As academic staff, access to sabbatical or study leaves is essential to enable librarians and archivists to enhance their knowledge and, in turn, improve librarian and archivist practice.16 Ideally, such leaves should be consistent with those afforded to the professoriate (see, for example, the University of British Columbia’s Faculty Association’s agreement17). The definitions of such leaves vary widely between agreements. For example, in the University of Victoria agreement, “study leaves” are for “research, scholarship or registration in a course of study,”18 while “academic and professional leaves” in Wilfrid Laurier University’s agreement are for “(a) the acquisition of experience in an area related to their responsibilities; (b) the development of new areas of specialization; (c) the enrichment of their academic or professional knowledge.”19
16 CAUT Policy Statement on Distribution of Workload and Sabbatical Leave (May 2015).
17 University of British Columbia Faculty Association, 2019 - 2022, Article 2, Study Leave.
18 University of Victoria Faculty Association, 2019 - 2022, Article 35 Study Leave: Librarians.
19 Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association, 2019 - 2022, Article 17.3. Librarians’ Academic and Professional Leave.