SPEC Kit 293: External Review for Promotion and Tenure

When a librarian becomes eligible for promotion to the next rank or for permanent appointment, some institutions require external reviews of the candidate by peers at another institution. These reviews become an important part of the evaluation of a librarian's potential for ongoing contributions to the position and the profession. This survey is designed to identify the policies and procedures that ARL member libraries are using in the external review process for candidates who are eligible for promotion, tenure, or continuing appointment. It examines how external reviewers are identified and asked to participate in the review process; what instructions are given to reviewers; what materials are included in candidates' portfolios; and the criteria for evaluating candidates' portfolios, among other questions.