IRLS 504 FOUNDATIONS OF LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SERVICES
Winter 2005/2006
Residency
Functions
and Organization of Libraries
Reading
Report 2
1. Rubin identifies major functional units in a large public library: board, library administration, public services, technical services, and support units. Define each of these units and list and describe the functions that typically occur in each unit.
2. Based on Rubin’s description of hierarchic bureaucratic authority, describe how this type of authority might work in a public library with the units above. (Note: there is no "right" answer here; the purpose is for you to think about bureaucracy in the library context).
3. Define professional authority and give an example from your experience, either inside or outside libraries.
4. Define informal authority and give an example from your experience, either inside or outside libraries.
5. Think question: How might the three types of authority described above come into conflict in the public library described above.