Model constitution (7)
Preamble
The National Book Development Council of [name of country] is established under the laws of [country] as a non-profit-making organization to co-ordinate and stimulate the activities of government and private sector agencies in the development of the book industry of [country] to the end that more and better books of all kinds may be made available at the lowest possible costs to readers of all ages throughout the country.
Article I. Objectives
- To bring together the different groups, public and private, concerned with book-industry so that all may become better aware of the problems and of the contributions of all other sectors in the book field.
- To formulate plans and policies regarding book industry development and present these plans to government and private associations as a means of co-ordinating the efforts of all parties concerned.
- To support and strengthen associations within the book industry where they exist and to urge the formation of such groups where they do not.
- To encourage the establishment and maintenance of high professional, technical and ethical standards in all segments of the book industry.
- To create and foster the book- reading habit among all age groups.
- To support and encourage investigation and research in problems relating to the book field.
- To improve performance in every segment of the book field by encouraging the organization of training courses and the establishment of permanent training institutions and seminars and meetings devoted to various aspects of the book field.
- To gain recognition from those agencies concerned with national economic and social development, of the importance of the book industry as the provider of the essential tools of education, which is the keystone for developing any nation.
- To maintain contact with similar agencies in other countries of the region and with international and professional bodies concerned with book-industry development in order to both receive assistance and give assistance in the developing of the book industries of the region.
Article II. Membership
- A list of possible members - this would include representatives (at a high level) of the Ministry of National Planning, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and/or Industry, National Library, Government Printing Office, Publishers' Association, Writers' Association, Printers' Association, Booksellers' Association, Library Association, National Commission for UNESCO and other associations, public and private, with a direct involvement in book-industry affairs.
- Delegates from each organization would be selected either on an ex-officio or an elected basis by that organization.
- The term of service of any delegate would be fixed by the organization he [or she] represents.
Article III. Organization of the council
- The council consists of the delegates of all the organizations who are members of the council.
- Executive Board - to consist of the council, chair, vice-chair and executive secretary, and four members elected by the council as a whole.
- The secretariat - an executive secretary and staff as required, to be paid by the council and responsible to it through the executive board. Executive secretary to be selected by board, approved by council. Other staff selected by executive secretary to fill posts approved by executive board.
- Special committees - to be appointed by the council or executive board to undertake special tasks. To receive staff assistance of the secretariat, but report to the body appointing the committee.
Article IV. Meetings
- Full council - regular meetings twice or four times a year.
- Executive board - regular meetings six or twelve times a year.
- Special meetings - executive board at the call of the executive secretary and two board members or of four board members. Council at call of 25 per cent of council members including at least one member of the board.
Article V. Finances
- Regular budget support from government agency members.
- Regular budget support from private-sector agency members.
- Support for special activities to be solicited from above members and from other sources such as foundations, international organizations, bilateral aid organizations and individuals.
- Financial statements to be submitted by executive secretary to the council through the board each year and oftener, if requested.
Article VI. Functions and activities of the council
- Co-ordinate planning - submit advisory documents to government agencies and private-sector associations.
- Book promotion - through book fairs, book and library weeks, advertising and other efforts.
- Information - surveys of book needs, readership habits, etc., news releases on book activities, news bulletins to council members and others in the book field.
- Regulation - standardize codes of ethics of associations, publicize transgressions, seek legal action when possible against violators of copyright and other laws relating to the book industry.
- Improvement - encourage and establish training facilities, and courses and seminars to upgrade the personnel in all phases of the book industry.
Organizational chart of the Secretariat of a National Book Development Council
