Library Management Theory and Practice

Author: Foshan Library / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: Management refers to the process by which managers in a certain organization, through actions such as decision-making and planning, systems and regulations, organization and personnel, control and coordination, utilize elements like human resources, capital, and materials to achieve predetermined goals. Library management typically includes administrative management and operational management. Management activities are a fundamental phenomenon in human social life. As human society evolves, management plays an increasingly significant role in social production and life. Various management theories and methods were extensively organized, summarized, developed, and applied in the 20th century, and people generally regard management as one of the two indispensable pillars, alongside science and technology, that drive social progress. Although management cannot directly produce material products, effective management can concentrate scattered production factors, maximize the reduction of internal energy consumption and disorder within the system to form synergy, improve work efficiency, and achieve organizational goals. Management studies the management activities and universal laws of social systems. As a component of the social system, libraries cannot exist independently of the social environment, and therefore library management must draw on and introduce theories and methods from general management studies. Library management refers to the process by which libraries, to meet the growing cultural and information needs of society, through actions such as decision-making and planning, systems and regulations, organization and personnel, control and coordination, optimize the allocation and investment of library human resources, funds, equipment, and resources, reduce energy consumption, achieve greater output with smaller input, and ultimately fulfill library goals. As a part of the larger social system, libraries have played an invaluable role in the transmission of human civilization since their inception. This is evident in the continuous praise they have received from people across different eras and cultures. Although the functions of libraries have evolved and expanded at different stages of human social development, their role as intermediaries and reservoirs of human knowledge is undeniable, and their involvement in and depth of engagement with human social life have continuously increased. Library management must emphasize the introduction, analysis, absorption, and rational application of general management theories and methods, not only because the theory of management science has become increasingly mature but also because it is an inherent need for the development of the library industry and the improvement of library performance. Management is not an individual activity; it is implemented within a certain organization. For supervisors, management is the activity of coordinating the behavior of subordinates within their scope of responsibility to achieve library goals. Throughout the entire process, at every stage, management involves dealing with people, so it can be said that the core of library management is managing various interpersonal relationships within the library. These include:
1. The relationship between managers and their superiors and subordinates, which is the dominant and core aspect of all interpersonal relationships.
2. The relationships among general members within the library, i.e., the interpersonal relationships between individuals in various operational departments without a direct management-subordinate dynamic.