Library System of Lancaster County

This paper is the result of a survey of the institutional members of the American Theological Library Association. The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) defines faculty status as: (1) freedom to exercise independent judgment in performance of professional duties and a formal method of performance review, (2) adoption of an academic form of governance similar to other faculties on campus, (3) eligibility for membership in the faculty senate or other governing body, (4) salaries comparable to other academic faculty, (5) tenure policies equivalent to other faculty, (6) promotion decisions made by a peer review board and based on professional effectiveness, (7) leaves of absence (i.e. sabbatical) available, (8) access to funds for research and development, and (9) freedom to provide access to information regardless of content (protection from censorship). Of the 106 institutions responding (70% response rate), 7% offer full faculty status to all librarians. When the institutions defined faculty status themselves, without strict adherence to ACRL guidelines, the . result was that 197. offer faculty status to all of their librarians, 117. offer it to some and 67. do not grant faculty status at all. All of the head librarians attained the faculty status significantly more than often regular staff librarians. 417. of respondents considered faculty status an issue, 497. did not, and 10% gave either a mixed response or none at all. The following qualifications and activities of librarians in theological libraries are also examined: degrees, course instruction, lectures or paper presentations, membership in professional committees, research, and professional publication. Appendices provide six tables summarizing data, survey cover letter, and questionnaire. (Contains 39 references.) (MAS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPASTIOSSIT OF EOUrATION 014c* ot Educational eeeeenZli and keprOvereent 'CATiONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (MI 0 This document has wan teCHOduted received hors the person of organtishoo originating it O 'Amor changes have been moot to Improve reproduction Quality Pants ot nen or opinions Stated in theidocor mint do not mainstay tegresent OWN OERI posit on or poltcy FACULTY STATUS OF THEOLOGICAL LIBRARIANS IN THE AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION A Master's Research Paper submitted to the Kent State University School of Library Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Library Science