[LAW-LIB:59456] summary of responses - library faculty sabbaticals

From: James Durham (jdurham@tourolaw.edu)
Date: Thu Jul 09 2009 - 08:08:56 PDT

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    Hello Law-Lib members,

     

    As promised, here is a summary of responses (minus identifying information)
    to my posting from last week, requesting information on library faculty
    sabbaticals. The text of the original posting is pasted at the bottom of the
    email.

     

    I hope that this summary is helpful, and that it sparks discussions about
    library faculty status at other academic law libraries. Thank you to each of
    the respondents!

     

    Sincerely,

    James Durham

    _____________________________________________________

     

    * An academic law librarian reported that law librarians have
    tenure-track faculty status, but are not offered sabbaticals.

    * A law firm librarian reported that the firm offers unpaid personal
    leave of 30 days that applies to all personnel. This is in addition to FMLA
    leave. A formal request is required.

    * One librarian reported that a former academic law library employer
    offered faculty status and sabbaticals. One librarian took a sabbatical year
    at half salary to complete a publication for tenure requirements.

    * An academic law library director reported that librarian faculty
    sabbaticals exactly mirror faculty sabbaticals - six months at full pay every
    seven years. Librarians must submit an application with a plan for the
    sabbatical. The sabbatical can be broken into two three-month sabbaticals to
    accommodate academic year duties.

    * An academic law librarian reported librarian faculty status and two
    plans for librarian sabbaticals. A full-semester sabbatical is available
    every seven years, just like other law school faculty. Twelve-month faculty
    (librarians and some administrators) may take a summer off every three years
    at full salary for professional development purposes. In recent history, none
    of the librarians have availed themselves of the full-semester sabbatical,
    but some are taking summer sabbaticals.

    * Three academic law libraries offer library faculty status and
    sabbaticals, but the duration and pay requirements are not specified.

    * One academic law library offers tenure track faculty rank for
    librarians, who compete for sabbaticals. A semester at full pay or a full
    year at 60% of salary may be requested. Librarians may apply for a college
    fellowship or a project grant to fund their sabbatical activities. Fellowship
    recipients must return to the college for one academic year following a
    fellowship.

     

    _____________________________________________________

    The original posting to Law-Lib:

     

    Hello Law-Lib members,

     

    I want to learn more about sabbaticals offered to librarians at academic law
    libraries:

     

    * How often are sabbaticals offered and what is their duration?

    * Are there special requirements for taking a sabbatical?

    * Are sabbaticals only offered at schools where the librarians have a
    form of faculty or library faculty status?

     

    This is not a formal survey. I'm looking for descriptions of policies and how
    they're administered.

     

    Please respond to me personally. If there is interest, I will summarize the
    responses for the list.

     

    Have a happy Independence Day weekend!

     

    Sincerely,

    James Durham

    ___________________________________

     

    James G. Durham, M.L.I.S., J.D.

    Head of Public Services

    Library Faculty

    The Gould Law Library

    Touro College / Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

    255 Eastview Drive

    Central Islip, New York 11722

    JDurham@tourolaw.edu

    Tel: 631.761.7155

    Fax: 631.761.7168

    ___________________________________

     



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