Smathers Libraries Career Development Handbook
II. F. Sample Letter for Tenure and/or Promotion
[today’s
date]
[inside
address]
Dear
Referee:
[Candidate's name] is being
considered
for [tenure and/or promotion] to
the
rank
of [associate
university
librarian/university
librarian] in the
University of
Florida Libraries. It would be very helpful to receive your evaluation
of [his/her] contributions to the University
of Florida and/or the library profession.
We would
appreciate your response by [DATE]. A
self-addressed
envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
[Candidate's
name]
knows that I am contacting you and that the [tenure and/or promotion]
process has
begun. She/He [has/has
not] waived
the
right
to see letters of evaluation. However, even when a candidate
waives [his/her] right to
see letters, in a case involving a grievance or
litigation, the University may not be able to adhere to the
confidentiality of
the letters of recommendation.
The
purpose
of
the
[tenure and/or promotion] decision
is
to
acknowledge and support
individuals
whose record shows that they have accomplished significant library work
and
show potential for continued growth and contributions to the library,
the
university, and the profession.
[Candidate's
name]
will be evaluated according to the Libraries’ Tenure and Promotion
criteria (1.
Professional Responsibilities and Working Relationships; 2.
Professional
Development and Scholarship; and 3. Service to the Library, the
University and
the Profession). You will find these
detailed criteria attached along with a general description of the
[associate
university librarian / university librarian] rank, and [Candidate's
name] current
vita.
When
reviewing
the
record,
please
consider
that librarians normally devote 85-90% of
their effort to Criterion One activities. Candidates must achieve
distinction
in this criterion as well as in either Criterion Two or Criterion
Three.
Distinction is recognized when the evidence demonstrates sustained,
high-quality contributions to librarianship (or the candidate's area of
responsibility) that enhance library services, foster new knowledge,
support
the University’s mission, and provide leadership to the profession.
We
would
appreciate your candid and evaluative assessment of [Candidate's name]
performance in those areas
where you have worked with [him/her]
or can offer useful comments based on
your
familiarity with the records of other librarians at or outside the
University
of Florida. In your response, it would be helpful if you could comment
on the
following:
- The extent and nature of your professional relationship to the candidate (amount of time spent, projects worked on together, etc.)
- The candidate’s distinctive contributions and achievements with which you are most familiar.
- An assessment of [his/her] scholarship and/or professional service and the degree of recognition achieved in the librarianship at this stage of [his/her] career.
- Comparisons with other librarians of similar responsibility at other research libraries or with other University of Florida librarians of similar responsibility would be particularly valuable.
- Any additional insight that may helpful to us in determining whether or not to recommend that [tenure and/or promotion] be awarded.
Thank you in advance for your willingness to provide an evaluation for [Candidate's name] packet. Receiving feedback from a number of individuals that have worked with [him/her] or can objectively assess his contributions will be enormously helpful as we attempt to develop a balanced view of his accomplishments for our review process.
cc: Library Human Resources Office
Attachments:
Tenure/Promotion Criteria and Description of Rank; Vita
