library faculty status

Memorandum on Reclassification

Memorandum

February 10, 1975

TO: Library Administrative Council, Library Faculty Executive Committee

FROM: Eldred R. Smith, Director of University Libraries

SUBJECT: Reclassification of University Libraries Position from Librarian Series to Professional Service Series

Despite the substantial discussions of this matter that have taken place within the University Libraries over the past two years, including discussions at the Library Administrative Council meetings, Library Faculty Executive Committee meetings, and Library faculty meetings, I understand that there continues to be considerable concern and confusion on the part of members of the Library faculty and Professional Service staff regarding: (1) the amount of present and potential reclassification; (2) the principles involved; (3) the procedures that are followed. President Ketter recently requested information from me about this matter as a result of questions raised with him by representatives of the UUP. Because many of the UUP questions seem to have originated from concerns expressed by members of the Library faculty and/or University Libraries Professional Services staff, I am taking this opportunity to share with you the information that I provided to President Ketter.

1. Amount of Reclassification.

Since January, 1973, nine positions within the University Libraries have been reclassified from the Librarian series to the Professional Service series. These include: Associate Director of University Libraries, Assistant Director of University Libraries for Technical Services, Assistant to the Director of University Libraries for Facilities Planning, Head of Acquisitions (Central Technical Services), Head of Serials (Central Technical services), Head of Serial Records (Central Technical Services), Head of Circulation (Lockwood Library), Assistant to the Law Librarian, Assistant to the Health Sciences Librarian.

2. Criteria and Procedures Applied.

Each of these positions was carefully evaluated before the reclassification took place to insure that the duties and responsibilities of the position were more appropriate to and consistent with those of personnel classified in the Professional Service series than in the Librarian (Faculty) series. Our efforts in carrying out this pattern of classification are to place in the NTP (Non-Teaching Personnel) series those professional library positions where the primary responsibilities are either (1) essentially either administrative or managerial or (2) involve primary professional expertise in a non-librarianship area, such as space planning. We have no intention whatsoever -- and have sedulously avoided -- reclassifying professional Library positions whose responsibilities involve the core academic features of librarianship (bibliographic control, reference and information services, collection development) in any series other than Librarian.

The rationale for this approach is based upon the following Principles:

In correctly classifying librarians as faculty, the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York have recognized the faculty-like role and contributions of librarians in higher education, and have also correctly required that librarians demonstrate a similar level of quality academic contributions to other faculty and that personnel actions affecting librarians (appointment, reappointment, and continuing appointment) be evaluated by similar standards.

Administrative and managerial responsibilities and contributions are not generally recognized by the University as meeting faculty requirements.

Professional responsibilities and contributions in such areas as personnel, budget, facilities planning, and systems development are not recognized by the University as faculty-like contributions.

Within the University, faculty are not faculty by virtue of any specific degree or background, but because the responsibilities of the positions they occupy. For example, there are many holders of Ph.D.'s and terminal professional degrees within the SUNY system who are classified as NTP's rather than faculty because their positions are essentially administrative or managerial or involve professional contributions which are not considered faculty-like.

This University applies stringent standards to all faculty, including librarians, with regard to appointment, reappointment, and particularly continuing appointment. To force professionals on our staff, including library school graduates, to be judged by standards which are not significantly related to the specific responsibilities of their positions within the context of the University system is not only a basic departure from that system but also an undue requirement to visit upon the persons involved. It is for these reasons that we have taken the present approach.

All individual actions have been carried out in consultation with the appropriate University Libraries Unit Head. In the few cases where reclassification has been carried out while a person has been occupying the position, considerable discussion has taken place between the University Libraries administration and the individual concerned. All of these reclassification have been reviewed by the University Personnel Office and have had to pass the required approval in Albany.

3. Future Reclassifications.

We anticipate very few additional reclassification of this kind within the University Libraries. When they are made, they will be subject to the same principles, scrutiny, procedures, and consultation as in the past.

Because of the substantial interest and concern on the part of the Library staff as a whole in this matter, the text of this memorandum will be included in the next issue of the Library Newsletter.

ERS/nk
CC: Mrs. M. Abell
Mr. C. Osburn
Mr. S. Roy
Mr. J. Vasi

Content provider: Don Hartman
Comments: lib-staffweb@buffalo.edu
Last update: 23 October, 2004