College and Research Libraries B y R O B E R T M A X W E L L T R E N T The Personnel Administrator in University Libraries and in Business Mr. Trent's interest in personnel ad- ministration has led him to trace out some comparisons which may be suggestive to librarians. THE ROLE of t h e p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a -t o r , w i t h i n t h e n a r r o w c o n f i n e s of t h i s p a p e r , is l i m i t e d t o t h e p a r t h e p l a y s in t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s e t u p f o r c a r r y i n g o u t t h e p e r s o n n e l p o l i c i e s o f a n i n s t i t u t i o n . T h i s n a r r o w s t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y t o t h e a u - t h o r i t y c e n t r a l i z e d in t h e p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e r a n d t o t h e p r o c e d u r e s t h r o u g h w h i c h h e a d m i n i s t e r s t h a t a u t h o r i t y . T h e r e h a s l o n g b e e n a q u e s t i o n as t o w h a t e x t e n t c o l l e g e a n d u n i v e r s i t y l i - b r a r i e s h a v e a v a i l e d t h e m s e l v e s of m e t h o d s u s e d s u c c e s s f u l l y in b u s i n e s s o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T o a n s w e r t h i s , i n q u i r i e s a b o u t t h e i r p e r - s o n n e l p r a c t i c e s w e r e a d d r e s s e d t o t w e n t y - t h r e e u n i v e r s i t y l i b r a r i e s c h o s e n p r i m a r i l y b e c a u s e t h e y h a d r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e s t a f f s . T h e findings in t h e f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h s a r e b a s e d m a i n l y o n a n s w e r s r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e s i x t e e n l i b r a r i e s w h i c h w e r e in p o s i t i o n t o c o o p e r a t e . T h e s e l i b r a r i e s , o n t h e w h o l e , h a v e b e e n l e a d e r s i n d e v e l o p i n g a n d i m - p r o v i n g l i b r a r y p r o c e d u r e s . T h e q u e s - t i o n s a s k e d t h e m w e r e w o r d e d w i t h a n e y e t o b r i n g i n g o u t a n y s i m i l a r i t y be- t w e e n l i b r a r y p r a c t i c e s a n d t h o s e c o n s i d - e r e d s t a n d a r d in t h e b u s i n e s s field. N o a t t e m p t w a s m a d e t o e v a l u a t e l i b r a r y p e r s o n n e l w o r k ; o n l y p r o c e s s e s f o r c a r r y - i n g o u t t h e w o r k w e r e i n v e s t i g a t e d . The Personnel Administrator E s s e n t i a l t o g o o d p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a - t i o n in b u s i n e s s is t h e c e n t r a l i z a t i o n of a u t h o r i t y in o n e o f f i c e r . H e is a s t a f f o f f i c e r , w h o s e d u t i e s a r e a d v i s o r y , as dis- t i n g u i s h e d f r o m a l i n e o f f i c e r , w h o s e d u t i e s a r e e x e c u t i v e . I t is g e n e r a l l y b e l i e v e d t h a t , s i n c e p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c o v e r s a l l d e p a r t m e n t s a n d a l l b r a n c h e s of s e r v - ice, t h e o f f i c e r in c h a r g e s h o u l d n o t b e a n e x e c u t i v e t h r o u g h w h o m o r d e r s pass f r o m h e a d t o s u b o r d i n a t e b u t r a t h e r a n a d - v i s o r y o f f i c e r c o o r d i n a t e w i t h t h e e x e c u - t i v e s . T h e d u t i e s of t h i s s t a f f o f f i c e r a r e t h o s e of a s p e c i a l i s t w h o a d v i s e s t h e e x - e c u t i v e s , f r o m t h e c h i e f a d m i n i s t r a t o r d o w n t o t h e l o w e s t s u p e r v i s o r , o n a l l q u e s - t i o n s a f f e c t i n g p e r s o n n e l . T h e p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a t o r is a c e n t r a l c l e a r i n g a g e n t f o r a i d i n g a l l d e p a r t m e n t s in c a r r y i n g o u t t h e i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s . H e a d v i s e s in es- t a b l i s h i n g p e r s o n n e l p o l i c i e s a n d a d - m i n i s t e r s t h e p r o c e d u r e s r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e s e p o l i c i e s , b u t h e d o e s n o t e x e c u t e a n y d e c i s i o n s . S u c h a n o f f i c e r w a s f o u n