Promotion and Appointment of Librarians Task Force: Final Report and Recommendations

Abstract

Librarians’ Forum charged the Promotion and Appointment of Librarians Task Force (PAL) with reviewing our promotion process and making recommendations for changes to better align what we do with the goals of both individuals and the Library. To do this, we gathered information via surveys, focus groups, and meetings with librarians and administrators. We also reviewed promotion data provided by Library Human Resources and spoke with and reviewed materials from colleagues at peer institutions across the Big Ten and beyond. In general, although there was little consensus on why an individual might want to go through the promotion process, librarians perceive it as important and as meeting many of the needs we have for professional growth. People appreciated its flexibility and ability to recognize the broad range of skills manifested in the colleagues we rely on. They further appreciated that it is a voluntary (not a tenure-track, up-or-out system) and peer-led process that offers everyone an occasion for both self-reflection and advancement in our careers.