Document Type
Report
Publication Date
2024
Abstract
In 2023 the ALL-SIS Continuing Status/Tenure Committee was charged with developing a white paper to provide information on the status, rights, and responsibilities of academic law librarian positions. The information provided in this paper is intended to allow law librarians to make informed career choices, increase knowledge of the rights and obligations of librarian positions, and ensure the development of necessary skills and education for future new positions. Clarity on how positions are structured, their required skills, and credentials is essential at all levels of experience for planning and development for future career growth.
This White Paper does not advocate for a particular structure or status when providing information on the components of status and the implications of those components. The Committee hopes this white paper benefits law librarians’ understanding and decision-making and reaches law school deans, faculty members, and others in the legal academy to develop a better appreciation of the expectations and backgrounds of their librarian colleagues.
The Committee’s work is focused on non-director librarians. However, committee members acknowledge that clarity in director positions is equally needed and hope future committees may provide information on the continuing status and tenure of law library directors.
This white paper is divided into four parts: Part I addresses the concepts of status and academic rank for academic law libraries and librarians. Part II discusses the components or elements of status and related issues, including voting rights, service responsibilities, and academic freedom. Part III discusses the tradeoffs of rights and responsibilities associated explicitly with tenure and similar status. Finally, Part IV discusses the 1987 adopted position of the American Association of Law Libraries membership on status and rank.