HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 51
(By Delegates Fleischauer, Beach, Kelley, Johnson, Mezzatesta,
Farris, Thompson, Stewart, Walllace, Varner, Prunty, Manuel,
Haskins, Gallagher, Givens, Hubbard, Dempsey, Osborne, Rowe,
Compton, Douglas, Leach, Calvert, Amores, Adkins, Kiss, Doyle and
Given.)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of legislation proposed to extend uniform faculty
status to college and university librarians.
Whereas, Higher education has broadly accepted the principle
that academic librarians perform a teaching and research role;
and
Whereas, More than half of the librarians in West Virginia's
public colleges and universities already function as faculty
members, as do all librarians in the state's public schools; and
Whereas, The Legislature has made it "the public policy of
the state of West Virginia to provide all of its citizens equal
opportunity for employment" (as stated in West Virginia Code,
5-11-2) and in its treatment of state employees has repeatedly
attempted to establish equitable systems for appointment and
promotion; and
Whereas, Divided authority in the state's higher education
systems has resulted in a highly inequitable pattern of
employment for academic librarians, some of whom are tenured
faculty, some of whom are temporary faculty, some of whom areclassified staff and some of whom are employed as "others"; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Library Association (a statewide
membership organization established in 1914 for the advancement
of library service and librarianship) has called this inequity
to the attention of the Legislature by repeatedly proposing
legislation to extend uniform faculty status to professional
librarians in the state's public colleges and universities,
consistent with recognized standards; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study the laws relating to the
status of college and university librarians and extending uniform
faculty status to these librarians, including consideration of
the suitability of legislation proposed by the Library
Association, similar to H. B. 4073 and S. B. 530; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1997,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance.