Appendix A: Conditions and benefits of Faculty Service: Library

Recruitment of Library Faculty

The selection of individuals to serve on the George Fox University faculty is crucial to the life of the university. In addition to the usual academic qualifications, George Fox library faculty are expected to have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and daily living that conforms to current Statement of Faith and Community Lifestyle Statement applicable to the Faculty of George Fox University.

Responsibility for negotiating with prospective faculty members lies with the Provost and the Dean of Libraries. The Dean of Libraries reports vacancies, prepares a suggested position announcement for submission to the Provost, and assists in the screening of applicants. The Dean of Libraries answers inquiries and mails position announcements. All vacancies or new positions require a national search, except by permission of the Provost. Search committees are appointed by the Dean of Libraries and should include members from the library faculty and at least one faculty member from outside the library.

Upon the invitation of the Provost, prospective library faculty members may visit the campus to confer with department chairs, search committees, and others as requested, to provide bibliographic instruction, and to become acquainted with the campus and community. A copy of the Faculty Handbook should be made available to prospects. After a search process, the Provost may recommend employment of a prospective library faculty member to the President. The President extends a contract to the person to be employed. This contract becomes an agreement only when it has been signed by both the President and the new library faculty member.

All new library faculty may participate in the faculty orientation program designed to acquaint new faculty members with the expectations of the university.

Guidelines for the Appointment of Full-Time Library Faculty

NOTE: The use of the phrase "to the extent protected by applicable nondiscrimination law" is the correct statement of the legal obligation of George Fox University. George Fox does not waive its right to assert that nondiscrimination laws are not applicable to a particular situation or alternately that to apply nondiscrimination laws to George Fox in a particular situation would be an unconstitutional infringement of the religious and associational rights of this church-directed institution.

Standards for the Appointment of Library Faculty

Candidates for non-tenure-track positions generally should:

The Effective Member: A George Fox University Profile

Expectations of All Faculty

Expectations of Faculty in Library Positions

Certain positions at the university require unique skills and practices relevant to the specific mission of the department but are not tenure-track and do not require the same commitment to scholarship as tenured and tenure-track positions. To be hired and renewed year by year, library faculty should hold the appropriate degree or credentials; meet expectations as to professional effectiveness, professional development, and fulfill other tasks specified in the contract. Fulfillment of these expectations should be addressed and demonstrated in a Faculty Growth Plan.

Professional Effectiveness As A Librarian

Each librarian is expected to:
Effective librarianship is characterized by the following:

Professional Development

Each librarian is expected to:

Maintain a breadth of professional growth and be engaged in an ongoing study of new directions in the librarian's specialization of implications for the George Fox University library. 

Professional development:

Is necessarily individualized, as each librarian pursues his or her specialty and interacts with other professionals. Patterns of professional growth vary by the nature of assigned responsibilities. Professional growth is demonstrated by the following:

Service

Librarians are expected to take the opportunity to serve beyond their assignments. Recipients of their service may include their departments, their professional disciplines, the university, the communities in which they live, and the broader Christian church.

Service is variegated. The faculty member may participate in a broad variety of service activities. Some opportunities may be within the faculty member’s academic discipline; others may stand outside the member’s professional expertise.

Service is intentional. Like professional development, service should be planned and intentional. Because, however, service is by nature a response to need, the agenda of specific activities necessarily remains fluid.

 Service is documented. The faculty member should document service. Minimally, service activities should be documented by self-reporting; when possible, activities should be documented as well by external confirmation.

Service is sustained. Service is an integral part of the faculty member’s life within her or his communities. Careful documentation, therefore, should reveal a sustained pattern of service.

Clarification: Employment outside the university, continuing education, and career preparation generally are not considered service. Any expectations of such activities contributing to service must be negotiated in advance with the Provost.

Librarian Ranks Defined

For any promotion, generally at least three of the qualifying years of experience should have been at George Fox University. Minimum standards for each rank are as follows.