RULES AND PROCEDURES OF THE PROFESSIONAL
LIBRARY STAFF OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF CONCERN TO THESE STAFFS
Office of the Dean of the Faculty
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey
January 2004
V. THE RANKS OF THE
PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY STAFF
1. Definition
The rank of Senior Librarian is awarded to individuals with outstanding leadership qualities and a high level of expertise in their assigned areas of responsibility in the library and who exhibit outstanding achievement in their professional endeavors. Their responsibilities are such that a high level of creativity and independence in planning, organizing, and administering is essential to the successful accomplishment of their responsibilities. They have made outstanding contributions to the Library and to the profession, which are recognized at regional, national, or international levels. These librarians may hold either administrative or non-administrative positions.
2. Criteria for Promotion or Appointment to Rank
Promotion or appointment to the rank of Senior Librarian is contingent upon maintaining a high level of performance of job-related duties and responsibilities as a Librarian or an equivalent rank. Appointment to the Senior Librarian rank from outside is normally reserved for those who have had the equivalent of at least five years of relevant professional experience.
In addition, to be appointed or promoted to the rank of Senior Librarian, an individual will ordinarily meet the following criteria:
3. Reappointment
Senior Librarians appointed from outside and those promoted to this rank without continuing appointment may, provided that their performance continues to meet the requirements for this rank, be offered three consecutive annual reappointments if promoted or appointed between July 1 and December 31, and four consecutive annual reappointments if promoted or appointed on or after January 1.
4. Continuing Appointment
At the end of the appropriate period, Senior Librarians without this status are considered for continuing appointment. Should continuing appointment not be recommended during the prescribed period, the librarian is not reappointed. If, for unusual reasons, such as illness or other exceptional circumstances, the University Librarian in consultation with the Promotion, Continuing Appointment and Review Committee cannot make a recommendation on continuing appointment during this time, then it will be recommended to the Dean of the Faculty that a single additional one-year appointment should be made. The librarian will be considered for continuing appointment during the next annual evaluation cycle and if not granted continuing appointment will not be reappointed for the succeeding year.
A Senior Librarian who becomes the parent of a child by birth or adoption shall be granted a reappointment upon request to the Dean of the Faculty. The maximum number of reappointments a Senior Librarian may receive for childbirth and/or adoption is two. Requests for such extensions should be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty as soon as possible after the childbirth and/or adoption, but in no case later than September fifteenth of the year in which a recommendation on the Senior Librarian's reappointment or continuing appointment must be made.
1. Definition
The rank of Librarian is a career rank; that is, an individual may remain at this rank indefinitely after being granted continuing appointment. Librarians have achieved a high level of competence in their area of responsibility, and duties are generally performed independently and with initiative. The librarians at this rank should have recognized knowledge and skills, and may hold either administrative or non-administrative positions. Librarians develop areas of specialization which will enhance their value as members of the library staff, and participate regularly in professional and/or University activities.
2. Criteria for Promotion or Appointment to Rank
Promotion or appointment to the rank of Librarian is contingent upon maintaining a high level of performance of job-related duties and responsibilities. In addition, to be appointed or promoted to the rank of Librarian, an individual will ordinarily meet the following criteria:
3. Reappointment
A librarian promoted to Librarian rank, whose performance continues to meet the requirements for this rank, is normally reappointed. If promotion takes place between July 1 and December 31, three additional one-year reappointments will be made. If promotion takes place between January 1 and June 30, four additional one-year reappointments will be made. During the final year of such reappointments, the librarian is considered for continuing appointment.
4. Continuing appointment
A librarian appointed to the rank of Librarian from outside the library staff is considered for continuing appointment during his or her fifth year if hired between July 1 and December 31, and sixth year if hired after December 31.
A Librarian who becomes the parent of a child by birth or adoption shall be granted an additional reappointment upon request to the Dean of the Faculty. The maximum number of reappointments an Associate Librarian may receive for childbirth and/or adoption is two. Requests for such extensions should be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty as soon as possible after the childbirth and/or adoption, but in no case later than September 15th of the year in which a recommendation on the Librarian's reappointment or continuing appointment must be made.
