Subject Specialisation in Academic Libraries: some preliminary observations on role conflict and organizational stress

Abstract

The Library of the University of East Anglia has been organized on the basis of subject specialization, a system which the author believes to be applicable to small and medium-sized universities. A comparison of university structure and university library structure shows bow the system can bring about organizational strains and conflict situations in respect of career patterns of senior staff members. The need to recognize academic considerations for library promotions is stressed and a case made out for the fullest involvement of all senior library staff in policy-making. A revised version of a talk originally given to a meeting of the Standing Conference of National and University Libraries at Cambridge in September 1972.