d in o n l y t h r e e of t h e l i b r a r i e s s t u d i e d , a n d i t is p o s s i b l e t h a t i n o n e of t h e s e t h e p e r s o n n e l a d - m i n i s t r a t o r is m o r e of a l i n e t h a n a s t a f f o f f i c e r . T h e m o s t f r e q u e n t f o r m s o f c e n - t r a l i z a t i o n f o u n d a r e t h o s e in w h i c h t h e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e h i m s e l f a s s u m e s a l l r e - s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r p e r s o n n e l w o r k o r in w h i c h t h e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e d e l e g a t e s t o a n asso- c i a t e o r a s s i s t a n t t h e p e r s o n n e l w o r k v 322 COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES a m o n g t h e l o w e r g r a d e s . P r a c t i c e s i n t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s L i b r a r y a n d S y r a c u s e U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y a p p e a r t o h a v e b e e n p a t t e r n e d a f t e r p r o - c e d u r e s w h i c h h a v e p r o v e d v a l u a b l e i n b u s i n e s s . A t I l l i n o i s t h e w o r k is a d - m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e a s s i s t a n t l i b r a r i a n f o r p e r s o n n e l , w h o d e v o t e s t h r e e - f o u r t h s t i m e t o t h e w o r k w i t h t h e h e l p o f t w o h a l f - t i m e a s s i s t a n t s . T h i s o f f i c e r a d v i s e s i n e s t a b l i s h i n g p o l i c i e s , sees t h a t t h e s e p o l i c i e s a r e c a r r i e d o u t , a c t s a s a c l e a r i n g h o u s e f o r a l l p r o b l e m s a n d d e c i s i o n s a f f e c t i n g p e r s o n n e l , a n d c a n w o r k i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e - q u e s t if i t b e c o m e s n e c e s s a r y . A t S y r a c u s e t h e a s s i s t a n t l i b r a r i a n is t h e p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e r . H e d e v o t e s o n l y h a l f t i m e t o t h e w o r k a n d h a s n o a s s i s t a n t s , s i n c e t h e l i b r a r y s t a f f is r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l . H e h a s t h e s a m e a u t h o r i t y a s t h e o n e a t I l l i n o i s . I n b o t h o f t h e s e c a s e s t h e a u t h o r - i t y is c l e a r l y d e f i n e d a n d t h e p o s i t i o n is a l m o s t , i f n o t e n t i r e l y , t h a t o f a s t a f f o f f i c e r . T h e t h i r d l i b r a r y , w h i c h w i s h e s t o b e a n o n y m o u s , c e n t r a l i z e s a u t h o r i t y i n t h e a s s o c i a t e l i b r a r i a n . H e r e t h e s c o p e o f t h e w o r k is n o t so c l e a r l y d e f i n e d , a n d it s e e m s p r o b a b l e t h a t i t is d o n e m o s t l y f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f a n e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r r a t h e r t h a n a s a p e r s o n n e l a d v i s o r . T h e s a m e a s s u m p t i o n h o l d s t r u e i n t h e c u s t o m a r y l i b r a r y p l a n w h e r e t h e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e , a l o n e o r w i t h t h e a s s o c i a t e o r a s s i s t a n t l i b r a r i a n , a s s u m e s t h e d u t i e s . T h e a d - v i s o r y f u n c t i o n s o f t h e s t a f f o f f i c e r a r e l i k e l y t o b e c o m e i n t e r m i n g l e d w i t h t h e e x e c u t i v e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e l i n e o f f i c e r . T h i s d u a l r o l e t h e o r e t i c a l l y m i g h t c o m p e l t h e e x e c u t i v e t o a d v i s e h i m s e l f a n d t h e n t o t u r n q u i c k l y a n d e x e c u t e h i s o w n d e c i - s i o n . I n s e v e r a l l i b r a r i e s t h e u n i v e r s i t y p e r - s o n n e l o f f i c e a s s i s t s i n p r o b l e m s i n t h e l i b r a r y . T h i s m i g h t b e s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r c l e r i c a l w o r k e r s a n d s t u d e n t s , b u t i t is d o u b t f u l if it c o u l d b e o f v a l u e i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a f f . I n t h e o r y , s i n c e t h e l i b r a r y is a d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y , i t s p e r