Book Description

Libraries and library faculty play a significant role in supporting college curriculum and helping students succeed academically. In particular, libraries are the primary location both physically and remotely for supporting faculty and students in their research and information needs. Over the years, this role of libraries and library faculty has remained consistent, yet funding, institutional support, and resources have been in decline. In addition, specific standards for library services have appeared piecemeal in various regulations and guidelines, but nowhere have these standards been collected, reviewed, and presented systematically with specific application to the roles of library faculty in the California community colleges. In response to this concern, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (Academic Senate) passed a resolution calling for the development of a paper addressing standards of practice for California community college (CCC) libraries, including the role of library faculty, resources, services, instruction, and other aspects of library service to faculty and students. Unlike the adopted 1996 Academic Senate paper titled Library Faculty in California Community College Libraries: Qualifications, Roles, and Responsibilities, which describes the range of activities of library faculty, this paper suggests specific standards for how those activities would be performed. In addition to outlining the importance of library faculty in facilitating student success and to providing information on the core roles of library faculty and organization of libraries in the CCC system, these standards can assist in the dialog between faculty and administration regarding the role, services, design, and development of libraries and library faculty. They are designed to be specific enough to be meaningful, yet general enough to allow flexibility in meeting local needs, constraints, and cultures. These standards can also be used to inform the development of and changes to local and external policies, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to the operation and performance of CCC libraries. This paper was developed by the Counseling and Library Faculty Issues Committee of the Academic Senate in response to Academic Senate resolution 16.01 S09 (See Appendix) and asserts that a set of universal standards for all community college libraries should exist, regardless of institution or department size or fiscal constraints. Compliance with these standards requires both adequate staffing and support. 16:01: Develop Standards of Practice Paper for Library Services is appended.