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Are library staff autonomous? The influence of routines and the development of workarounds
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science (2024)
  • Darin Freeburg
Abstract
As knowledge workers, library staff are assumed to be highly autonomous, meaning that they are in control of how work is done. Yet, thisworkisheavilyinfluencedbytheexpectationsofothers,andtheexpectationtotakecontrolcanpressurestafftooverwork.In this qualitative study, 13 public library staff members engaged in think-alouds (TAs) and semi-structured interviews (SSIs) aimed at uncovering potential misalignments between a staff member’s own prescriptive expectations for library work and the expectationsof management, customers, colleagues, and technological and material artifacts. Findings suggest that public library staff have several expectations for how work will be done and, at times, want the freedom to control work in ways that match these expectations. They devise and implement defiance workarounds aimed at reinforcing their own expectations in the face of conflicting expectations from othersystemactors.Yet,autonomyisamultifacetedconceptthatgoesbeyondthemereneedforcontroland,sometimes,giving up control meant that other needs were fulfilled. This study advances research on the nature of workplace autonomy and the activerole of workers in its expression. This study also has implications for library management, as it suggests important considerations for shared autonomy and workplace relationships, as well as the need to engage in efforts aimed at shifting problematic expectations in the library work system.
Publication Date
2024
Citation Information
Darin Freeburg. "Are library staff autonomous? The influence of routines and the development of workarounds" Journal of Librarianship and Information Science (2024)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/darin_freeburg/30/