5. Termination or Non-reappointment
If continuing appointment is not recommended during the prescribed period, the librarian is not reappointed. If, for unusual reasons such as illness or other exceptional circumstances, the University Librarian in consultation with the Promotion, Continuing Appointment an Review Committee cannot make a recommendation on continuing appointment during this time, then it will be recommended to the Dean of the Faculty that a single additional one-year appointment should be made. The librarian will be considered for continuing appointment during the next annual evaluation cycle and if not granted continuing appointment will not be reappointed for the succeeding year.
Librarians on continuing appointment may be terminated only for reasons described in Section B of Chapter IV.
Associate Librarian is the initial and probationary rank which provides an opportunity for librarians to develop advanced professional skills and explore opportunities for development in areas of specialization which will enhance their value as members of the professional library staff and for participation in professional and/or University activities. An Associate Librarian normally works under specific supervision of a more experienced librarian, with whom he/she shares responsibility for improving services and resolving operational problems.
1. Criteria for Appointment to Rank
For appointment to the rank of Associate Librarian an individual must meet the following criteria: Possess a Master's degree in Library (and Information) Science from a program accredited by the American Library Association, or in exceptional cases, an advanced degree in a relevant discipline other than Library (and Information) Science.
2. Reappointment
Reappointment to this rank is contingent upon maintaining a level of performance which meets expectations for carrying out job-related duties and responsibilities. All initial appointments and subsequent reappointments at this level terminate effective July 1. If evaluations indicate that the librarian is making satisfactory progress in mastering professional skills, he or she can normally expect to be reappointed for either two or three succeeding years. The number of reappointments depends on the initial appointment date. Those appointed between July 1 and December 31 will normally receive two successive annual reappointments and those appointed on or after January 1 will receive three such annual reappointments.
An Associate Librarian who becomes the parent of a child by birth or adoption shall be granted an additional reappointment upon request to the Dean of the Faculty. The maximum number of reappointments an Associate Librarian may receive for childbirth and/or adoption is two. Requests for such extensions should be made in writing to the Dean of the Faculty as soon as possible after the childbirth and/or adoption, but in no case later than September fifteenth of the year in which a recommendation on the Associate Librarian's reappointment or continuing appointment must be made.
3. Promotion
Associate Librarians are normally considered for promotion during their final year of appointment at this rank. This consideration is based on the librarian’s performance of his or her responsibilities and demonstrated potential for growth. Associate Librarians may be considered for promotion at any time prior to their final year of reappointment.
4. Non-reappointment
If promotion to Librarian is not recommended during the final year of reappointment, the librarian will not be reappointed. If, for unusual reasons such as illness or other exceptional circumstances, the University Librarian, in consultation with the Promotion, Continuing Appointment and Review Committee, cannot make a recommendation on promotion at this time, then it will be recommended to the Dean of the Faculty that a single additional one-year appointment should be made. The librarian will be considered for promotion during the next annual evaluation cycle. If promotion is not recommended at that time, the librarian will not be reappointed for the succeeding year.
Librarians appointed to the rank of Librarian IV before July 1, 1985 will continue to hold that rank according to the provisions of their original appointment as stated in the Rules and Procedures of the Professional Library Staff of Princeton University dated Fall, 1980. No additional promotions or appointments to this rank will be made.
Librarians appointed to the rank of Librarian III before January 1, 2004 may continue to hold that rank according to the provisions of their original appointment as stated in the Rules and Procedures of the Professional Library Staff of Princeton University dated Fall, 1986. No additional appointments to this rank will be made but librarians who hold the rank of Librarian II on January 1, 2004 may choose to be considered for promotion to this rank under the 1986 criteria.
Librarians appointed to the rank of Librarian II before January 1, 2004 may continue to hold that rank according to the provisions of their original appointment as stated in the Rules and Procedures of the Professional Library Staff of Princeton University dated Fall, 1986. No additional appointments or promotions will be made to this rank.
G. VISITING SENIOR LIBRARIAN, VISITING LIBRARIAN, AND VISITING ASSOCIATE LIBRARIAN
Librarians from other institutions who visit the University to work for limited periods before returning to their home institutions are appointed, either with or without salary, to the visiting rank equivalent to the regular rank for which they would normally be qualified. Visiting appointments are made for specific periods of up to one year. Such visitors may be reappointed for succeeding periods so long as the total term of appointment does not exceed three calendar years.
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