library faculty status

Faculty Status: the Current Reality

By Terrence McCormack, FEC

Presented at the University Libraries Quarterly Faculty and Special Meetings

November 12/19, 1997

According to the Libraries Administration FTE statistics, and FEC organization chart line survey, the physical size of the Libraries Faculty has remained stable since the mid 80s. Numerically the faculty's current tenure and tenure track population stands at 48 people who have achieved tenure and 6 people who are currently on tenure track.

As the Libraries administration has recently indicated, the number of professional or SL lines have increased significantly. Ken Hood's twenty-year FTE count indicates an increase in professional SL staff of seventy percent. The Director's Office's stated reason for the increase is the redefining of jobs resulting from the ongoing implementation of new technologies and systems. However, this explanation only addresses part of the rationale behind the appointment of professional SLs.

The single most controversial aspect of our current reality is that the Libraries Faculty has been declining in size and influence, through the transfer of libraries faculty work, to MLS professional SLs. FEC identified sixteen professional positions that are occupied by people with MLS's, conducting work traditionally performed by faculty librarians. The administration and others would probably argue that our work culture is changing and responsibilities have become blurred, necessitating the need for the flexibility of professional lines. However, upon closer inspection of these professional positions, little if any differences are apparent in the type of work performed from that of faculty librarians.

Arguably, the underlying truth is that the use of professional lines, for library faculty work, has little to do with the transformation of job functions, and more to do with cost and efficiency. Administratively, SL professional hiring, evaluation and promotion are less costly and time-consuming than that of faculty hires.

The professional line offers unit and department heads:

a person who does not have to meet requirements for tenure, which may take time from daily activity for researching and writing scholarly literature, and preparing for and traveling to professional meetings;
a person who does not require the investment of time and activity necessary for a unit head's preparation and presentation of his/her dossier for tenure and promotion;
a person who may only concentrate on his/her prescribed job activities;
and a person who may be easily contained, and limited, within the boundaries of his/her job description.

While libraries faculty may never be on a level field with teaching faculty, faculty status for librarians does contribute significantly to individual professional development and benefits the Libraries. Individuals working towards tenure rank:

must show evidence of professional and scholarly development, and contribution to the profession and the libraries;
benefit from activities, such as research and writing, that further develop professional skills beyond the theoretical and offers standing within professional associations;
benefit from interaction with professionals from across the country through work in regional and national organizations.

Faculty Status offers the Libraries an individual who:

uses scholarly analysis and approaches to library services;
may freely, in conjunction with others, work to create and participate on independent Libraries' groups and committees that influence the policies and direction of the Libraries;
more confidently interacts with teaching faculty;
may, responsibly, assume controversial positions without fear of retribution;
offers fresh perspective and new ideas to University Libraries through research and participation in national organizations;
is better able to understand, evaluate and provide practical remedies for changing work environments through unfettered professional activities and research.

Conclusion:

What does continued growth of professional SL lines mean for the Libraries Faculty?

The ultimate, long term, result would be the reduction in size and influence of the libraries faculty, marginalized to insignificant numbers, who could have little impact on the direction of the libraries. The demise of faculty status could result in command-centered work environments with such things as professional development accorded to an elite few.

In light of President Greiner's October 31st memo to Vice Presidents and Deans regarding a hiring pause, it is incumbent on this libraries faculty to assert their influence on, future libraries planning that could potentially determine long term goals and staff composition. Otherwise, the continued weakening of the UB libraries faculty means removing the scholarly component of librarianship and the ultimate demise of quality library services at UB.

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Content provider: Terrence McCormick
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Last update: 8 December, 2004