Preliminary Guide to the Washington State University Libraries Committees Records, 1970-1980

While the Washington State University Libraries date to the first days of the college, and while librarians have certainly conducted meetings amongst themselves, the official organization of the Library Faculty in its current incarnation dates to a September 15, 1970 meeting. The groups purpose, as defined at that first meeting, was "to promote the group's professional involvement in the field of library and information science; to provide for the group's active participation in the library and academic affairs of Washington State University; and to fulfill those duties as listed [in] the Faculty Manual as they pertain to the Library." Prior to that, a Staff Association had been created after an August 10th 1946 directive from the Office of the President which recognized professional librarians as "Library Staff" and non-professional library workers as "Office and Technical Staff." Initially the Staff Association filled a role similar to the current Library Faculty group, but by the end of the 1960s its focus had moved more to internal morale and communications.

In September of 1971, the Library Staff Advisory Council was also created to review policy and plan fuctions for the Library Administration and Staff. The Library Staff Advisory Council consisted of library faculty, staff, and librarians. The council was disbanded around 1975 as a result of the Management Review and Analysis Program (MRAP).