22 (1st)
- USD 208 Trego County Schools / Sonya Kostner / 2019-22 (1st)
Wallace
- Sharon Springs Public Library / Sharon VanAllen / 2021-24 (1st)
- USD 241 Wallace County Schools / Joni Pearce / 2019-22 (1st)
- USD 242 Weskan Schools / Cindy Harold / 2021-23 (1st)
Rawlins
- Atwood Public Library / Grace Kastens / 2021-24 (2nd)
*Terms in red indicate terms that expire this year or have expired in a previous year.
**1st in Term indicates a board member on their first term.
**2nd in Term indicates a board member on their second term.
**UN in Term indicates a board member completing an unexpired term of a previous member.
Meeting Agendas
Meeting Minutes
Full System Minutes 2020 (Unofficial)
Information for Representatives
Representative Information Sheet
The County Appointees play a vital role in the administration of Northwest Kansas Library System. Each County Appointee serves a four year term and can serve as many terms as the local County Commission desires. County Appointees vote as a member of the NWKLS Full System Board and can serve on the NWKLS Executive Committee, which according to System Bylaws, must have at least one County Appointee as a member.
Connie Johnson / Norton County Appointee
Cathy Sherfick / Trego County Appointee
Nancy Saddler / Thomas County Appointee
Martin Melia / Sherman County Appointee
Vacant / Gove County Appointee
Bob Talbott / Sheridan County Appointee
Vacant / Logan County Appointee
Julie Carter / Decatur County Appointee
Darla Deeds / Cheyenne County Appointee
Vacant / Wallace County Appointee
The NWKLS Executive Committee is composed of one representative from each taxing county elected by the representatives of member libraries and the Governor’s Appointees from their respective counties. The members of the Executive Committee serve two-year terms. Terms are staggered to prevent complete turnover of the membership at any one election.
The Executive Committee elects the officers, which is subject to the approval of the Full System Board. Executive Committee Officers serve one year terms with a maximum of two terms.
Members of the Executive Committee are as follows:
Dian Burns Cheyenne County (Member) — still waiting on her to return the form for EC
Executive Committee: 2020-2021–1st Term
Full Board: 2020-2023-1st Term
Jody Shike Decatur County (Member)
Executive Committee: 2021-2022- 3rd Term
Full Board: 2020-2023–Completion of an unexpired term
DesiRae Churchwell Gove County (2nd Vice-Chair-2nd Term)
Executive Committee: 2021-2022–3rd Term
Full Board: 2021-2024–2nd Term
Steve Johnson Logan County (Member)
Executive Committee: 2022-2023–2nd Term
Full Board: 2020-2023–1st Term
Pat Hart Norton County (Treasurer-2nd Term)
Executive Committee: 2021-2022–2nd Term
Full Board: 2022-2025–1st Term
Cyndie Aumiller Sheridan County (1st Vice-Chair-2nd Term)
Executive Committee: 2021-2022–3rd Term
Full Board: 2021-2024–2nd Term
Karen Gillihan Sherman County (Secretary-2nd Term) — still waiting on her to return the form for EC
Executive Committee: 2020-2021–2nd Term
Full Board: 2022-2025–2nd Term
Tara Schroer Thomas County (Member)
Executive Committee: 2022-2023–2nd Term
Full Board: 2019-2022-Completion of an unexpired term
Mary Deaver Trego County (Member)
Executive Committee: 2022-2023–2nd Term
Full Board: 2019-2022–1st Term
Cindy Harold Wallace County (Chair-2nd Term)
Executive Committee: 2021-2022–4th Term
Full Board: 2021-2023–Completion of an unexpired term
Agendas
Executive Committee Agenda 2014
Executive Committee Agenda 2015
Executive Committee Agenda 2016
Executive Committee Agenda 2017
Executive Committee Agenda 2018
Executive Committee Agenda 2019
Executive Committee Agenda 2020
Executive Committee Agenda 2021
Minutes
Executive Committee Minutes 2014
Executive Committee Minutes 2015
Executive Committee Minutes 2016
Executive Committee Minutes 2017
Executive Committee Minutes 2018
Executive Committee Minutes 2019
Executive Committee Minutes 2020
Executive Committee Minutes 2021
Resolutions
Information for Representatives