IMD315

MANAGEMENT OF LIBRARIES AND RESOURCE CENTER

 6
TOPIC 6
Administrative Units of Libraries and
Information Centers
CONTENTS

6.1 Technical Service 6.2 Background of each unit in libraries

6.3 Job position in library

INTRODUCTION

þ The Central Administrative Unit is

responsible for all Library
department. Other responsibilities
include public relations with other
Libraries, institutions and bodies.
þ The Central Library Unit is called
upon to play a vital role in the effort
to preserve and promote the
intellectual heritage.
NATIONAL LIBRARIES
Libraries which,
irrespective of their title,
are responsible for
acquiring and conserving
copies of all significant
publications published in
the country and
functioning as a `deposit'
library, either by law or
under other arrangements.
They will also normally
perform some of the
following functions: Libraries which may be
produce a national called `national' but whose
bibliography; hold and functions do not
keep up to date a large and correspond to the above
representative collection definition should not be
of foreign literature placed in the `national
including books about the libraries' category.
country; act as a national
bibliographical information
center; compile union
catalogues; publish the
retrospective national
bibliography.
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Libraries of institutions
of higher education:
those primarily serving
students and lecturer in
universities and other
institutions of education
at the third level.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES

As non-specialized libraries
of a learned character
which are neither libraries
of institutions of higher
education nor national
libraries, though they may
fulfil the functions of a
national library for a
specified geographical
area.
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Those attached to all types
of schools below the level
of education at the third
level and serving primarily
the pupils and teachers of
such schools, even- though
they may also be open to
the general public.
Separate collections for
the use of several classes
in the same school should
be regarded as a single
library, which should be
counted as an
administrative unit and as
a service point.
SPECIAL LIBRARIES

Those maintained by an association, government

service, parliament, research institution (excluding
university institutes), learned society, professional
association, museum, business firm, industrial
enterprise, chamber of commerce, etc. or other
organized group,

The greater part of their collections being in a

specific field or subject, e.g. natural sciences, social
sciences, agriculture, chemistry, medicine,
economics, engineering, law, history
 6.1

TECHNICAL SERVICE
T E C H N I C A L S E R V I C E
A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
The term “technical services” is also referred to “technical processing”, “processing”,
“preparations” or even an organizationally-separate “acquisition” or “ordering” and
“cataloging” is now commonly used in libraries.
Technical services acquire and organise material. Each section treats in aspects of
processing the material – eg acquisition, cataloguing, collection maintenance.
A more modern definition identifies technical services with the functions of
acquisition, cataloging, processing, inventory, circulation operations that provide
the acquisition, organization and preparation of materials. (Lynch & Eckard, 1981)
In large libraries, there are often also sections which deal with particulars formats –
e.g. serial.
FUNCTION OF TECHNICAL SERVICES

Ordering and receiving materials

Organizing, cataloging, and
for the library’s collection or
classifying these materials
collections;

Organizing, preparing and

maintaining all necessary catalogs,
records, and files for the
collection or collections
TECHNICAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION

Other functions may include

Binding or The mending or The inventorying of the

preparation for repairing of materials collection or collections
binding of materials
THE PURPOSE OF TECHNICAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Basic Management Principles and Theories

Technical services functions can be seen in the

repetitive (routine) procedures that are
To improve efficiency basically production and materials oriented.
by grouping similar Most of these activities follow one after
functions together another, and thus it is dependent on the
completion of the first activity before the
beginning of the next

The final product will be a collection

of materials arranged on the shelves
and made accessible through a card
catalog or OPAC
ADVANTAGES OF TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Grouping similar functions into a technical services

department has improved efficiency:-

By providing increased coordination/control of

work/combination or interaction between unit

Allowing greater staff flexibility/ workers who are

able to take on more responsibilities, do different
tasks, and do more at work/Step outside their job
description

Allowing for the assimilation/absorp of larger

amounts of materials

(Dougherty, Wadsworth & Axman, 1867)

ELEMENT GOOD MANAGER OF TECHNICAL
SERVICE DEPARTMENT

The successful operation of a technical services unit is

dependent on the application of sound management
principles and philosophy“.

