Faculty Handbook           Section II

O.    The University of North Texas Librarians' Charter and Governance Document

The retention, growth and promotion of librarians are critically important to the University of North Texas. The mission of the university comprises teaching, research and service. Librarians, as the collectors, organizers and disseminators of the materials essential to this mission, are an indispensable part of the university.

Because skilled professional guidance is essential to the academic community, it is necessary to establish a means of acknowledging job performance, professional growth and contributions to librarianship at UNT. This charter and governance document reflects the nature and philosophy of this discipline at UNT and addresses the process for appointment, reappointment, promotion and merit awards.

Librarians at UNT normally are required to hold at least a master's degree in library and information science from an ALA accredited program. Exceptions to this requirement are at the discretion of the supervisor(s), the Dean of the Libraries, and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Librarians exercise independent judgment, provide leadership, and formulate original and creative solutions in the practice of their discipline. They also must work within the standards, policies and rules of the academic profession.

Librarians at UNT are professionals and enjoy such privileges as election to membership on the Faculty Senate, appointment to the university and Faculty Senate committees, and consideration for development leaves and research funds. In addition, appointment, reappointment, promotion and merit awards for librarians are determined through a peer review process. Librarians are recognized as integral to the instructional community and also share with the faculty the right of Academic Freedom ".…to study, discuss, investigate, teach, conduct research and publish as appropriate to their respective roles and responsibilities..."

Four ranks are provided to allow librarians to design their career paths to meet individual circumstances and interests. Appointment at the first rank has a limit of two years. Appointments at the second, third and fourth ranks are probationary or recurring/extended.

Criteria for reappointment, promotion and merit awards include performance in the primary assignment, professional or scholarly achievement, and service. In both the planning and the review process, the criteria will be applied with increasing rigor at higher ranks. Performance in the primary assignment will carry more weight than the other criteria in all considerations. The emphasis given to criteria other than performance in the primary assignment will be determined by the librarian in consultation with, and approval of, supervisors and the Dean of Libraries.

The Annual Performance Agreement is drawn up by the librarian, the appropriate supervising librarian(s) and the Dean of the Libraries. This agreement details the percentage of effort that the librarian will place on the three areas of activities for the coming year.

The activities in the primary assignment area are negotiated between the librarian and the appropriate supervisor(s). Their performance in this area is judged initially by the appropriate supervisor(s) through an annual performance review document.

The activities in the area of professional or scholarly achievement and in the area of service are negotiated between the librarian, the appropriate supervising librarian(s) and the Dean of the Libraries.

The performance in these two areas is judged initially by the Personnel Affairs Committee, based on documents outlined in the University of North Texas Librarians' Charter and Governance Document. A complete copy of this document is on file in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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