Faculty Handbook: Librarianship Responsibility

Policy Statement

As the primary means through which students and faculty gain access to the storehouse of organized knowledge, the university library performs a unique and indispensable function in the educational process. Librarians perform a teaching and research role inasmuch as they instruct students formally and informally and advise and assist faculty in the scholarly pursuits.  The function of the librarian as participant in the processes of teaching and research is the essential criterion of faculty status

Realizing its fundamental place in the teaching, learning, and research process, the Marywood University library faculty members foster a welcoming and supportive online and physical presence within the community. The expertise of library faculty and the integration of information resources, instructional services, and technology provide an environment that encourages scholarship by promoting intellectual curiosity and critical thinking.  Library faculty members maintain a commitment to the University's effort to help individuals reach their potential, engage in lifelong learning, and emerge as responsible leaders.

Librarianship requires that the practicing librarian be conversant with the goals, standards, and conventions of the library profession, be able to interpret these within the context of the institutional mission, and be able to develop collections and services appropriate within that context. Each librarian must demonstrate competence and evidence of developing excellence in his or her primary area(s) of responsibility and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty and staff. S/he is also expected to engage in continued study and research and maintain interest and involvement in the activities of professional organizations.  The ethical basis and values of librarianship are derived from its service orientation.  Librarians provide service to its users without regard to the user's affiliation.

Examples of competence in librarianship must benefit either the Marywood community as a whole or a targeted population or subject specialty within the Marywood community.   This may involve, but is not limited to any one or combination of the following:

1. instructing Library users in defining their information needs, in identifying, locating and retrieving relevant information sources, in critically evaluating these sources, in ethically and effectively using the information, and in documenting their research which is accomplished through effective point-of use instruction, i.e. reference desk assistance, course-related instruction; office consultations, electronic assistance, etc.;
2. promoting information competence as a major theme of outreach and collaborative activities;
3. partnering with teaching faculty in the creation of active, problem-based learning assignments, assessment of student work, e.g. bibliographies;
4. retaining the academic curriculum as a major influence upon the nature of services;
5. selecting, acquiring, organizing and providing access to published information, in all forms, to support teaching, learning, and research;
6. stimulating and supporting independent research by the University community;
7. maintaining and improving proficiency in academic subject area(s);
8. showing leadership and innovation in the planning, development and implementation of library initiatives within the context of University and professional goals and objectives;
9. contributing to the general development and improvement of the University and its mission through the University committee structure and other means.

Within the context of a librarian's evaluation, librarianship shall be considered that body of work which constitutes the primary role(s) for which s/he was hired. The practice of librarianship may involve cataloging, reference service, collection development, management, etc; for only some librarians will it include classroom teaching.  In terms of the usual evaluation criteria, librarianship takes the place of teaching in librarians' evaluations.  The above expectations of librarianship effectiveness will be used for promotion and tenure.