Analysis of Job Responsibilities of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Human Resource Professionals

Background

The tasks of academic library human resource personnel are similar to human resource departments at the university level; human resource personnel at many levels are familiar with employment laws, engage in hiring practices, participate in evaluations and performance appraisals, deal with conflict resolutions, offer training and professional development, recruit and train new hires and work with diversity initiatives, among other tasks. Even with the depth of responsibilities held by academic library human resource personnel there is a lack of literature supporting their function and duties.

Library human resource professionals are effective and strategic elements in change management. Library employees in the new millennium are seeking change from hierarchical styles of administration, casual styles of training, unspoken policies, the overuse of stagnant committees, and other attributes that lead to an organization’s character. Generally, employees want a clear focus of leadership goals and guidelines. The human resource representative is in a good position to mediate ideas and goals between all levels of administration and staff through assessment and accountability whereby identifying needed process changes and reinforcing behavioral changes (Kreitz, 2008, p. 104).