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Unit 5: Organizing

enterprise or an institution or a library, whilst management may be briefly termed as a process Notes
of getting things done through men and materials. Sheldon defines organization as “the process
of so combining the work which individuals or groups have to perform with the faculties
necessary for its execution that the duties, so formed, provide the best channels for the efficient,
systematic, positive, and co-ordinated application of the available effort.”‘ Hicks and Tillin,
while defining organization, give emphasis on (a) human relationships, (b) group work and
(c) social structure. They maintain that organization is mainly ‘concerned with human relationships
in a group activity that, when taken together, equate to the social structure. It is the most
effective method to pool the co-operative efforts of staff and channel them into productive
processes.

5.1.2 Library and Society
Society sanctions the organization since it considers the organization capable of satisfying
some need. ‘If such a need is reasonably wall satisfied by a particular device, society transmits
that device to future generations as integral part of its culture. This has been true of the
traditional library, which was basically book oriented, and which has been passed on by
society as a useful organization. The traditional book library is today unable to meet the
increasing multifarious needs of the society. This necessity has given rise to the development
of multimedia library to face the challenge of the society through its diversified materials
including audio-visual aids, techniques, and contemporary technology including computerization
and on-line literature search. An organization is composed of persons who share common
interest to attain the same objectives. ‘It is characterized by a management; or leadership
which defines the roles and tasks for both the group and its individual members. The roles of
these members are structured around the activities or functions necessary to the accomplishment
of present objectives. Management furnishes them with the needed tools, equipment, and
facilities to achieve the tasks and objectives assigned. The organization creates, through management
adequate policies, procedures, authority, accountability, and responsibility for the fulfillment
of organizational objective.

Notes Organizing is a distinctive basic managerial function which is concerned primarily
with formal structure as a means of gaining effective group action.

5.1.3 Organization vs. Administration

Library organization and library administration are closely related to each other. The distinction
between the two is very subtle. Organization comes before administration. The latter starts
where the former ends. One lays down theoretical principles, whilst the other puts those
principles into practice.
An institution or enterprise is established with the aim of attaining certain determined objectives.
But ‘how’ and ‘who’ is to achieve it? For this, ‘an organizational structure is raised, an administrative
machinery is created, and management authority is appointed. The administrative machinery
is responsible for laying down the basic policies of the institution; for providing a proper
organizational structure; and for appointing the management personnel for achieving the
desired aims. Organization is a process of classification and arrangement of various functions
and jobs of an institution to assign them to respective, classified individuals in various units
or departments, while administration involves setting out of definite methods, plans and
policies to carry out those functions to achieve the pro-determined objectives. Administration

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