This study examined the organizational structures for professional staff participation in decision making at selected university libraries with membership in the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, and determined the perceived degree, quality, and effectiveness of staff participation. Twenty-two library directors and 192 professional librarians responded to a questionnaire for biographical, institutional, practices, and perception data. Librarians favored participative management more than directors, and directors perceived themselves as practicing more participative management than did librarians. Both groups felt administrators should seek as much staff input as possible before decision making. Neither group strongly supported true participative management. Librarians did not see themselves as meaningfully involved in activities that influence library policies and practices, and young librarians and Blacks felt a strong need for increased participation. Both groups supported equal promotion and raises for nonadministrative and administrative librarians, and felt that staff involvement in decision making results in greater staff satisfaction and performance. Respondents rejected authoritarian library management and supported consultative management. The study recommended five areas for further research. The appendices include the questionnaires, comments, and a bibliography. (Author/KP)