People and organizations are inherently political. Library workplace environments have zones of tension and dynamics just like any corporation, often leading to the formation of political camps. These different cliques influence productivity and work-related issues and, at worst, give meetings the feel of the Camp David negotiations. Politics are…

Each year, "Library Journal" recognizes 50 or so emerging leaders in the profession as Movers & Shakers. These library professionals are passionate about the work they do and are moving the profession forward, often in creative and innovative ways. Some of these individuals enjoyed and were encouraged by amazing institutional support and…

How librarians came to their careers is as varied as the people themselves, but despite some often highly publicized challenges for college and university librarians in the digital age, academic librarianship is good work, according to the "Library Journal's" Job Satisfaction Survey. This article presents the results of this survey. The…

The author was talking with a friend not long ago about one of the hottest political topics in California these days--the high cost of the workers compensation system. "But libraries don't have to worry about that, do they?" asked her friend. "Aha!" I said. "Another stereotype! In fact, library work is very physical. And…

This discussion of microcomputers notes applications in libraries; the impact of microcomputers in the home, library, or office; and ways to combat static electricity in the work area. (EJS)

Employees are valuable. The cost of hiring, training, and retaining staff--not just librarians, but all staff--generally makes up the largest part of a library's budget. Since library support staff usually comprise 60-80 percent of the work force, it makes perfect fiscal sense to motivate this segment of employees to stay. There is an even more…

This article presents findings from the "Library Journal's" Job Satisfaction Survey among 3,095 library staffers from public, academic, special, and school libraries. A whopping 85.6 percent of the respondents said they would choose a career in librarianship again if they had to start over. Workers in all types of libraries--and across…

Reports results of a survey of 800 library staff members on aspects of library work that they find stressful. The findings include sources of satisfaction and stress for all participants, and sources of stress specific to public services librarians, technical services librarians, and support staff members. (CLB)

Describes both a dichotomy between library managers and library staff involved in direct service and a supervisory development instrument intended for use by employees to rate supervisors. This instrument, which is included, is designed to encourage an organizational climate characterized by mutual trust and shared values among supervisors and…

Notes that the literature shows female intensive professions are usually devalued in terms of pay, status, career opportunities, and working conditions. It is argued that gender equity in librarianship should focus on library specialties, such as children's librarianship and cataloging, that are more likely to employ women than the profession as a…

Reports on problems involved in staff workspace design--impact of environment on behavior, productivity, and job satisfaction--and relates issues to library workplace (level of staff, type and size of library). Herzberg Theory, Hawthorne Effect, and findings of Buffalo Organization for Social and Technological Innovation are highlighted. (15…

Presents information obtained from a 1981-82 questionnaire survey of 487 graduate librarians. Highlights include an alternative career profile, differential between salaries of librarians working in libraries and librarians working in nontraditional information jobs, placement routes, and the value of a library degree in career placement. (EJS)

Discussion of the effect on the workforce of the application of electronic data processing technologies to information handling activities highlights task specialization; white collar alienation; feelings of powerlessness, meaninglessness, and normlessness in workers; the chronology of automation; and experimentation and communication. Nineteen…

Discusses aspects of microcomputer operation that are associated with the human operator and the interface between human and machine or workplace. Work productivity, furniture design (desks, seating), keyboards (shape, layout, and "feel" of keys), and video display terminal screens and lighting are noted. (EJS)

This essay and 48-item annotated bibliography provide information on potential problems of computer terminal use--cathode ray tube, video display unit, video display terminal--in libraries. Information on ergonomics (matching people to machines in humane way), eyes and vision, and radiation is included. (EJS)