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Unit 5: Organizing

served by a special library). In smaller or specialized libraries, librarians typically perform a Notes
wide range of the different duties.
Salaries and benefits have improved somewhat in recent years, even in an era of budget
tightening and reductions in operating expenses at many libraries. They can vary considerably
depending upon the geographic region, the level of funding and support (it is usually
better in major academic libraries and government facilities than it is in inner-city school
or public libraries), the type of library (a small public or school library versus a large
government or academic library), and the position (a beginning librarian versus a department
head). Starting salaries at small public libraries can range from $20,000-$25,000; high profile
positions like director or department head can approach or exceed $100,000 at major academic
and large government libraries and some public libraries. Librarians who are paid faculty
salaries at a major university (especially if they have a second academic degree), who have
an education degree at a school library, who are in administration at a library, or who are
in a government library post tend to have higher incomes, especially with experience and
better language and technical skills. Despite this, librarians are still wrongly perceived as
low-level pink collar professionals. In reality, the technical competencies and information-
seeking skills needed for the job are becoming increasingly important and are relevant to
the contemporary economy, and such positions are thus becoming more prominent.
Representative examples of librarian responsibilities:
• Researching topics of interest for their constituencies.
• Referring patrons to other community organizations and government offices.
• Suggesting appropriate books (“readers’ advisory”) for children of different reading
levels, and recommending novels for recreational reading.
• Facilitating and promoting reading clubs.
• Developing programs for library users of all ages and backgrounds.

• Managing access to electronic information resources.
• Building collections to respond to changing community needs or demands
• Writing grants to gain funding for expanded program or collections
• Digitizing collections for online access

• Answering incoming reference questions via telephone, postal mail, email, fax, and chat
• Making and enforcing computer appointments on the public access Internet computers.

Task Discuss the role of librarian in library in your view.

5.4 Departmentalization

Departmentalization refers to the process of grouping activities into departments.

Division of labour creates specialists who need coordination. This coordination is facilitated
by grouping specialists together in departments.
A Few Common Types of Departmentalization:
• Functional Departmentalization: Grouping activities by functions performed. Activities
can be grouped according to function (work being done) to pursue economies of scale

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