Many academic institutions use a committee to facilitate the search to fill an open position.
The role of the search committee is to oversee the process related to the recruitment and evaluation of applicants. Most committees serve in an advisory capacity, with the final selection decision left to an administrator such as the Library Director or Dean of Libraries. The committee will often compose the position announcement, schedule screening and interview dates, coordinate interview logistics, conduct interviews, contact references, and develop an instrument for candidate evaluation based on the position to be filled. The committee is commonly made up of three, five, or seven members, depending on the size of the institution. Members of the committee may be appointed or elected, and a committee is usually formed only when there is a need to fill a position.