Dissertation Information for Verna Leah Pungitore NAME: - Verna Leah Pungitore
- (Alias) Verna Pungitore - (Alias) Verna L. Pungitore
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1983)
ADVISORS: - Martha L. Manheimer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Thomas J. Galvin - Allen Kent - Patrick R. Penland - Donald Shirey
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: EFFECTS OF AUTOMATION ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN OF PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
Abstract: Purpose. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate an instrument to measure the extent to which public and academic libraries are automated; to identify structural and staffing characteristics suitable for a comparative organizational study of libraries; and to examine interrelationships among library organizational characteristics in order to generate hypotheses concerning the influence of automation on the internal design of libraries.
Procedure. The study was limited to a random sample of those public, four-year college and university libraries in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin with a minimum of twenty-five employees. A direct mail questionnaire, including a scale developed to measure level of automation, was used to collect data on library contextual, structural and staffing characteristics. Multiple correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were the primary statistical techniques used to explore trends and relationships. Item analysis was the principle means of assessing the internal consistency of the level of automation measure.
Principle Findings. Public libraries scored significantly lower on the level of automation variable than did academic libraries. Level of automation had no appreciable influence on variations in staff size, director's span of control, delegation of authority, or number of departments. It was found to have a moderately weak linear association with number of job titles and with the extent of the director's professional activities. From the data, fifteen tentative relationships (some curvilinear) were hypothesized; and certain modifications in the study design and operational definitions were proposed.
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