Dropped in Without a Parachute: Library Managers' Supervision Experiences

A survey of U.S. library managers explored the relationship between their social identities, experiences supervising others, support from others, and their overall satisfaction in their professional role. The literature provides evidence that demographic differences give rise to challenges in the workplace. Though no statistically significant differences were found between minority and nonminority managers related to supervisees' microaggressive behaviors, written commentary provided evidence of these and other supervision challenges. A regression analysis found that supervisees' behaviors, along with a manager's age, were significant predictors of their satisfaction as a supervisor. Recommendations for further research and implications for libraries emerge from these findings.     

Time-shared computing. Implications for medical libraries

Many library data processing systems are unresponsive to the needs of librarians because of the necessity to batch-process transactions in a computer center. Such systems tend to be reportoriented rather than information-oriented with resultant problems in the timeliness of information. Time-shared computing permits multiple users to process jobs simultaneously through on-line interaction with the computer. Such systems offer to the librarian the advantages of immediate access to information, costs shared with other users, and direct man-machine interaction. This tutorial paper describes time-shared systems with applications in the library. Problems concerning the cost and present state-of-the-art of time-sharing are discussed.     

CONCEPT MAPPING OF HIGH AND AVERAGE ACHIEVING STUDENTS AND EXPERTS

Concept mapping has been used effectively to represent understanding of afield of knowledge. The maps are highly individualistic and idiosyncratic. Three high‐performing junior college students, three average performing junior college students and two university physics teachers constructed maps using 22 electricity concepts. In this study several previously used and newly developed measures were applied to the maps in an attempt to gain further insight into differences in the quality of understanding of the three groups. It was found that the concept maps constructed by high performing students differed from those of average performing students and closely resembled the concept maps of physics experts, especially when the quality of the links between concepts was taken into account.     

Using Task Clarification,Checklists and Performance Feedback to Improve the Appearance of a Grocery Store

An intervention package of task clarification, checklists, and posted performance feedback was developed to increase completion of tasks contributing to the appearance of a local grocery store. The intervention package was based on an informal diagnostic assessment that examined antecedents, equipment and processes, knowledge and skills, and consequences in the organizational environment. A multiple baseline design across five departments was utilized to evaluate the effects of the intervention package on employee cleaning behavior related to the appearance of the store. The results suggest overall improvement of task completion across the five departments observed, with substantial increases resulting from application of the intervention. The mean percentage of tasks completed in the deli department increased by 36%; by 93% in the meat department; by 38% in the frozen department; by 25% in the produce department; and by 34% in the front‐end department. The average increase of task completion across departments was more than 45%. The results of this study are consistent with those of Anderson, Crowell, Hantula, and Siroky (1988), as well as with La Fleur and Hyten (1995), demonstrating that task clarification, checklists, and feedback have positive effects on work performance.