Appendix E
LIBRARIANS BY RANK:
CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
INTRODUCTION
Within any university community, librarians perform a unique and indispensable role in the learning process, partnering with academic faculty in the pursuit of the university’s goals for instruction, research, and service. Librarians organize and manage the resources and staff that facilitate access to information. They provide professional selection, acquisition, organization, and preservation of materials, ensuring vital resources and services are accessible. They teach and advise in both formal and informal settings, providing guidance to students, faculty, and staff. Through their publications, presentations, and involvement in professional associations, librarians contribute to the scholarly discourse in library and information science and to the bibliographic dimension of all academic fields.
Recognizing the unique and significant role performed by academic librarians within the university community, most American universities either confer librarians with tenure-track faculty status or offer a parallel system of promotion. In either case, ranks assigned to librarians reflect and express the professional status and accomplishments of the individual. An individual may hold high rank irrespective of whether s/he holds administrative responsibility. Promotion to the higher ranks is based on the career growth of the individual librarian, as demonstrated by professional and scholarly activities and service, as well as job performance.
Within the University of Iowa Libraries, professional librarians hold one of four ranks—Librarian I, II, III, or IV. The following policy outlines the criteria for appointment, promotion, and performance evaluation at each rank. This policy is designed to reward professional achievement. It recognizes that the professional growth of each librarian enhances the Libraries’ value to the University.
I. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA AND EXPECTATIONS FOR LIBRARIAN I
The Librarian I, the first professional rank, must:
1. hold a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program in all but exceptional circumstances;
2. demonstrate the ability to carry out operational and/or supervisory/managerial duties; and
3. demonstrate interest in professional development that will enhance his/her value to the Libraries, the University, the profession of librarianship, or the scholarly community, such as committee work (at the library, university, state, regional, or national level), presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or continuing education.
The Librarian I position may:
1. require competency in a foreign language or a subject area, and/or a degree in a particular subject; and/or
2. supervise routine operations of a unit, manage a unit within a department, or manage a branch library.
Criteria for Promotion to Librarian II
(a) The incumbent Librarian I is normally eligible for promotion after successful completion of two years three months of service.
(b) Performance of job responsibility is the most important factor for promotion. The candidate must have received satisfactory evaluations at the Librarian I level and have demonstrated a potential for performance at the Librarian II level.
(c) The candidate must have taken steps toward involvement in an area or areas of professional interest that will enhance his/her value to the Libraries. Activities may include committee work (at the library, university, state, regional, or national level), presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or continuing education.
(d) Re-appointment at the Librarian I level beyond three years is not made except under extraordinary circumstances to be determined by the University Librarian.
II. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA AND EXPECTATIONS FOR LIBRARIAN II
The essential characteristic of the Librarian II is independent performance of professional duties in a competent manner. In all but the most exceptional circumstances, the Librarian II must:
1. hold a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program;
2. have at least three years of professional library experience;
3. demonstrate the ability to carry out advanced operational and/or supervisory/managerial duties; and
4. demonstrate involvement in an area or areas of professional interest that enhance his/her value to the Libraries, the University, the profession of librarianship, or the scholarly community. Activities may include committee work (at the library, university, state, regional, or national level), presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or continuing education.
The Librarian II may be required to:
1. demonstrate competence in a foreign language;
2. display substantial knowledge of a subject area (e.g., advanced degree) or technical expertise;
3. manage a unit within a department, a department, or a branch library; and/or
4. supervise other librarians.
Criteria for Promotion to Librarian III
(a) The incumbent Librarian II is normally eligible for promotion after three years of service as a Librarian II.
(b) The candidate must have received strong evaluations at the Librarian II level and demonstrated a strong potential for performance at the Librarian III level.
(c) The candidate must demonstrate successful professional development initiatives, particularly at the national level, that enhance his/her value to the Libraries. Activities may include committee work, presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or substantial continuing education.
III. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA AND EXPECTATIONS FOR LIBRARIAN III
The Librarian III carries out duties that require advanced knowledge (in a subject area or a complex technical field) and/or involve substantial managerial/administrative responsibilities (requiring the successful exercise of planning ability, leadership, and judgment). The Librarian III works independently in large degree and participates in the formation of library policy.
In all but the most exceptional circumstances, the Librarian III must:
1. hold a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program;
2. have completed three years of service at the Librarian II (or equivalent) level;
3. demonstrate (1) advanced knowledge in a subject area, (2) advanced knowledge in a complex technical field, and/or (3) planning ability, leadership, and judgment which go beyond the limits of competent performance of assigned professional duties; and
4. display continuing achievement, particularly at a national level, in an area or areas of professional interest that will enhance his/her value to the Libraries, the University, the profession of librarianship, or the scholarly community. Activities may include committee work (at the library, university, state, regional, national, or international level), presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or substantial continuing education.
Criteria for Promotion to Librarian IV
(a) The incumbent Librarian III normally becomes eligible for promotion after three years of service as a Librarian III.
(b) The candidate must have received strong evaluations at the Librarian III level and have demonstrated a strong potential for performance at the Librarian IV level.
(c) The candidate is distinguished by the quality and quantity of his/her committee work, research, publication, teaching, and/or substantial continuing education.
IV. APPOINTMENT CRITERIA AND EXPECTATIONS FOR LIBRARIAN IV
The highest professional rank, the Librarian IV functions with the highest degree of independent responsibility and action and regularly participates in the formation of Library or University policy.
In all but the most exceptional circumstances, the Librarian IV must:
1. hold a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from an ALA-accredited program;
2. have completed three years of service at the Librarian III (or equivalent) level;
3. demonstrate continuing mastery of a subject area or a complex technical field;
4. display planning ability, leadership, and judgment distinguished by exemplary performance of professional duties that substantially support the mission of the Libraries; and
5. demonstrate national leadership as well as outstanding and continuing significant achievement enhancing his/her value to the Libraries, the University, the profession of librarianship, or the scholarly community. Activities may include committee work, presentations, poster sessions, research, publication, teaching, and/or substantial continuing education.
V. EARLY PROMOTION
A librarian may seek promotion earlier than the criteria specify if:
12/5/02; revised 4/11/03; 11/11/04; 3/14/05