Professional+Status+of+Academic+Librarians+at+the+American+University+Library

Professional Status of Academic Librarians at the American University Library
The American University Library serves the AU campus and includes the Bender Library and Resource Center, the Music Library in the Katzen Arts Center, and the Anderson Computing Complex. It is affiliated with but operated separately from the Pence Law Library at the Washington College of Law.

The American University Library has three principal categories of librarians: **tenured/tenure-track**, **temporary full-time**, and **part-time**.

The **tenured/tenure-track librarians** have three ranks: assistant librarian (pre-tenure), associate librarian (tenured), and librarian (tenured with a strong record of professional growth). The privileges of the tenured/tenure-track librarians include: promotions in rank based on a peer review system, annual travel allotments for professional development, ability to serve on University senate committees, seats on the University Library Faculty Council, and eligibility for sabbaticals every seven years once tenure has been awarded. While pre-tenure, these individuals are reviewed biannually by submitting a file-for-action requesting contract renewal. After the third request, following the sixth year of service tenure is either awarded or denied. If denied, the individual is given a terminal one-year contract. Newly-hired librarians with previous library experience may request that the first two-years of the tenure process be waived. The evaluation of tenure-track librarians is based on three principal areas of review: primary responsibilities, creative and scholarly development, and university service. Creative and scholarly development can include things like articles, book reviews, presentations at professional conferences, and service on the committee of professional associations. It does not require that a book or refereed journal article be published. At the time of the second request for reappointment and final request for appointment with tenure, external reviewers from peer institutions are solicited to write evaluations letters based on an individual's file-for-action. At the time of the request for appointment with tenure an internally-solicited peer review form is distributed to the librarian's colleagues and completed forms are added to the file.

The **temporary full-time librarians** hold the rank Assistant Librarian and have most of the privileges of the tenured/tenure-track librarians including annual travel allotments for professional development, ability to serve on University senate committees, and seats on the University Library Faculty Council. They are not eligible for sabbaticals. The temporary positions are created when there is a need but the University Administration doesn't designate a tenure-track line for the position. These individuals are reviewed annually and can be employed no more than six consecutive years. Generally a national search is conducted to fill these positions.

The **part-time librarians** receive no formal periodic review and can maintain employment indefinitely. There are also no requirements or formal expectations of continuing professional development. They are not eligible for professional leave, sabbaticals, travel funds, or to serve on University Senate committees.