s o n n e l p r o b l e m s s h o u l d b e h a n d l e d u n i f o r m l y w i t h t h o s e o f o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s . T h e o t h e r d e p a r t m e n t s , h o w e v e r , c o m m o n l y d o n o t h a v e t h e h i e r a r c h i c a l s c h e m e o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h i c h p r e v a i l s i n m o s t l i b r a r i e s , a n d c o n s e - q u e n t l y t h e i r p e r s o n n e l p r o b l e m s m a y n o t b e i d e n t i c a l . I f a q u a l i f i e d m e m b e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y p e r s o n n e l s t a f f c o u l d b e as- s i g n e d t o w o r k w i t h t h e l i b r a r y , t o s t u d y i t s p r o b l e m s , a n d t o a d m i n i s t e r t h e m s e p a r a t e l y , s u c h a s c h e m e w o u l d b e p r a c - t i c a l . H o w e v e r , t h i s is n o t d o n e so f a r as c o u l d b e a s c e r t a i n e d f r o m t h e r e p l i e s . S o m e l i b r a r i e s f e e l t h a t s i z e o f s t a f f is a f a c t o r in d e t e r m i n i n g t h e p l a n o f m a n - a g e m e n t . O n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r w i t h a s t a f f o f a l m o s t t w o h u n d r e d s t a t e s t h a t h e h a s i n t i m a t e e n o u g h k n o w l e d g e o f h i s s t a f f t o m a k e a p e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a t o r u n n e c e s - s a r y . H o w e v e r , t h e f a c t t h a t S y r a c u s e U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y , w i t h a s t a f f o f 4 4 , a n d I l l i n o i s , w h i c h h a s a s t a f f o f 2 8 2 , b o t h f i n d a c a r e f u l l y w o r k e d o u t s c h e m e f e a s i - b l e a n d u s e f u l , t e n d s t o s h o w t h a t s i z e is n o t a d e c i s i v e m a t t e r i n p e r s o n n e l a d - m i n i s t r a t i o n . I n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f p o l i c i e s e s t a b - l i s h e d b y t h e e x e c u t i v e s , w i t h t h e a d v i c e o f t h e p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e r , t h e w o r k is d i v i d e d r o u g h l y i n t o f o u r m a i n d i v i s i o n s — e m p l o y - m e n t p r a c t i c e s , f o l l o w - u p r e c o r d s a n d t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s , f a c t o r s a f f e c t i n g h e a l t h a n d e f f i c i e n c y , a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n — s t a f f r e l a t i o n s . I n a l l o f t h e s e , a c c o r d i n g t o a p p r o v e d b u s i n e s s p r a c t i c e s , t h e p e r s o n n e l o f f i c e r a d v i s e s , s u p e r v i s e s , o r a d m i n i s t e r s t h e p r o c e d u r e s . SEPTEMBER, 1944 323 Employment Practices I n business one of the m a i n duties of the personnel officer is to t a k e the e m p l o y - m e n t l o a d off the chief e x e c u t i v e . I n most cases a l l a p p l i c a t i o n s are received in the p e r s o n n e l office, all i n t e r v i e w s e x c e p t - i n g those f o r e x e c u t i v e officers are con- d u c t e d there, and the m a j o r i t y of decisions as to e m p l o y m e n t and dismissal are m a d e there. E v e n in f i l l i n g e x e c u t i v e positions, the personnel officer advises the adminis- t r a t o r . I n the l i b r a r i e s studied, h o w e v e r , the g e n e r a l p r a c t i c e is f o r the chief l i b r a r i a n to i n t e r v i e w a n d a p p o i n t the p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a f f , w h i l e the associate or assistant li- b r a r i a n p e r f o r m s t h a t f u n c t i o n f o r the l o w e r g r a d e s . U s u a l l y the head of the d e p a r t m e n t i n v o l v e d is c o n s u l t e d b e f o r e the a p p o i n t m e n t is m a d e . T h e l i b r a r i a n of the U n i v e r s i t y of T e x a s w r i t e s t h a t . . it is o u r p r a c t i c e t o h a v e persons a p p l y i n g f o r . . . positions, or u n d e r con- sideration f o r t h e m , to be i n t e r v i e w e d by, or t h e i r r e c o r d s inspected by, the associate l i b r a r i a n as w e l l as by m y s e l f so t h a t the benefit of t w o opinions is a v a i l a b l e . F r e - q u e n t l y this is e x t e n d e d t o u n i t h e a d s . " Follow-up Records and Training Programs P e r s o n n e l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s in business keep c a r e f u l f o l l o w - u p r e c o r d s of n e w e m p l o y e e s and on the basis of this c a n r e c o m m e n d p r o m o t i o n , t r a n s f e r , or dis- missal. T h i s is done in an o b j e c t i v e w a y to b a l a n c e the o f t e n t o o s u b j e c t i v e ap- praisals m a d e by the i m m e d i a t e super- visors. