HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41
(By Delegates Mezzatesta and Manuel)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of the need for providing faculty status for full- time professional librarians in state institutions of higher
education.
Whereas, Full-time professional librarians in this state do
not have faculty status; and
Whereas, Faculty status for librarians in colleges and
universities is a recognized, long-standing standard of the
Association of College & Research Libraries, the major division
of the American Library Association that publishes standards for
academic libraries; and
Whereas, The faculty status standard is part of an agreement
among the American Library Association, the American Association
of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges
and Universities. Since joint acceptance of the standard in
1971, most academic librarians across the country have become
faculty; and
Whereas, Professional librarians hold the degree Master of Library Science, the recognized terminal degree in their field.
Many have completed additional graduate study in subject fields;
and
Whereas, Librarians function as faculty because they teach
students on a daily basis and are available to them for
consultation and advice. Students who work with librarians are
more likely to succeed in college; and
Whereas, The arguments for the faculty status of librarians
on a functional basis are stronger than ever, because librarians
are skilled in using new information technologies, and play a
critical role in teaching students the appropriate use of
computerized information resources; and
Whereas, The existing "system" of employing librarians in
West Virginia's state colleges is irregular, uneven and unfair.
Most of our college librarians are employed as "classified
employees" -- at a pay grade well below other professionals with
less educational qualifications, and without chance of promotion. On some campuses some librarians are faculty members, while
others are employed in the legal category of "Other," reserved
usually for sports coaches; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Library Association and other
groups of librarians have tried to work with Central Office
officials on this issue for over five years, unsuccessfully. The
faculty status bill introduced in the 1998 legislative session is
the fourth such attempt at reform; and
Whereas, Four fifths of West Virginia's academic librarians
are women, consistent with the national pattern. The failure of
the West Virginia State College System to address this issue is
discriminatory; 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 need for providing
faculty status for full-time professional librarians in state
institutions of higher education, and to make recommendations to
the Legislature regarding the same; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1999, on its finding, conclusions and recommendation, 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.