LIBRARY GOALS AS RESPONSES TO STRUCTURAL AND MILIEU REQUIREMENTS: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY
LIBRARY GOALS AS RESPONSES TO STRUCTURAL AND MILIEU REQUIREMENTS: A COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY
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Date
1974-06
Authors
Chang, Hftnry C.
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Abstract
The sociological analysis of the library is a
comparatively unexploited subfield of sociology. Research
works pertaining to library organizational study
are seldom found in sociology and organization literatures.
On the other hand, in the library literature
only a handful of studies have approached problems
systematically in a sociological perspective. The few
studies which consider the library as a unique laboratory
in which to deal with strategic sociological problems
include: Eerelson's (1949) study, which •- ndertook
an analysis of library book uses and users; Marjorie
Fiske's (1959) work, which studied book selection and
censorship in California libraries; Richard L. Meier's
(1963) article, which analyzes the library as a manysided
tool for research and higher education; and Dan
Lacy's (1967) paper, which emphasizes the effects of
social forces, namely, the population pattern and technological
development, upon the library. Further research
is needed in the fieldi research on library clientele,
library service, library administration, the social
effects of the library, and the role of the library as
a factor in social change. All those deserve systematic
study by sociologists of the library.
The present study purposes to examine one of the
major concepts in the field, organizational goal, in a
library setting. Organizations are tools designed to
achieve various goals. To understand them fully, one
must understand the goals they pursue. Despite complex
conceptual and definitional problems in this aroa, the
writer feels it is instructive to make the attempt.
The American library is changing today at a more
rapid rate than at any time in its history. With new
fields of study emerging, academic research and study
increasingly cross traditional disciplinary lines and are
problem oriented. Schools are modifying curricula to
permit more individual study. This results in more research
and use of the library collections. At the same
time, retrenchment and cutback of funding have affected
the governing structures, staff patterns, and budgets
at many institutions across the country. All these
developments will have a great impact on the large research
libraries.
The goals and the objectives of libraries are
being revised in emphasis and approach to relate more
closely and directly to the needs of society. Library
organization are undergoing rapid and continuing change.
Many libraries are redistributing the authorities and
responsibilities within the system and seeking ways to
increase staff efficiency and productivity. Furthermore,
American libraries are confronted with growing
financial crisis. Cost of operation and capital development
are increasing more rapidly than income from
public and private sources. All these changes force
the libraries, particularly large research libraries,
to re-evaluate their goals and objectives. This, in
turn, also results in a review of their services, collections,
staffing, budget planning and relationship
with other library organizations.
Since the importance of examining the library's
organizational goals is thus quite obvious, this is a
step intended toward fulfillment of this need. It is
not, however, a large-scale study of library goal research,
but an intensive case study of exploratory character.
One large academic library and one large public
library have been chosen for a comparative study. The
University of Minnesota Library system and the Minneapolis
Public Library are both large complex organizations
and, consequently, could be expected to sustain
a large number of goals. This is particularly true of
the American libraries with their close association
with pressure from the local community for practical
results and from the government for funds. There may
be a great many activities which the library is engaged
in without thinking of them as goals. This research
is interested in finding out how library goals
are shaped under historical circumstances, and structural
and milieu requirements. In addition, library
goals will be identified, and a comparative case analysis
of library goals between the University Library and
the Minneapolis Public Library will be observed. We
will also characterize the similarities and differences
of goals between these two library organizations retroactively
and place the emphasis on the current development.
Finally, a central question here is how librarians
from these two different library settings perceive
their respective goals. Hopefully, this study will
inspire a further research in this field.
Minneapolis, Minnesota Henry C. Chang
February, 1974
Description
A THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
OP THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Keywords
LIBRARY GOALS,, RESPONSES TO STRUCTURAL,, MILIEU REQUIREMENTS,, COMPARATIVE CASE STUDY