College and Research Libraries


>, 

To the Editor: 

I could not agree more with the per-
ceptive observations of Ellsworth Mason 
on the disadvantages of faculty rank for 
librarians in his editorial of the Novem-
ber 1972, issue. In my experience, most 
librarians who are recommended for 
high faculty rank in their institutions use 
the ~'or the equivalent" escape clause, 
where the university statutes state 
~'Ph.D. degree or the equivalent." Grate-
ful, patient administrators seldom raise 
fuss at the application of this phrase to 
librarians; they accept fifteen years' loy-
al service in the institution and a record 
of not causing any trouble that would 
embarrass the institution in the state 
legislature as ~'the equivalent" of the 
Ph.D. degree. Similarly, the same years 
of service and keeping out of mischief 
can be applied to the "equivalent" of re-
search and publication. 

But achieving what benefits can be 
obtained by riding on the coattails of 
faculty ranks always reminds me of the 
rules that no member of the faculty or 
staff may earn more than x dollars or 
spend more than x hours on extra-insti-
tutional work or the rule that a pregnant 
member of the staff must resign her 
position within x months of becoming 
pregnant. Such rules, however unjust, 
are easier to apply than judging the per-
formance of the individual and dismiss-
ing the staff member who is no longer 
performing at a minimum level, regard-
less of the cause. If the library is under 
''adequate leadership" (Mason's phrase), 
full benefits, better adapted to the li-
brarian's situation and needs can be ob-

Letters 

tained, based on an accurate description 
of the librarian's qualifications, responsi-
bilities, and needs. 

Rolland E. Stevens 
Professor, Graduate School of 

Library Science 
University of Illinois, Urbana 

To the Editor: 

Mr. Ellsworth Mason proclaims in his 
editorial (November 1972) that "in any 
healthy academic library under ade-
quate leadership, the only faculty bene-
fit denied librarians is the longer vaca-
tion period." Either we have a lot of 
very sick academic libraries under in-
adequate leadership or Mr. Mason 
needs new glasses. Take a good look 
around, Mr. Mason. Academic librarians 
without faculty status are the lowest 
paid academic personnel on many cam-
puses. Academic librarians are ineligible 
for membership in academic senates. 
Academic librarians are ineligible for 
sabbatical leaves. Academic librarians 
are ineligible to become principal inves-
tigators or to apply directly for research 
grants. 

Now maybe to Mr. Mason in his ex-
alted library director's office it is unim-
portant that academic librarians without 
faculty status are underpaid, that they're 
disenfranchised, that they're expected to 
update their professional education on 
their own time and out of their own 
pockets. He must consider these inabili-
ties as unimportant since he doesn't even 
deign to mention them in his editorial. 
Maybe he's so busy chasing the "excit-
ing dynamics" of academic librarianship 

I 159 



160 I College & Research Libraries • March 1973 

that he hasn't had time to look back and 
notice that a lot of his professional col-
leagues are suffocating under library 
policies they've had no voice in develop-
ing, or moonlighting because academic 
librarians' salaries aren't good enough 
to support a family, or wistfully read-

ing about conferences or workshops or 
courses they can't attend. 

Fay M. Blake 
Lecturer 
School of Librarianship 
University of California, Berkeley