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of a f o l l o w - u p r e c o r d is t h a t it enables the personnel offi- cer to keep a c o n s t a n t c h e c k on the w o r k e r . A s I s a b e l l a B r a n d o w , i n s t r u c t o r in personnel t r a i n i n g at N e w Y o r k U n i - v e r s i t y , said a t the C o n f e r e n c e of E a s t e r n v 324 C O LL C o l l e g e L i b r a r i a n s in J a n u a r y , the n e w w o r k e r a l w a y s has a f e e l i n g of e l a t i o n , of enthusiasm, on b e g i n n i n g a j o b . T h a t elation is b o u n d to subside l a t e r a n d m a y be r e p l a c e d by a f e e l i n g of h a v i n g been f o r g o t t e n or i g n o r e d . I f , h o w e v e r , a f o l l o w - u p system is m a i n t a i n e d , such de- m o r a l i z i n g f a c t o r s can o f t e n be a v o i d e d . v F o l l o w - u p r e c o r d s f o r the entire l i b r a r y staff are k e p t by the personnel officer a t I l l i n o i s ; by the l i b r a r i a n , a c t i n g as per- sonnel officer, a t I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y ; and by the u n i v e r s i t y c i v i l service c o m m i t t e e at M i n n e s o t a . T h e associate l i b r a r i a n at T e x a s m a i n t a i n s a f o l l o w - u p of c l e r i c a l and s t u d e n t assistants and pages. I n the o t h e r t w e l v e l i b r a r i e s , it is k e p t by divi- sion o r d e p a r t m e n t heads, if it is done at a l l . T o g e t h e r w i t h a f o l l o w - u p system, a good t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m is an i n c e n t i v e to the w o r k e r and m a k e s him feel t h a t he is of v a l u e to the o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h i s has l o n g been r e c o g n i z e d in business, w h e r e m u c h time and e f f o r t is spent on such pro- g r a m s . A n o t h e r aspect of the m a t t e r w a s w e l l b r o u g h t o u t by M i s s B r a n d o w , w h o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the s a l a r y of e v e n an u n - skilled w o r k e r w i l l soon exceed the v a l u e of a t y p e w r i t e r . A t y p e w r i t e r g e n e r a l l y is k e p t c a r e f u l l y c o v e r e d a n d c l e a n e d , and it f o l l o w s t h a t the w o r k e r , w h o represents a m u c h g r e a t e r i n v e s t m e n t , s h o u l d not be n e g l e c t e d . Business o r g a n i z a t i o n s do n o t l i m i t t h e i r t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m s to be- g i n n e r s b u t c o n t i n u e to t r a i n w o r k e r s as t h e y progress t o h i g h e r j o b s . D e p a r t m e n t heads are also t a u g h t h o w t o t r a i n those u n d e r t h e m , since it is a r e c o g n i z e d f a c t t h a t a g o o d d e p a r t m e n t head is n o t neces- s a r i l y a g o o d teacher w i t h o u t s u p e r v i s i o n . I n most l i b r a r i e s the t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m is n o t supervised by the personnel officer, al- t h o u g h at I l l i n o i s he advises on t r a i n i n g EGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES f o r p r o m o t i o n and t r a n s f e r . A t J o h n s H o p k i n s and the U n i v e r s i t y of W a s h i n g - ton the l i b r a r i a n himself advises in the p r o g r a m f o r t r a i n i n g n e w assistants, w h i l e some o t h e r libraries h a v e c a r e f u l l y w o r k e d o u t p r o g r a m s w h i c h are p u t into e f f e c t by d e p a r t m e n t heads. Factors Affecting Health and Efficiency H e a l t h of employees is r e c o g n i z e d as of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e in business and i n d u s t r y . P h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n s are f r e q u e n t l y re- q u i r e d at time of e m p l o y m e n t , and t h r o u g h these m a n y mistakes in p l a c e m e n t can be a v o i d e d . F a t i g u e studies and care- f u l l y c o n t r o l l e d e x p e r i m e n t s h a v e been m a d e by m a n y personnel d e p a r t m e n t s to d e t e r m i n e u n d e r w h a t conditions e m p l o y - ees are most efficient. P o o r l i g h t i n g and v e n t i l a t i o n , c r o w d e d w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s , and l a c k of rest periods, all h a v e been p r o v e d to a f f e c t e f f i c i e n c y ; and business g e n e r a l l y is q u i c k to c o r r e c t adverse con- ditions. L i b r a r i e s d o n o t appear to h a v e a n y c a r e f u l l y t h o u g h t o u t plans f o r s o l v i n g these problems. P h y s i c a l e x a m i n a t i o n s are r e q u i r e d in o n l y f i v e of the l i b r a r i e s ques- t i o n e d . D o e s this m e a n they are considered of no i m p o r t a n c e ? L i b r a r y b u i l d i n g s are n o t o r i o u s l y bad in l i g h t i n g , v e n t i l a t i o n , and w o r k space. W i l l i a m E . M o s h e r , in discussing personnel policy in l i b r a r i e s , 1 s u g g e s t s t h a t f a t i g u e studies and tests of l i g h t i n g and h u m i d i t y w o u l d s h o w ap- p a l l i n g conditions. T o w h a t e x t e n t the personnel officer tries to a l l e v i a t e these conditions is not c l e a r f r o m the replies re- ceived, a l t h o u g h in e i g h t l i b r a r i e s super- vision or c o n t r o l o v e r physical w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s is vested in the l i b r a r i a n or per- sonnel officer. 1 Mosher, William E. "Imp'ications of an En- lightened Personnel Policy." Library Journal 62: 849-52, Nov. 15, 1937. P o l i c i e s on rest periods and sick l e a v e are u s u a l l y d e t e r m i n e d by the u n i v e r s i t y , a l t h o u g h in three libraries the l i b r a r y per- sonnel officer advises on these p r o b l e m s . T h e m a t t e r is h a n d l e d in some l i b r a r i e s by the staff associations, as is t r u e at the U n i - v e r s i t y of W a s h i n g t o n , w h e r e the associa- tion has w o r k e d o u t a policy on rest pe- riods and sick l e a v e . S i x l i b r a r i e s f a i l e d to a n s w e r the questions c o n c e r n i n g the a b o v e s u b j e c t s , w h i c h m i g h t l e a d to the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t the m a t t e r receives l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n . C l o s e l y allied w i t h physical h e a l t h is m e n t a l w e l l - b e i n g . A s b e a r i n g on this, the personnel officer in business is in a position to advise on s a v i n g s and pension plans l e a d i n g t o financial security, w h i c h is an i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r in m a k i n g a satisfied w o r k e r . H e is also the adviser on v a c a t i o n s and leaves of absence. T h e s e m a t t e r s are beyond the c o n t r o l of most libraries, since in the m a j o r i t y of cases the policy is es- tablished by the u n i v e r s i t y . Administration—Staff Relations T h a t h u m a n beings do not a l w a y s a g r e e is a f a c t r e a d i l y accepted in business, w h e r e in m a n y cases there are definite c h a n n e l s t h r o u g h w h i c h p r o b l e m s of m a l a d j u s t - m e n t , g r i e v a n c e s , and d i s c i p l i n a r y m a t t e r s pass to the personnel officer. T h i s officer, f r o m his position on the sidelines, as it w e r e , can r e n d e r a m o r e i m p a r t i a l j u d g - m e n t than can an e x e c u t i v e u n d e r w h o m d i s p u t a n t s w o r k . O n l y a s o m e w h a t de- tached observer can d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r it is the supervisor, the type of w o r k , or some other f a c t o r w h i c h causes the w o r k e r to operate inefficiently. T h e personnel officers at I l l i n o i s and S y r a c u s e , if they are staff officers, as it w o u l d seem, are in a position to a r b i t r a t e d i f f e r e