WHATS NEW IN LIBRARIES

Job satisfaction in libraries:

love it or leave it
Elisa F. Topper
Dundee Township Public Library, Dundee, Illinois, USA
Abstract
Purpose This article aims to explore job satisfaction among library workers.
Design/methodology/approach The paper takes the form of a literature review of psychological
and sociological studies of job satisfaction in general and specically for library workers.
Findings Library workers are very satised in their jobs no matter if it is a current study or one
from previous years.
Originality/value Job satisfaction should be a key factor in recruitment of the next generation of
library workers.
Keywords Job satisfaction, Libraries, Career development, Recruitment, United States of America
Paper type Viewpoint
Job satisfaction dened
How do we dene job satisfaction? There are so many denitions. Some dene it as a
general attitude of the workers constituted by their approach towards the wages,
working conditions, control, promotion related with the job, social relations in the
work, recognition of talent and some similar variables, personal characteristics, and
group relations apart from the work life (Blum and Naylor, 1986).
Job satisfaction is the total of the sentiments related with the job that is performed.
If the person believes that their values are realized within the job, they possess a
positive attitude towards the job and acquire job satisfaction (McCormick and Tifn,
1974).
Factors affecting job satisfaction
Motivating factors are achievement, recognition, the job performed, responsibility,
promotion and factors related to the job itself for personal development. Motivating
factors in the working environment result in job satisfaction of the individual while
protective ones dissatisfy them (Herzberg et al., 1969).
Maslow connects the creation of the existence of peoples sense of satisfaction with
the maintenance of the classied needs. These are physiological needs (eating,
drinking, resting, etc.), security needs (pension, health insurance, etc.), the need to love
(good relations with the environment, friendship, fellowship, to love and be loved), need
to self-esteem (self-condence, recognition, adoration, to be given importance, status,
etc.), and need of self-actualization (development of abilities, etc.).
The difference between the results that the individual desires and those they
maintained will affect their job satisfaction (Nash and Carroll, 1975). There is a
constant relationship between the professional status and the job satisfaction. High
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New Library World
Vol. 109 No. 5/6, 2008
pp. 287-290
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
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DOI 10.1108/03074800810873623
levels of job satisfaction are observed in those professions which are deemed of good
standing in society. Age is one of the factors affecting job satisfaction. Studies
conducted in ve different countries have shown that older workers are more satised.
It has been asserted that participating in the management, having decision-making
power, independence on the job, and the unit where one works, have positive impact
upon job satisfaction. The job itself (work conducted) and achievement and recognition
at work result in job satisfaction while the management policy, relations with the
managers and colleagues result in dissatisfaction (Plate and Stone, 1974).
Job satisfaction of American library workers
Library Journal conducted a job satisfaction study with 3,095 library staff members
who responded to the study, and 85.6 percent responded that they would choose
librarianship again if they were to start over. These workers represented all types of
libraries and were representative of all ages. Even more enthusiastic were elementary
and secondary school library workers who responded with a 94 percent rate of
selecting librarianship for the same career again. This high rate was across the board
and including those with the MLS degree and non-degreed library workers. (Berry,
2007).
Across the survey, 72 percent said they were satised or very satised with
their current positions. Another 23 percent responded somewhat satised with their
current position. The number rose higher to 70 percent for those in the age range of
30-49 and to 75 percent of those in the 50-plus age range. The reasons given for those
under 30 were that they enjoyed the public service component of library service. Those
in the 40-49 range liked making a difference in the community along with the joy of
public service. Those respondents aged between 50 and 59 liked more things about
their jobs than their younger colleagues. They specically mentioned they liked the
variety of tasks.
Job dissatisfaction of American library workers
Even though there is a high level of satisfaction among library workers, they are quick
to point out the reasons for dissatisfaction, their challenges, and their disappointments
especially concerning salaries, funding and management. There is even
disappointment between those library workers in rural and small libraries (the
majority of libraries in the USA) and those workers in larger library systems.
Respondents in smaller libraries felt that they get no respect from these colleagues. In
larger libraries, both public and academic, bureaucracy and red tape were the common
sources of frustration.
Administrators were frustrated by administrative incompetence who said that
budgeting and on-the-job politics were the areas they were most unprepared.
Throughout the survey, a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction with library
management was expressed by line staff members throughout, and many
administrators acknowledged feeling unprepared for the challenges of management.
The study further mentions that high levels of satisfaction could end if the library
profession cannot overcome its chronic under-funding and learn new political and
management skills. It will also be crucial that enough young techies enter the eld to
execute the transformation and repositioning of libraries in the new digital
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environment recently championed by former American Library Association president,
Leslie Burger.
What studies have shown about library job satisfaction
Van Reenen (1998) found that by analyzing the literature review of work satisfaction in
library workers he made the following conclusions and this was before the Library
Journal survey that resulted in many of the same conclusions:
.
older workers were more satised than younger workers;
.
experienced employees were more satised than those with less experience;
.
those who planned to working in the same library ve years hence were
signicantly more satised than those persons with other plans;
.
those lacking supervisory responsibilities had the lowest job satisfaction, while
department heads were the most satised;
.
reference department employees had signicantly higher levels of satisfaction
than employees in other departments, except acquisitions;
.
professional librarians were more satised than non-professional staff; and
.
the factor that consistently scored the highest satisfaction rates was working
directly with patrons.
As a rst career librarian that started as a library page in my hometown library, I have
been a professional librarian for 33 years and it has been a satisfying career. I cannot
believe that it has been that long! As a former library school student said to me after
obtaining their rst professional job, I can not believe that I am getting paid to learn
every day!. However, Confucius said it best, Choose a job you love, and you will never
have to work a day in your life.
References
Berry, J.N. III (2007), LJ Series Job satisfaction: great work, genuine problems, Library
Journal, October 1.
Blum, M. and Naylor, J. (1986), Industrial Psychology: Its Theoretical and Social Foundation,
Harper and Row, New York, NY.
Herzberg, F., Mausner, B. and Sanderman, B. (1969), The Motivation to Work, Wiley, New York,
NY.
McCormick, E.J. and Tifn, J. (1974), Industrial Psychology, 6th ed., Prentice-Hall, Englewood
Cliffs, NJ.
Nash, A.N. and Carroll, S.J. (1975), The Management of Compensation, Brooks Cole, Monterey,
CA.
Plate, K.H. and Stone, E.W. (1974), Factors affecting librarians job satisfaction: a report of two
studies, Library Quarterly, Vol. 44, pp. 97-110.
Van Reenen, J. (1998), Librarians at work: are we as satised as other workers?, Information
Outlook, Vol. 2 No. 7, pp. 23-26, 28.
Job satisfaction
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Further reading
Adams, J.S. (1963), Towards an understanding of inequity, Journal of Applied Psychology,
Vol. 67, pp. 420-30.
Lynch, B.P. and Verdin, J.A. (1983), Job satisfaction in libraries: relationships of the work itself,
age, sex, occupational group, tenure, supervisory level, career commitment, and library
department, Library Quarterly, Vol. 53, pp. 434-47.
Corresponding author
Elisa F. Topper can be contacted at: etopper@nsls.info
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