LAUC-B Funding for Professional Development

Berkeley Division

LAUC-B encourages all librarians to participate in activities that will contribute to both individual professional development and the mission and goals of the Library and University. A full description of funding for all Library employees is in the UC Berkeley Library Travel/Training/Development Support Policy.

Professional Development FAQ

How are professional development funds allocated?
What is the current level of funding for professional development? How does this compare to previous years?
I am a librarian in an Affiliated Library on campus. Am I also eligible for these funds?
Can I use my professional development funds to pay for a class instead of attending a conference?
Can I use my professional development funds to pay for membership in a professional association?
What activities are excluded from professional development funding?
Can expenses be prepaid?
Can I arrange for travel through the campus travel agency?
Can I arrange for my own travel with online services such as Orbitz or Expedia?
How do I request funds?
How do I request reimbursement?
Links to Resources

How are professional development funds allocated?

LAUC-B funds for professional development are requested in the budget each year as part of the union contract and the sum received is allocated among all LAUC-B members. The current contract specifies $55,876 for the fiscal year. If there are unused funds from previous years, a supplement may be made. Further funding for professional development, travel, and training may be available from the Library Administration or an Affiliated Library's Administration and is determined according to their own guidelines. [ Top ]

What is the current level of funding for professional development? How does this compare to previous years?

Funding available in recent years *
Year	LAUC-B Funds	Library Administration Funds*
2009/10	$1,400**	$ 600
2008/09	$ 900	$ 800
2007/08	$ 900	$ 800
2006/07	$ 775	$ 600
2005/06	$ 775	$ 600
2004/05	$ 700	$ 600
2003/04	$ 700	$ 600
2002/03	$ 625	$ 800

Notes:
* Affiliated Librarians are not eligible for the Library Administration funds, though their individual libraries may provide additional professional development travel and training funding.
**This sum includes money carried over from previous years. [ Top ]

I am a librarian in an Affiliated Library on campus. Am I also eligible for these funds?

As an Affiliated Librarian, you will receive the same allocation of LAUC-B funds as other librarians; however, Affiliated Librarians do not receive the additional allocation from Library Administration. The individual affiliated administrations may choose to augment the LAUC-B professional development funds with an additional allocation, but this will vary from Affiliated Library to Affiliated Library. [ Top ]

Can I use my professional development funds to pay for a class instead of attending a conference?

Yes, as long as it contributes to professional development or is for professional-related activity linked to performance in one's current job. Possible uses of professional development funds include travel to attend a conference; taking a class, including online courses; attending an academic program; and, beginning with FY 2009/10, paying for membership in a professional association (see following question). [ Top ]

Can I use my professional development funds to pay for membership in a professional association?

For FY 2009-10, the answer is yes. LAUC-B and the Library Business Office are conducting a pilot program to reimburse LAUC-B members for professional membership dues. Membership dues would be eligible for reimbursement if they are for organizations, other than social organizations, that enhance the professional standing of librarians. If the pilot program works out, it may continue but the conditions of the program are subject to change. For details on how this pilot program will be administered, please see the Professional Membership Dues Pilot Program page.

Please note that personal memberships can be paid from LAUC-B professional development funds only; Library Administration funds may NOT be used for this purpose. What this means to you: if you use up LAUC-B funds for travel or classes before requesting payment for a membership, the request will be denied, even if there are funds remaining in your Library Administration allocation. Please plan carefully how you will use your LAUC-B allocation to maximize your benefit. [ Top ]

What activities are excluded from professional development funding?

Purchases of equipment or software. Such purchases become the property of the University of California, and are not an appropriate use of professional development funds.
Training or travel directly related to the work assignment and required by a librarian's supervisor. The Library uses other funding sources for such training and travel, rather than an individual's professional development funds.
Institutional memberships in professional organizations. (The Library pays for its own institutional memberships.)

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. If you are unsure whether a particular expense is covered by professional development funds, contact Library Business Services. [ Top ]

Can expenses be prepaid?

Certain expenses can be pre-paid. For example, registration for conferences can be pre-paid, as can some travel expenses, such as airfare arranged through CTS/Carlson Wagonlit, or local car travel through contracted providers. Also, beginning July 1, 2009, memberships in professional associations can be pre-paid (by bluCard) using LAUC-B funds. However, some charges cannot be pre-paid. Check the Library Business Services website (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/travel.html) or contact LBS directly if you're not sure whether a particular expense can be prepaid. [ Top ]

Can I arrange for travel through the campus travel agency?

Yes. Travel arrangements can be made through CTS/Carlson Wagonlit (UC Berkeley's Partner Travel Agency) and are also eligible for pre-payment. However, be aware that Carlson Wagonlit will charge a service fee for travel arrangements (e.g., in 2009, $31/transaction) and this will also come out of your professional development funding allocation. For details on how to arrange travel with Carlson Wagonlit, see the LAUC-B travel procedures at http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/CTSprocedures.html. [ Top ]

Can I arrange for my own travel with online services such as Orbitz or Expedia?

Yes, however, travel that you arrange yourself cannot be pre-paid; it will be reimbursed after the trip is complete. Please also be aware that the University will not reimburse package deals (including transportation, hotel, etc.) from such online companies. If you seek reimbursement, purchase airfare and hotel stays separately. (See http://www.ucop.edu/ucophome/policies/bfb/g28.pdf for more information.) [ Top ]

How do I request professional development funds? How do I request reimbursement?

Before beginning the activity, fill out the Travel/Training/Development Form with the place and dates of your event. Library Business Services requires this form as evidence that leave has been approved.
You sign it, have your supervisor sign it, then send it on to the appropriate AUL* for signature.
The AUL* will sign it and return it to you. Keep this form as you will need it later when requesting reimbursement.
You have 14 calendar days after the conclusion of your trip to submit your travel reimbursement form and receipts to the Library Business Office. Find the form completed in #3 above; fill in the actual expenses; and attach original receipts for travel, lodging, meals, etc. Keep a photocopy of everything and send the originals to Library Business Services (110 Doe Library). The reimbursement process will be initiated without delay.

* Affiliated Librarians will follow their individual procedures for travel approval. [ Top ]

General guidelines:

Submit an approval form at any time throughout the year.
Use one form for each event.
Receipts are required for reimbursement. (See http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/receipts.html for more information.)
LAUC-B member librarians appointed any time during the fiscal year are eligible for that year's allocation.
Employees on Leave and Employees recalled from Retirement are not eligible for LAUC-B funds.
Unused money will be carried over to the following year's budget for professional development, but an individual's unused allocation cannot be carried over.
Campus travel policies normally do not allow reimbursement for expenses incurred within the vicinity of an employee's workplace, though exceptions can be made. (See LBS website for more details.)

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Resources

The Library Business Office has put together some very helpful links to guidelines and forms to be used for professional development requests. You can also link to the Library Business Office website from the staff directory.

UC Berkeley Library Travel/Training/Development Support Policy
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/travel.html

Travel guidelines (a handy brochure page to print)
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/travelguidelines.pdf

Travel/Training/Development request form
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/travelrequest.xls

Forms for Carlson Wagonlit (UC Berkeley's Partner Travel Agency) can be linked to from two different sites:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/Staff/LBS/forms.html or http://controller.berkeley.edu/travel/Forms/index.htm

LAUC-B Pilot Program for Professional Dues Reimbursement
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/LAUC/PD_DuesPilot.html

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