n c e s j u d i c i a l l y . A l l c o m p l a i n t s , SEPTEMBER, 1944 325 g r i e v a n c e s , and cases of m a l a d j u s t m e n t a r e c l e a r e d t h r o u g h their offices. A l - t h o u g h m o s t of the o t h e r l i b r a r i e s r e p o r t t h a t such cases a r e r e f e r r e d to the officer in c h a r g e of personnel, it w o u l d appear f r o m the replies t h a t it is because he is an e x e c u t i v e r a t h e r t h a n a personnel officer. T h i s p u t s h i m in the position of b e i n g both j u d g e and j u r y , a n d o f t e n p r o s e c u t o r as w e l l . T h e l a c k of g r i e v a n c e m a c h i n e r y w o u l d seem to i n d i c a t e t h a t l i b r a r i a n s con- sider their s t a f f s to be h a p p y f a m i l i e s , w i t h o u t h u m a n f r a i l t i e s . O n e l i b r a r y r e p o r t s t h a t the u n i v e r s i t y personnel office is a l w a y s r e a d y to listen to g r i e v a n c e s and p r o b l e m s . I f this office is e f f e c t i v e , it m u s t be f a r e n o u g h r e m o v e d to a v o i d a n y suspicion of interest in the cases. I t seems p r o b a b l e , h o w e v e r , t h a t o n l y the m o s t serious m a t t e r s w o u l d be c a r r i e d t h a t f a r . Should Libraries Adopt Business Methodsf F r o m the f o r e g o i n g s u m m a r i e s , it w o u l d appear t h a t o n l y t w o l i b r a r i e s h a v e t a k e n f u l l a d v a n t a g e of the e x p e r i e n c e of busi- ness and i n d u s t r y in personnel a d m i n i s t r a - tion, a l t h o u g h m a n y of the others h a v e t a k e n p a r t s of the i n d u s t r i a l system a n d fitted t h e m into the t r a d i t i o n a l l i b r a r y o r g a n i z a t i o n . W h i c h m e t h o d p r o d u c e s the better results is n o t w i t h i n the p r o v - ince of this p a p e r to d e t e r m i n e . C o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h l i b r a r i a n s h a v e s h o w n t h a t there is a g e n e r a l belief t h a t the l i b r a r y s t a f f , because of its t r a i n i n g , interests, and g e n e r a l c u l t u r a l b a c k g r o u n d , does n o t need a n y k i n d of personnel sys- tem. I n the f e w cases w h e r e a need has been c o n c e d e d , it has a l w a y s been l i m i t e d to c l e r i c a l a n d s t u d e n t assistants. I t seems a p p a r e n t t h a t in some of the l i b r a r i e s con- c e r n e d in this s t u d y the same a t t i t u d e p r e v a i l s . W h y s h o u l d l i b r a r i e s n o t need a per- sonnel system to assist in a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , to p r o m o t e efficiency, and to s m o o t h staff r e l a t i o n s ? P h y s i c a l and p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c - tors i n f l u e n c e l i b r a r i a n s as they do o t h e r types of w o r k e r s . P u r e l y personal dis- a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n staff m e m b e r s m a y a f f e c t the w o r k , and if one of the d i s t u r b - i n g elements is a s u p e r v i s o r and the o t h e r one an assistant, serious difficulties can r e s u l t . L i b r a r i a n s o f t e n w o r k u n d e r pres- sure, especially at the present time, and n e r v o u s strain respects n e i t h e r a c o l l e g e d e g r e e n o r a c u l t u r e d a n d bookish back- g r o u n d . T h e r e are doubtless as m a n y cases of m a l a d j u s t m e n t in l i b r a r i e s as in the w o r l d of business. T o a d j u s t these personal relations, as w e l l as o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h g o v e r n the efficiency of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , it w o u l d seem a d v i s a b l e f o r l i b r a r i e s g e n e r a l l y to re- e x a m i n e their personnel practices. I f pro- c e d u r e s used s u c c e s s f u l l y in business seem u s e f u l , c o n s i d e r a t i o n m i g h t w e l l be g i v e n to the possibility of i n c o r p o r a t i n g t h e m in the p o s t w a r r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of l i b r a r i e s w h i c h seems i n e v i t a b l e . v 326 COLL EGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES