APPENDIX V

LAUC Committee on Professional Governance
Librarian Recruitment and Retention Survey Results, Nov. 20, 1998
Compiled by Cathy Chiu (SB)

The LAUC Committee on Professional Governance distributed a survey on Recruitment and Retention to AUL for Personnel at all nine campuses in October 1998. The response rate was 100%. The survey was to collect data on number of librarians who resigned or declined job offers from UC between July 1, 1995 and June 30, 1998 and the reasons given. With this information in hand, the Committee hopes to uncover barriers to recruiting and retaining librarians at UC campuses.

There were 54 resignations, excluding retirement, and 19 rejections during these four years. Of the 54 resignations, 10 (19 %) transferred to other UC campuses. That brought the actual number of resignations to 44, which constitutes 9 % of the total UC librarian positions (473). 16 reasons for resignation were listed for respondents to choose from. They could select all reasons that applied. Of all reasons (86) given for resignation, "upward professional move" ranks first -- 26 (30 %); "better salary offer" second -- 25 (29 %); and followed by "personal/family" 12 (14 %). One respondent pointed out that "upward professional move" went hand in hand with "better salary offer". However, at least in one instance, the librarian who left for a higher position did not necessary get an increase in salary, but the cost of living and housing was much cheaper in other state. This may explain the difference in percentage between these two items as well as the 4^th most frequently named reason for resignation "relocate" – 7 (8 %).

86 librarians were hired, including 8 transfers from other UC campuses. Only 8 (9 %) were hired at Assistant level; 39 (45 %) Associate; and 31 (36 %) Librarian. It should be noted that very few librarian positions were filled at the Assistant level. The Committee suspects that no librarian was hired at the entry level, Assistant Step I. This should be confirmed at the next survey by an explicit question. Three campuses indicated difficulties filling positions requiring higher level professional knowledge because of the high cost of living and housing in their areas.

The salary UC offered was not sufficient to attract high-level qualified candidates. 19 first-choice candidates rejected UC offers. The four top reasons among 34 cited were "salary" 7 (20.5 %), "housing cost" 7 (20.5 %), "cost of living" 6 (17.5 %), and "personal/family" 6 (17.5 %). Compared to the past survey, the number of rejections jumped by 36 % from 14 four years ago to 19 at the present.

16 positions were reopened after candidates declined offers. Most of these positions were at the department head level according to respondents’ comments. One respondent pointed out that librarians hired at the assistant level were single and new to the profession and were able to move around more easily. "The senior librarian candidates are often faced with weighing the salary offer against the high cost of living. ... If the offers are fairly or relatively equal nationally, but the cost of living is much lower than our area, the librarian will choose the lower cost of living."

8 positions, not included in the 86 new hires, were filled at or reclassified to non-librarian series. In most cases, this was done to offer higher salary. These positions were generally classified as computer resources, system, or information specialists.

44 librarians resigned from UC and 36 of them remained in the library field. 17 (39 %) moved to other states. 19 (43 %) stayed in California, including 11 (26 %) to private universities, 5 (12 %) to State Universities, 2 (5 %) to private institutions, and 1 (2 %) to city college. One campus lost two senior librarians who left for parallel positions in other institutions for salary reasons and one prime candidate for same reason.

Clearly, the data shows that UC has lost its capability competing with other institutions on recruiting and retaining librarians, especially those at the senior level, because of the high cost of living in California and incomparable salary offered by UC system compared to other institutions within the state.

Attachments:
Questionnaire on Librarian Recruitment and Retention Survey, July 1, 1994-June 30, 1998;
Librarian Recruitment and Retention Survey Data, July 1, 1994-June 30, 1998.