Auburn University Libraries Research/Creative Work
The Auburn University Faculty Handbook states that research and creative work ordinarily can be documented by a candidate's publications or
performances/exhibitions. Publication subjected to critical review by other scholars as a condition of publication should carry more weight than publication that is
not refereed. Nevertheless, all forms of publication, including articles intended for a non-academic audience, should be considered, provided they are of high
quality in relation to the purpose intended. Scholarly papers subjected to peer review and delivered at a regional or national conference and creative work
subjected to peer review and performed or exhibited at a regional or national level should carry more weight than work done only on a local level. The faculty
should refer to this document and use their professional expertise in assessing the quality and quantity of scholarly contributions. Due to the evolving nature of
librarianship, the criteria below should be considered a guide rather than a definitive checklist.
1. Books
2. Article-length publications. Distinguish by type: book chapters, articles in refereed journals and invited articles, bulletins, proceedings, transactions, abstracts,
book reviews, non-refereed articles, etc.
3. Papers or lectures. Distinguish by type: papers at professional meetings, invited lectures, etc.
4. Exhibitions. Distinguish between juried or invitational shows; identify work(s) and juror (juries); indicate regional, national, or international exhibitions.
5. Performances. Distinguish between local performances, out-of-town invitationals, concert series, etc. List musical compositions here.
6. Patents, inventions and copyrighted materials.
7. Other research/creative contributions
8. Grants and contracts. Note all co-authors, identifying the principal investigator and the involvement of the candidate; indicate funding source and amount.
Distinguish between grants received and grants applied for but not funded. (Note: internal support and NEH and NEA fellowships should be listed under Honors
and Awards above).
Activity:
Book
Activity:
Chapter in book
Entry in a book
Activity:
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Books
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Endeavor
Type of book; Quality of book;
Book on a research subject is traditionally valued as
Quality of publisher as valued by
a major accomplishment in scholarship. Book that
is cited or assigned for academic coursework by
discipline
others is valued (quantity of citations and quality of
citation source are factors)
Examples include:
Williams Lynn. American Printmakers, 18801945. Scarecrow Press; Sulieman, Michael.
The Arab‐American Experience in the United
States and Canada: A Classified Annotated
Bibliography. Pierian Press
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Article Length Publications in Books
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Endeavor
Chapter is cited or assigned for academic
Type of book; quality of book;
coursework by others is valued (quantity of
quality of publisher as valued by
citations and quality of source of citation are
discipline; quality of editor
relevant)
Type of book; Quality of book;
Quality of publisher as valued by
discipline; Reputation of editor
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Article Length Publications/Refereed Publications
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Examples include:
Examples include:
2
Journal article
Quality of journal as valued by
discipline
Article published in
peer‐reviewed conference
proceedings
Level of venue (i.e., state, regional,
national or International).
Acceptance rates (if available);
Peer review procedure.
Venue for book review; evaluation
of the audience and reach of
review
Book reviews
Activity:
Journal article
Article published in
conference proceedings
Book review
Activity:
Paper at professional
meetings
Invited lecture and
publication
Poster session
Endeavor
May publish in library and information science
journals or those of another subject discipline.
Author or co‐author. Percent and nature of
contribution are factors. Journal article that is cited
or assigned for academic coursework by others is
valued (quantity of citations and quality of source
of citation are relevant)
Factors for evaluating vary by discipline.
Conference RFP should indicate if conference is
peer‐reviewed.
Southeastern Librarian; Cataloging &
Classification Quarterly; College & Research
Libraries
ACRL National Conference Proceedings
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Article Length Publications/Non-Refereed Publications
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Examples include:
Endeavor
Quality of professional journals or
May publish in library and information science
periodicals as valued by discipline;
journals or those of another subject discipline.
