The Need of Strategic Human Resource Management for the Development of Information Technology in Libraries

Abstract

Human Resource management contributes to mission accomplishment. Integration of human resource management into the library planning process increases HR‟s ability to anticipate its readers‟ needs. The management of library human resources is an essential part of how a library is going to attain its targets. The alignment of human resources management implies to integrate decisions about workforce with decision about the outcomes an organization is trying to achieve. Diversity, staffing, retention, personnel development, and workers quality are the key areas to focus. When these areas are well planned and successfully implemented, they lead towards the accomplishment of library‟s mission with the help of right people with right skills and in the right positions. The main objectives of the research was to appraise the prevailing status of Human Resource Management in Pakistan‟s libraries, its affects on the process of strategic management, Development of IT projects and library services. To pursue these objectives, the researcher deployed the case study method. Only those Libraries were included in the sample which were rich in resources, have at least 0.1 million bound volumes, providing access to HEC digital Databases, had at least four professional librarians at the time of data collection. Selected libraries were either going through the strategic planning process or about to start on it. This study was a blend of qualitative and quantitative methods. Self administered questionnaire surveys and semi-structured in-depth interviews were selected for data gathering instruments. The results show a strong relationship between human resource management and development of strategic management in libraries. Staff development, employee motivation, job satisfaction are the areas which are badly neglected.