þ Similar characteristics of a good library administrator

þ S p e c i a l i ze d k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e w i t h
acquisitions, cataloging and/or automation
þ Capable of planning, organizing, communicating, and
coordinating activities within the division
þ Coordinate the technical services functions with the
activities of the rest of the library in the planning,
budgeting, and policy formulation
 6.2

BACKGROUND OF
EACH UNIT IN
LIBRARIES
PRESERVATION

This unit is responsible for

preparing new library materials
(monographs, serials and
periodical issues) for commercial
binding and inspecting bound
volumes returned from the
commercial binders.
ACQUISITION

The Acquisitions Department is

responsible for acquiring
materials which have been
selected for addition to the library
collection in all format types,:
books, periodicals, serials, music
scores, sound recordings, videos,
films, manuscripts, microforms,
computer files, and electronic
resources.
CATALOGING

The Cataloging Department is

responsible for the creation and
maintenance of records in the
l i b r a r y c a t a l o g , a n d fo r t h e
organization of the collections.
These records provide a means of
locating information in all formats,
including books, periodica l s ,
serials, videos, maps, films, sound
recordings, manuscripts, music
scores, microforms, computer files,
and electronic resources.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Information Technology, located

in the Computer Lab, accommodates
the information technology needs of
students by providing specialized
software and hardware.

The available resources include

consultation and training, a software
loan program, scanning and Braille
services, and technical support.
CIRCULATION

The Circulation Department allows

library users to remove materials
from the building by charging the
materials to the user’s account.

In addition to checking out materials,

users may pay fines, place holds on
books, pick up and return Interlibrary
Loan materials, and check out study
rooms.
CIRCULATION – INTERLIBRARY LOAN

Interlibrary loan is a service through which

books or journal articles not owned by the
libraries may be obtained from other
libraries or commercial document suppliers.

This service is available at no cost to the

members, the department mediates the
purchase of materials.
REFERENCE SERVICE

The Libraries provide in person,

telephone and email assistance from
service centers located at the Reference
Desk.

Librarians that assist, advise, and

instruct users in accessing all forms of
recorded knowledge. The assistance,
advice, and instruction include both
direct and indirect service to patrons.
CHILDREN LIBRARY SERVICE

Activities for children include exhibitions,

promotions of books and other media dealing
with the rights of the child, workshops, reading
and literacy sessions/programmes and other
leisure time activities.

Free and varied activities in children's libraries

require modern approaches, such as small-
group activities, work in pairs, role-playing,
guided fantasies, discussions, team and co-
operative work, etc
CHILDREN LIBRARY SERVICE

Groups, include: • babies/toddlers • pre-school

children • elementary/primary school children
(age 5-10) • “older” children (age 11 - 14) •
young people with reading, learning and
developmental difficulties • parents and other
adults working with books / media and children
• families

To provide children with open access to

adequate resources and media, and in addition
provide cultural and recreational programmes,
oriented towards reading and literacy.
 6.3

JOB POSITION IN
LIBRARY
L I B R A R Y D I R E C T O R
The main leadership role in the library.
Typical duties include preparing and overseeing the budget,
developing employment and service policies, strategic planning,
public and governmental relations, reporting to the governing board
or official, ensuring compliance with laws, fundraising, hiring,
motivating and firing staff, and more.
Directors' duties and compensation can vary greatly depending on
the size of the library.
L I B R A R Y M A N A G E R
Such as department heads, branch managers, and assistant/deputy/associate
directors, and are typically middle managers responsible for the operation of
departments or other functional areas such as "all library branches.
As managers they may be responsible for work schedules, employee evaluations,
training, and managing budgets. Branch managers, in particular, can have
additional director-like responsibilities, such as overseeing the condition of the
facility or involvement in local neighbourhood groups and projects.
Provides technical advice and resolves problems, acting as a primary liaison
between the contractor and staff. Must have a MLS, MSIS or equivalent degree and
a minimum of 5 years progressive management responsibility.
L I B R A R I A N S / L E A D C ATA L O G E R
Will supervise library-related operations and procedures such as
cataloging, indexing, metadata cataloging and abstracting.
Become specialists in a specific subject area
M E TA DATA L I B R A R I A N S
Organizes access to information resources using traditional and
merging metadata schema.
Tracks developments in metadata standards and recommends and
designs appropriate metadata schema taxonomies to facilitate access
to electronic resources and other collections.
E D U C AT I O N A L T E C H N O L O G Y
L I B R A R I A N
Advance the library's role in integrating technology and library
resources into the college curriculum

Assume leadership in all activities related to the improvement of

student information management skills and the assessment of
learning outcomes
Provide training for faculty and librarians in the integration of online
information tools, resources, and strategies into course management
software
E D U C AT I O N A L T E C H N O L O G Y
L I B R A R I A N
Assume a major role in identifying and implementing emerging
technologies and best practices which enhance the role and
visibility of the Information Commons on campus

Provide reference services, including some nights and weekends

LIBRARY TECHNICIAN

Will perform on various library tasks to include interlibrary loan

and document delivery, serials check-in, processing and claiming,
preparing library materials for shelves and collection
maintenance support.
Library Assistants or Technicians generally perform clerical duties.
QUESTION

þ F r o m t h e t o p i c , w h i c h
department do you want to
work in the library? And why?

Write your comment in chat box.

 THANK YOU
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