UMKC Librarians' Council Handbook
2. UMKC Librarians' Council Information
2.3. Committees of the Librarians Council
2.3.3 Promotion Comittee
2.3.3.1 A Provision Making Available Academic Status for Professional Librarians (Doc. no. 1)

UMKC Librarians' Council
A Provision Making Available Academic Status for Professional Librarians in The University of Missouri

(Adopted February 22, 1971 and Amended March 31, 1976)

Inasmuch as librarians must be prepared to work with other members of the academic community in the University's teaching, research, and service endeavors, they should reflect in their preparation and contributions the multifaceted scholarly role of the University. Among our librarians are those who have special competence in subject matter and bibliography, language facility, administrative ability, investigative capacity, and instructional aptitude. Librarians are members of the academic community with special responsibilities for collecting, organizing, and interpreting recorded knowledge. In their appointment, retention, promotion, and remuneration, they should be evaluated by appropriate academic criteria. Following are the criteria to be applied:

Academic Titles

The titles established shall be: Librarian I, Librarian II, Librarian III, and Librarian IV.

Criteria for Appointment and Promotion

Librarian I.

Minimum qualifications shall be graduate (fifth year) degree in library science. In exceptional instances, specialized education, skill, and/or experience may be substituted for part of the educational requirements.

This is the beginning professional rank where assignments are of limited difficulty and responsibility.

Librarian II.

Minimum qualifications shall be a graduate (fifth year) degree in library science, graduate work beyond this degree, plus two years of professional library experience. In exceptional instances, specialized education, skills, and/or experience may be substituted for part of the educational requirements, and graduate study beyond (or other than) the fifth year library degree may be substituted for part of the professional library experience. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with members of the academic community is necessary.

This rank includes positions where the holder performs difficult, responsible work with a considerable degree of independence, applying professional knowledge of library methods and, often, knowledge of a specialized subject field.

Librarian III.

Minimum qualifications shall be a graduate (fifth year) degree in library science, the equivalent of a second master's degree, plus five years of professional library experience. In exceptional instances, experience beyond the minimum may be substituted for part of the educational requirements, and graduate study beyond these minimum qualifications may be substituted for part of the professional library experience. Appointees to this rank must exhibit administrative and supervisory ability or possess subject specialization. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with members of the academic community is necessary.

Positions at this rank are characterized by substantial independent responsibility and action and will usually provide considerable latitude for the exercise of individual judgment.

Librarian IV.

Minimum qualifications shall be a graduate (fifth year) degree in library science, a second master's degree or doctorate, five years of professional library experience, demonstrated administrative ability, and/or subject specialization where appropriate. In exceptional instances, experience beyond the minimum may be substituted for part of the educational requirements, and graduate study beyond these minimum qualifications may be substituted for part of the professional library experience. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with members of the academic community is necessary.

This rank includes positions in which the appointee is responsible for the administration of general library operations, the formulation of policy, highly specialized bibliographical work, or the supervision of the activities of a major department or other large administrative unit.

Procedures for Appointment and Promotion

  1. The Dean of Libraries shall make recommendations for appointments and/or promotions to the various ranks of librarians, subject to the criteria stipulated.
  2. Annual review of each staff member's performance shall be conducted by the Dean with the reviews to be based upon criteria particularly appropriate to the staff member's rank and assignments.

Implementation

Upon adoption of these policies, the Dean of Libraries and Deans of Faculties on the various campuses shall jointly develop procedures related to the implementation of this proposal.