Librarians Assembly records, 1972-2012

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Access restricted. Meeting minutes are closed by donor request for 10 years from date of creation. Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are personnel records. Records pertaining to...
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Summary

Creator:
Librarians Assembly (Duke University)
Abstract:
The Librarians Assembly (LA) of Duke University is the staff association for professional librarians at Duke University. The Librarians Assembly records contains materials related to the formation, organization, and activities of the LA.
Extent:
7.75 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
UA.08.02.0003
University Archives Record Group:
08 -- Libraries
08 -- Libraries > 02 -- Committees

Background

Scope and content:

The Librarians Assembly records contains materials related to the formation, organization, and activities of the Librarians Assembly of Duke University. Materials include minutes, reports, correspondence, flyers, regulations and bylaws, and subject files. Topics covered include the assembly's regulations and governing documents; issues surrounding appointment and promotion; salaries and benefits for librarians; the academic status of librarians; staff issues such as parking and grievance procedures; and other subjects. The collection includes materials from the formation of the Librarians Assembly through the early 2000s.

Biographical / historical:

The Librarians Assembly (LA) is the staff association for professional librarians at Duke University. Its purpose is to serve as an advocate for excellence in librarianship; to promote the interest and participation of its members in the affairs of the libraries, the University, and the profession at large; and to make recommendations concerning planning, policies, and procedures to appropriate library and University officials.

In 1970, then University Librarian Benjamin Powell appointed the Branson Committee (led by Barbara Branson) to compile and present the results of a study of professional staff in academic libraries in the United States, including information on status, salary scales, and fringe benefits. The committee was formed in response to efforts to formalize the status of professional librarians by the University's Personnel Office (now Human Resources). These efforts would have categorized professional librarians without clear criteria and without input from the University Librarian or library staff, and would have offered significantly different benefits packages based on rank and status. The Branson Comittee's report, submitted in January 1971, provided information about library staff at other academic institutions and offered recommendations for Duke librarians. The report suggested a system of promotion based on merit and experience, allowing librarians to advance in rank while holding the same position; the report also recommended that library staff attempt to join the Academic Council.

In spring of 1972 Benjamin Powell appointed two committees, the Bylaws Committee and the Committee on Professional Staff Structure (COPSS). The Bylaws Committee was charged to write a bylaw which defines the place of the professional library staff in the academic community, while COPSS was charged with devising a structure for the professional staff of the University Libraries and spelling out steps for promotion in rank. COPSS wrote several documents, "Criteria for Appointment of Professional Librarians," Ranking Structures for Duke University Librarians," "Committee on Appointment and Promotion," and "Duke University Librarians Assembly," which was used as the background for the later "Bylaws of the Duke University Librarians Assembly." In 1973, the Board of Trustees of Duke University approved a bylaw recognizing the academic and professional status of librarians in the university. Later that same year, the Ad Hoc Ranking Committee, nominated by COPSS, began an initial ranking of the professional staff in Perkins Library (now Duke University Libraries).

On December 4, 1973, the Librarians Assembly was formally created following a unanimous vote of professional librarians from the Perkins and Medical Library systems. In May 1974, the Librarians Assembly and Benjamin Powell approved "Ranking Structure for Duke University Librarians," "Duke University Librarians Assembly," and "Committee on Appointment and Promotion." These papers were approved by then-Provost Frederic Cleaveland in December 1974 and became fully effective. The Executive Committee, Bylaws Committee, the Committee on Appointment and Promotion, and the Professional Affairs Committee were designated as standing committees.

Throughout 1975 the Bylaws Committee, the Committee on Appointment and Promotion, and the Committee to Study the Professional Library Staff Fringe Benefits worked to create and strengthen regulations and documentation on the self-governance of the professional library staff. The Law Librarians voted to join the Librarians Assembly in June of 1975. In summer of 1976, the Assembly Bylaws were declared to be in effect and it was also determined that a librarians must have a professional degree from an ALA accredited library school or equivalent foreign degree in order to have a professional appointment. The Bylaws Committee continued to revise the Assembly regulations throughout the 1970s, with input from the library directors and the Office of the Provost.

In 1983 the Fuqua School of Business Library, now the Ford Library, elected to join the Librarians Assembly; in early 1984 the Executive Committee unanimously approved changes to the Bylaws to include the Fuqua School of Business Library in the Librarians Assembly.

Until at least the mid-1990s, the Librarians Assembly had bi-monthly meetings that included a program of professional interest to librarians as well as LA business. Since its formation, the Librarians Assembly has held an annual business meeting at the end of the Spring semester, usually in mid or late May.

Acquisition information:
The Librarians Assembly Records were received by the Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library, as a series of transfers, described in this finding aid.
Processing information:

Processed by: University Archives Staff, Tracy M. Jackson.

Finding aid derived from MARC record, November 2014

Collection reprocessed and new finding aid created by Tracy M. Jackson, March 2017.

Accessions described in this finding aid: A89-0045, A91.6, A2002-29, A2004-59, UA2005-0062, UA2007-0009, and others.

Conditions governing access notes updated to remove administrative restriction by April Blevins, November 2023

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Access restricted. Meeting minutes are closed by donor request for 10 years from date of creation.

Access restricted. Some materials in this collection are personnel records. Records pertaining to employment where individuals are identified are closed for 70 years.

Terms of access:

Copyright for official university records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Librarians Assembly records, Duke University Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1p98m