Skip to content
Academic Personnel

Librarian ranks

Librarians are academic personnel who contribute to the academic and scholarly excellence of the University by the maintenance of high standards of librarianship. Librarians are appointed through the UW Libraries or the Marian Gould Gallagher Law Library. Librarians appointed through the UW Libraries or the Gallagher Law Library are governed by the UW Librarian Personnel Code or UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Service Period 12 months
Appointment length Varies – see Additional Details section
Key considerations Varies – see Additional Details section
Full-time/part-time Varies – see Additional Details section
Board of Regent approval required No
Education/experience requirements Appropriate graduate degree from a program accredited by the American Library Association or an equivalent graduate library science, information studies or archival studies degree
Competitive recruitment required Varies – see Additional Details section
Reappointment eligible Varies – see Additional Details section
Reappointment term Varies – see Additional Details section
Tenure status None
Voting rights* See UW Librarian Personnel Code and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement for voting context
Salary considerations Must meet University minimum or the minimums established in UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement Appendix I
Promotion eligible Varies – see Additional Details section
Emeritus eligible Varies – see Additional Details section

*Librarians have voting rights that are specifically outlined in the UW Librarian Personnel Code as concerns librarian personnel actions and governance. Librarians have voting rights that are separate and distinct from faculty voting rights.

Additional Details

Appointment Status:  Permanent or Continuing

  • Appointment length: Permanent or continuing dependent on funding source
  • Key considerations: This rank is for librarians with at least 8 years of demonstrated competence in the UW Libraries, an equivalent record in comparable professional positions at other institutions, or a cumulative equivalent record in the UW Libraries and at other institutions. Criteria for appointments and expectations for this rank are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.4a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(D) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(D).
  • Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
  • Competitive recruitment required: Yes
  • Reappointment eligible: N/A
  • Promotion eligible: N/A
  • Emeritus eligible: Yes

Appointment status: Permanent or Continuing

Appointment length: Permanent or continuing dependent on funding source (UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section B.2b)
Key considerations: This rank is for individuals who generally have at least 5 years of demonstrated competence in the UW Libraries, or have established an equivalent record in comparable professional positions at other institutions, or have established a cumulative equivalent record in the UW Libraries and at other institutions. Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.3a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(C) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(C).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Competitive recruitment required: Yes
Reappointment eligible: N/A
Promotion eligible: Yes
Emeritus eligible: Yes

Appointment status: Provisional or Non-continuing

Appointment length: Initial appointment of 3 years
Key considerations: If appointed with provisional/non-continuing status, this rank is clock-managed and not eligible for a clock extension. Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank and status are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A3.a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(C) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(C).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Competitive recruitment required: Yes
Reappointment eligible: No
Promotion eligible: Yes
Emeritus eligible: No

Appointment status: Temporary

Appointment length: Generally, up to a maximum of 2 years and not to exceed the period of time for which funds are available
Key considerations: Temporary appointments require the same qualifications as non-temporary appointments (UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter IV Section A.1 and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 14 Section 1.(B)). Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank are found in the Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.3a and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(C) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(C).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Competitive recruitment required: No
Reappointment eligible: Yes, if within 2-year limit in the rank and status
Reappointment term: Balance of total time allowable up to 2 years
Promotion eligible: No
Emeritus eligible: No

Appointment status: Provisional or non-continuing

Appointment length: Initial appointment of 3 years
Key considerations: This is a clock-managed rank generally appropriate for individuals with at least 2 years of demonstrated competence as an assistant librarian in the UW Libraries, have established an equivalent record in comparable professional positions at other institutions, or have established a cumulative equivalent record in the UW Libraries and at other institutions. Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Sections A.2a-b and B.3a and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(B) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(B).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Competitive recruitment required: Yes
Reappointment eligible: Yes
Reappointment term: May apply for reappointment to an additional and final 3-year period
Promotion eligible: Yes
Emeritus eligible: No

Appointment status: Temporary

Appointment length: Generally, up to a maximum of 2 years and not to exceed the period of time for which funds are available
Key considerations: This rank and status may be used when it is necessary to employ temporary staff including temporary replacements for vacant positions. Temporary appointments require the same qualifications as non-temporary appointments (UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section B.3a and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 14 Section 1.(B)). Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.2a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement  Chapter 17 Section 1.(B) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(B).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Permanent/continuing status eligible: No
Competitive recruitment required: No
Reappointment eligible: Yes, if within 2-year limit in the title
Reappointment term: Balance of total time allowable up to 2 years
Promotion eligible: No
Emeritus eligible: No

Appointment status: Provisional or non-continuing

Appointment length: Maximum of 2 years unless granted an extension consistent with the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter IV Section A.3
Key considerations: This is a clock-managed rank for individuals who generally have fewer than 2 years of experience as a librarian. Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank and status are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.1a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement Chapter 17 Section 1.(B) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(B).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Competitive recruitment required: Yes
Reappointment eligible: No
Promotion eligible: Yes
Emeritus eligible: No

Appointment status: Temporary

Appointment length: Generally, up to a maximum of 2 years and not to exceed the period of time for which funds are available
Key considerations: Temporary appointments require the same qualifications as non-temporary appointments. Criteria for appointments and other expectations for this rank and status are found in the UW Librarian Personnel Code Chapter II Section A.1a-b and UW SEIU 925 Libraries Collective Bargaining Agreement Chapter 17 Section 1.(B) and Chapter 18 Section 1.(B).
Full-time/part-time: Full-time or part-time (minimum 50% appointment)
Permanent/continuing status eligible: No
Competitive recruitment required: No
Reappointment eligible: Yes, if within 2-year limit in the rank and status
Reappointment term: Balance of total time allowable up to 2 years
Promotion eligible: No
Emeritus eligible: No

Collective Bargaining

Librarians are currently participating in the collective bargaining process, to ensure that new hires are well-informed include the language linked here in recruitment efforts.

Hiring Packet Required Documents

PDF 1

  • Offer letter signed by hiring authority and signed or acknowledged by appointee
    • Academic title/rank
    • Position description
    • Start date
    • Monthly rate of pay
    • Indication of appointment status: permanent or continuing, provisional or non-continuing, temporary

PDF 2

  • Dean’s letter to provost
    • Recommendation from supervisor and in the supervisory line
    • Librarian Personnel Committee rank/status recommendation*
  • CV/resume
  • Letter of application*
  • Copy of approved job advertisement*
  • Letters of reference (3 preferred, 1 mandatory)*

PDF 3

* Not required for temporary appointments

Additional Relevant Links

Secondary appointments
Visa eligibility
Second year review 
Reappointments
Separations