External audience scope; Length of Author or co‐author. Percent and nature of
article (blurb versus feature)
contribution are factors. Journal article that is cited
or assigned for academic coursework by others is
valued (quantity of citations and quality of source
of citation are relevant)
Level of venue (state, regional,
Factors for evaluating conference vary by
Charleston Conference Proceedings
national or international venue)
discipline.
Venue for book review; evaluation
of the audience and reach of
review
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Papers or Lectures
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Endeavor
Level of venue (state, regional,
Keynote or primary speaker adds significance
national or international)
Quality of venue or of the inviting
organization.
The broader the external audience,
the greater the potential for impact
Level of venue (state, regional,
Keynote or primary speaker adds significance
Examples include:
Paper presented at a regional or national
conference without published proceedings;
paper presented at a state conference
without published proceedings.
Local lecture or presentation; lecture or
presentation to a regional audience; lecture
or presentation to a national or international
audience
Poster presentation at ALLA conference;
3
national or International)
Activity:
Evaluation of Significance
Editor of a scholarly book
Prestige of publisher
Editor of a journal
Quality of journal as valued by
discipline
Quality of journal as valued by
discipline
Quality of journal as valued by
discipline
Invited editor of a special
journal issue
Regular/ featured
columnist for a
professional journal
Published report (nonrefereed)
poster presentation at ALA
Scholarly Research/Creative Works: Other
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Endeavor
Quality of contributors; External reviews of book;
Edited book that is cited or assigned for academic
coursework by others is valued (quantity of
citations and quality of source of citation are
relevant)
Regional, national or international
audience for report
Exhibition
Type of venue; difficulty of
securing venue; evidence of
peer‐review process; method of
selection
Patent
Scope of patent, potential for
regional or national significance
Scope of copyright, potential for
regional or national significance
Scope and venue of resource; links
from other Web-based resources;
usage statistics
Copyright
Web-based resource or
digital project
Activity:
The wider the audience impact, the higher the
significance. Evaluation of external audience for
the report. Report to the United Nations or a
federal or national agency would be more highly
valued than a report to a local municipality
Local, state, regional, national or international
Solo or multi‐person exhibition may evidence a
form of peer review
Examples include:
Featured column in Library Journal, D-Lib
Magazine
Beyond the Chemistry Web column
Report to a municipality on a local topic;
ARL SPEC Kit
Significance and scope of the patent
Significance and scope of the copyright
Cited, featured, or assigned for academic
coursework is valued
Grants and Contracts (Received or Applied for)
Evaluation of Significance
Contributing Factors to the Significance of the
Endeavor
Recognized as “Featured Digital Collection”
in D-Lib Magazine; linked to from other
subject-specific Web-based resources
Examples include:
4
External grants and
contracts
Level of involvement (e.g., principal
or co‐principal Investigator or
project team member). Quality of
granting agency as valued by
discipline. Funding amount. Scope
of work, Deliverables.
Faculty status as principal or co‐principal
Investigator adds to significance
External funding from
foundation
Level of involvement (e.g., principal
or co‐principal Investigator or
project team member) Quality of
foundation as valued by discipline.
Funding amount; scope of work;
deliverables ; scholarly output
related to funding
Faculty status as principal or co‐principal
Investigator adds to significance
External funding from
industry collaboration
Level of engagement (e.g., principal
or co‐principal Investigator or
project team member).
Funding amount; scope of work;
deliverables ; scholarly output
related to funding
Faculty status as principal or co‐principal
Investigator adds to significance. Opportunities for
scholarship related to industry collaborations move
the endeavor from an activity to scholarship
Other types of external
funding, i.e., from an
organization
Competitions
Funding amount; scope of work;
deliverables; scholarly output
related to funding
Regional, national or International
venue; level of award, if achieved
Merit‐based funding
Merit‐based funding is not as
highly valued as formal peer
reviewed funding
Merit‐based funding is primarily an indicator of
reputation. Opportunities for scholarship related
to the merit‐based funding should be pursued
Draft 9.23.11