The following is one suggested format/template for the Self Review portion of your Academic Review.
There are many styles used in the Libraries and this format is not mandated, but rather a guideline for
how one might format one’s own Self Review. Remember, for all cases other than promotion and
distinction, the entire Self Review should be no more than 5 pages.
A bulleted list of activities in I (A-D) and II come at the beginning of the Self Review. Suggested length is
approximately 1-2 pages.
NOTE: This template is meant primarily as a guideline with examples and suggestions. For a more
comprehensive discuss about which activities go into which categories see the CAPA Self Review
Workshop Handout entitled, “Criteria, APM/ARPM Wording, Examples” (and keep a copy next to your
keyboard as you write and edit your review).
I. REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANACE
I.A. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND QUALITY OF SERVICE WITHIN THE LIBRARY
<Area of Responsibility #1>
 HINT: Matching areas of responsibility with those listed on your job description will help CAPA
and other reviewers of the file with their evaluation
 Include bullet points succinctly describing what you accomplished in this area during the review
period Example: Taught instruction sessions for ten courses related to X Subject Area; created or
expanded a customized course guide for each class
 Include in I.A. participation in UC-wide committees on which membership is required as part of
your primary responsibilities. Example: Member of the UC Government Information Librarians.
<Area of Responsibility #2>
 There is no rule about how many areas you need to have. Depending on what your job is like you
may have 3 or you may have 5, especially if you are doing a second job during this review
period!
 Some people like to bold or otherwise indicate a bullet point that will be expanded upon in the
narrative portion of their self review. Example: Participated in collection consolidation projects,
resulting in a 50% footprint reduction of X Collection.
 Keep your sentences short. Use action verbs: initiated, orchestrated, planned, coordinated.
Other Duties & Activities
 We all have internal Libraries activity that doesn’t fall within the designated boundaries of our
position. Call this category whatever you wish, but remember internal Libraries committees and
other internal activities fall into I.A. even if they are not in your job description.
 Example: Tactical Implementation Planning & Progress (TIPP) Team Member for Core
Strategic Direction 2, November 2010-present.
I.B. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY


List here any activities you have in I.B. Use your discretion about what you include and
remember you may also include additional information in your Academic Biography.
Early in your career, you might include a list of organizations to which you belong. As you
progress in your career, CAPA expects to see more substantive involvement, but you might
continue to list memberships in your Academic Biography for completeness.


Example: Guest Speaker for San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science
course LIBR 259 – Preservation Management, July 2011.
Example: Member, Core Competencies Task Force, North American Serials Interest Group,
2010-2012
I.C. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE


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
List here any relevant activities in I.C. Remember this includes all LAUC activity as well as any
Campus (UCSD) and University (UC) activity. (If your membership or participation in a group is
by virtue of your job, such activity should be listed in I.A.)
If you run for office during the review period, include it in the appropriate section of your self
review even if you are not the successful candidate. Having a ballot with multiple candidates is
important to the democratic process of LAUC and other professional organizations.
Example: Member, LAUC-SD Committee on Appointment, Promotion and Advancement (CAPA),
2010 – 2012
Example: Panelist for LAUC Mentoring Committee Lunch n’ Learn: “Career Paths & Academic
Review Process” Summer 2011
I.D. RESEARCH AND OTHER CREATIVE WORK



List here relevant activities in I.D. Remember: it is perfectly acceptable not to have items in each
category during every review period. Focusing on different professional activities at different
times is natural in a well rounded career.
Example: Shroeder. “Overcoming the Peanuts Stereotype and Becoming a Serious Music
Librarian,” Librarians of St. Paul Quarterly.
Example: Applied for, and received a LAUC mini-grant for poster presentation at the Music
Library Association: “Aren’t We All Just Kids at a Piano? Becoming a Maestro at the
Reference Desk”
II. PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION



List here relevant and significant professional growth and education such as workshops and
conference attendance.
Example: Attended Society of American Archivists Workshop “Managing Electronic Records in
Archives and Special Collections,” August 2011.
Example: Attended a variety of UCSD Libraries & Campus supported workshops and training
sessions. See Academic Biography for full listing.
NARRATIVE DISCUSSION
For the Narrative Discussion choose 2-3 significant items from I.A and 2-3 significant items from I.B-D.
The total length of this section should be approximately 3-4 pages.
When writing, use active voice and first person pronouns. Avoid using descriptive words over and over in
the narrative. Keep your thesaurus, virtual or physical, handy while you write.
FROM I.A.
Write about2- 3 significant items from the review period or about2-3 themes your work fell into during
the review period. If you had a single significant project you might write about that and why it was
important. If you worked on 5 relatively small weeding & consolidation projects over the review period
you might roll those together into a “theme” of the review period and discuss the larger impact your
work and the results of those projects had on the collection, the ability of the Libraries to repurpose
space, etc.
Your I.A narrative might all run together or you might break it out into chunks with sub-headings for
each of your 2-3 important items. Ask colleagues if you may read their previous self reviews so you can
see various styles.
Remember: If you use an acronym, spell it out the first time. Even if you spelled it out in the bulleted
portion of your review, spell it out again the first time you use it in your narrative.
Remember: Focus on not only what you did, but why it was important and the impact of your work on
your department, the students and faculty you work with, and the Libraries as a whole.
FROM I.B – I.D
As a general rule, choose 2-3 significant items or themes of professional involvement from I.B-I.D to
highlight in this portion of your narrative. Let your participation guide you. If you were the elected
incoming-chair/chair/past-chair of your national organization during the review period that may be the
only activity you highlight. In such a case, discuss highlights and specific accomplishments of your time
in this elected position. Demonstrate to readers of the file that in this one position you made a significant
impact on the profession or organization during the review period.
III. OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO PERFORMANCE (optional)
This section is used infrequently in self reviews. If you had an extended absence, health issues,
participated in the furlough program, or any other unusual circumstance you feel had bearing on your
performance during the review period, briefly summarize that situation here.
Suggested furlough statement: From Jan-Sept 2010, I participated in the University of California’s
furlough program which reduced my time by XX% for those 10 months.
CAREER OVERVIEW (for promotion & distinction only)
This section is only necessary in cases of promotion or distinction and is generally 1-3 pages long. Use
this section to describe your career arc and highlight your professional successes and growth. Please
remember that CAPA reads any previous review files from UCSD, therefore you do not need to give as
much detail for your career while at UCSD. If you spent a significant amount of your career at another
institution, more details about that time are reasonable. As in the Self Review narrative, please be concise
and focus on what is most important. You may include as many details as you like in your Academic
Biography.
<Your Name>, Candidate
Date
<Your Review Initiator, if Different from D.H.>, Review Initiator
Date
<Your Department Head>, Department Head
Date
NOTES: Remember to use font no smaller than 11 pt with 1-inch margins. When you are finished
writing, check your length. Are you over 5 pages, not including signatures? Unless you’re up for
promotion or distinction, edit again and par down. Tighten up your sentences, eliminate unnecessary
details. Ask a colleague in another department to read your review, to help edit and make sure you are
not using too much jargon.