Measuring the librarians’ quality of working life in the Iranian public libraries
| Published date | 11 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-11-2018-0089 |
| Date | 11 November 2019 |
| Pages | 532-542 |
| Author | Hamta Kazemi Koohbanani,Atefeh Zarei,Nasrolah Erfani |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Measuring the librarians’quality
of working life in the Iranian
public libraries
Hamta Kazemi Koohbanani and Atefeh Zarei
Islamic Azad University of Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran, and
Nasrolah Erfani
Payame Noor University Hamedan, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to identify the librarians’quality of working life (QWL) in the Iranian
public libraries.
Design/methodology/approach –The present study is an applied research in terms of purpose and an
analytical survey in terms of data collection and analysis method. The Walton standard questionnaire was
used as the data collection tool. The statistical population of this research consists of librarians in the Iranian
public libraries. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in order to analyze the data.
Findings –The findings showed that the dimensions of organizational social integration, constitutionalism
in the organization and the capacity for human development are at a good level; the dimensions of the
environment opportunity for continued growth and security and safe and healthy work are at a moderate
level. Finally, the dimensions of fair and adequate payment, social relevance of work life and total life space
are at a weak level are shown.
Originality/value –The findings of the confirmed hypothesis indicated that the librarians at the Iranian
public libraries have a desirable (high) QWL.
Keywords Quality, Public libraries, Librarians, Working life, Measuring, Iranian
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The concept of thequality of working life (QWL), first introduced independently in the1970s,
is an approach aimed toimprove the QWL of employed people and tries to fulfill the needs of
an employee, who has degraded to a production factor, along with other production factors
such as capital, and hasbeen self-alienated (Adhikari and Gautam, 2010). The QWL is a kind
of organizational culture or management style upon which employees feel ownership,
autonomy, responsibility and self-esteem (Sharif Zadeh and Kheirandish, 2009). This
construct addresses the various objective and subjective aspects of employees’issues, by
which the membersof the organization somehow becomeinvolved in decisions related totheir
jobs and, in particular, on their work environment through the open and appropriate
communication channels created for this purpose, and as a result, their participation and
satisfaction are increased, and their work-related stress is reduced (Sharif Zadeh and
Kheirandish, 2009). It should be noted that an organization that cares about the employees’
QWL plays a significant role in improvingits performance and efficiency. Several definitions
have been proposed regarding the QWL including: the QWL is a set of actual working
conditions in an organization such as salary and benefits, amenities, health and safety
considerations,participation in decision making,management method, job richness diversity
(Beaudoin and Hassles, 2003). The QWL is a set of positive working life outcomes for the
individual, organization and society. Generally, it can be said that the QWL means the
employees’mentalimagination and perception on thephysical and psychological desirability
of the work environment and its working conditions (Mehdi Zadeh Ashrafi and Ilka, 2009).
The dimensions of the QWL include fair and adequate payment, safe and healthy work
environment, providing opportunities for continued growth and security, constitutionalism
Library Management
Vol. 40 No. 8/9, 2019
pp. 532-542
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-11-2018-0089
Received 20 November 2018
Revised 18 March 2019
Accepted 1 May 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
532
LM
40,8/9
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