112 · Representative Documents: Regional Accrediting Agency Reports
Brigham Young University
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Library and Information Resources 5
in addition to the annual performance evaluation. Faculty members are expected to demonstrate
significant accomplishments in librarianship (specific job assignment, professional development,
and creative works) and in citizenship (professional service in the libraries, university,
community, and professional organizations). In addition to achieving continuing faculty status,
library faculty are expected to move through a sequence of ranks, including assistant librarian,
associate librarian, and senior librarian (RE 5.7).
Formal and informal training occurs within library departments under the direction of the
department chair. The staff development officer sponsors training that applies to employees from
more than one department. The libraries, in conjunction with the University Faculty Center, offer
an extensive mentoring and training program for new library faculty.
As professional faculty, librarians are involved in scholarly and creative work that
improves their expertise. During a typical year, approximately one-third of Lee Library faculty
either publish or give formal presentations at state, regional, and national conferences. Funds to
support their scholarly work are budgeted annually and administered through the Library
Creative Projects Committee. Generous funding is also provided for faculty to travel to and
participate in professional associations and scholarly conferences. Administrative and staff
employees are likewise encouraged to be involved in professional associations, and they are
eligible to receive travel funding. During 2004, 93 Lee Library employees (representing 53.5
percent of all faculty, staff, and administrative employees) received professional development
support.
As a university benefit, all full-time employees may take BYU courses tuition free.
Additionally, the Lee Library provides tuition assistance for selected staff and administrative
employees who wish to pursue a Webbased master of library science (MLS) degree from other
universities. Since 2001, 11 individuals have received tuition assistance, and 5 have completed
degrees.
The Lee Library values open communication among its employees and broad discussion
of professional and university issues. To strengthen internal communication and to facilitate
unified progress toward strategic goals, the library sponsors three open forums: a monthly
librarywide town meeting, a bimonthly library faculty meeting, and a monthly library collections
forum. These meetings allow broad discussion of library goals, values, and expectations and
provide opportunities for employee feedback. During the past three years, as these councils and
meeting structures have been implemented, the library has experienced more timely resolution of
operational problems, involvement of all library employees in key strategic decisions, and
greater congruence between librarywide and individual goals.
Hunter Library
The administration of the Hunter Library includes the director, a deputy director, and five
associate directors. Titles represent major areas of stewardship rather than separate departments.
Those areas are Reference, Technical Services, Access Services, Information Technology, and
Collection Development. The Hunter Library organization chart delineates the relationships.
Faculty and staff serve in multiple areas of stewardship. The library employs nine professional
faculty and two administrative and three staff members, as well as 55 student employees. Eight
faculty members have both JD and MLS degrees.
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