This list of 41 “Stupid Things that Libraries Do” was largely culled from public library practitioners’ postings on the PUBLIB electronic discussion list. Libraries must take action to ensure that their operations, and particularly their public services, are unhampered by these common bad...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to develop a multiple regression model that can be used to predict the number of patrons that seek assistance at the reference desk of the library. This will facilitate the scheduling of the reference desk librarians. Design/methodology/approach – A...

Purpose – Using a six‐step process, the purpose of this paper is to present some guidelines for preparing job descriptions for a library organization. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on the personal expertise of the author, who has been a library consultant to all types of...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a guideline for a good employee relations program in any type of library organization. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used the personal expertise of the author who has been a professor of human resources management as well as a...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a discussion of the benefits of succession planning and open communication between administration and staff when an employee leaves their employment at the library. Design/methodology/approach – This paper used the personal expertise of the...

Purpose – This column is designed to address library personnel issues. This particular installment seeks to discuss preparation for interviews, the interview process, and appropriate follow‐up actions after an interview. Design/methodology/approach – The column is based on the author's...

Purpose – Outsourcing is a tool that has been used in companies for decades. However, it has taken much longer for this tool to be implemented in libraries and documentation centers, especially since they are eminently public entities at an international level. The use of such services has...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a model for staffing library functions that is free from the limits of rigid job descriptions. Design/methodology/approach – The paper introduces the concept of fluid job descriptions and then explains how to use the concept to balance...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the extent to which outsourcing of human resources (HR) is used and the attitude of the library staff towards outsourcing in science and technology libraries in Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is the result...

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between polychronicity, job autonomy, perceived workload, work–family conflict and high work demand on the health-care employee turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted quantitative...