The Information Environment of Academic Library Directors: Use of Information Resources and Communication Technologies

This study focuses on the use of information resources and communication technologies, both traditional and electronic, by academic library directors. The purpose is to improve understanding of managerial behavior when using information resources and communication technologies within a shared information environment. Taylor's concept of an information use environment is used to capture the elements associated with information use and communication within the context of decision-making styles, managerial roles, organizational environments, and professional communities. This qualitative study uses interviews, observations, questionnaires, and documents. Library directors participating in the study are from doctoral-degree granting universities in the southwestern United States. Data collection involved on-site observations with a PDA (personal digital assistant), structured interviews with library directors and their administrative assistants, the Decision Style Inventory, and a questionnaire based on Mintzberg's managerial roles. Findings show the existence of a continuum in managerial activities between an Administrator and an Administrator/Academic as critical to understanding information use and communication patterns among library directors. There is a gap between self-perception of managerial activities and actual performance, a finding that would not have surfaced without the use of multiple methods. Other findings include the need for a technical ombudsman, a managerial-level position reporting to the library director; the importance of information management as an administrative responsibility; the importance of trust when evaluating information; and the importance of integrating information and communication across formats, time, and managerial activities.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of North Texas

Year dc:date

2002

Author dc:creator

• Koelker, Karen June

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cleveland, Donald B., 1935-
• Mason, Florence
• Hastings, Samantha Kelly
• Guynes, Carl Steven

• Academic library directors -- Southwestern States.
• Information resources management.
• Academic libraries -- Administration -- Decision making.
• Communication in library administration.
• academic library directors
• information use
• communication
• managerial behavior
• information environment

Statement dc:rights

• Use restricted to UNT Community
• Copyright
• Koelker, Karen June
• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

oclc: 54687867
https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3086/
ark: ark:/67531/metadc3086

OAI identifier oai:identifier

info:ark/67531/metadc3086