Guidelines Respecting Affiliated Libraries on the Berkeley Campus (2018)
In 2003, TALAG revised and LAUC-B approved the document Guidelines for Establishment of Libraries on the Berkeley Campus as Affiliated Libraries (/affilguidelines.html), which recommends criteria for evaluation of current and prospective Affiliated Libraries. The Guidelines specify factors indicative of the appropriateness of Affiliated Library status, and therefore of representation in TALAG, for a candidate library. The Guidelines address areas in which a library’s viability, stability, and resources recommend Affiliate Library status as a mutual benefit for all stakeholders of the campus library community.
In large part, the more recently drafted University Library's Basis for MOUs with Affiliated Libraries (rev'd Jan. 23, 2017) (hereinafter Basis) echoes and updates the Guidelines. Thus, for example, Basis notes, "The primary mission of the Affiliated Libraries is to support the teaching and research needs of their respective organizations; their collections reflect these specialized concerns." This is a principle with which TALAG is in complete accord, as with many of the "General Commitments" specified in Basis. Accordingly, TALAG hereby adopts by reference Basis as a preliminary source and replacement for the Guidelines. With respect to staffing, TALAG encourages inclusion of at least one LAUC member among the staff of each Affiliated Library.
However, there may be cases where a library lacking or declining to seek formal affiliation with the University Library via an MOU wishes to participate in TALAG. TALAG welcomes contact from such libraries, which LAUC-B and TALAG designate “independent” libraries. The effectiveness and value of TALAG--and by extension, the entire Berkeley library community--increase with the participation of members who serve as partners in our expertise group, and who reflect collegiality and a sense of common good among librarians and library staff.