Librarianship, despite being derived from a distinct field of intellectual activity, cannot be regarded merely as form of bolt on support discipline. Many would dispute this interpretation. It is more common to attempt to distinguish ‘core’ elements of knowledge and skill as distinctive of a particular kind of professionality and to categories other aspects of working knowledge as non-professional. For example, distinctions might be dawn between the entrepreneurial skills of library direction and their ‘proper’ professional skills as librarians. The management of libraries, like the management or hospitals or of schools or of accountancy practices is a function inseparable from the techniques and practices more usually though of as differentiating features of the profession.
The traditional roles of the librarian as scholar or technician have changed in many cases. Shortages of skilled people and higher salaries make it mandatory that professional librarians be used efficiently, which means they are often in charge of an organizational unit, supervising technicians and clerks, implementing policies of management and recommending procedures. This book can aid every librarian and administrator in coming to terms with the issues that must be faced and decisions that must be made concerning library classification.
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