Faculty and Professional Appointments of Academic Librarians: Expanding the Options for Choice

Continued rapid change in higher education and in academic librarianship calls for flexibility in offering and managing professional appointments to meet organizational needs and objectives, as well as to provide career options for librarians seeking a professional model suitable to personal needs and objectives. A literature review focused on appointment types highlights the variety of existing positions for faculty and academic professionals. Expansion of appointment options is suggested for consideration, particularly in light of recruitment and retention concerns in the profession. Most institutions restrict the power of choice to management, but there are some that offer choice, thereby allowing candidates to select a preferred appointment according to personal and professional career goals. Examination of two institutions that offer a choice track for librarians points to the necessity for further investigation of the benefits of expanded appointment options to the individual, the institution, and the profession.