Staffing the Commons: job analysis in the context of an Information Commons
| Published date | 13 June 2008 |
| Pages | 232-243 |
| Date | 13 June 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830810880333 |
| Author | Robert Boyd |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Staffing the Commons:
job analysis in the context of an
Information Commons
Robert Boyd
Santa Clara University, Morgan Hill, California, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this research is to apply principles from the field of industrial and
organizational psychology on organizational analysis and job analysis to better identify successful
candidates for employment in an Information Commons.
Design/methodology/approach – Review of professional research, research from both library
literature and industrial and organizational psychology, review of professional association surveys.
Findings – Library administration must invest time to articulate mission, value, and goals for the
Information Commons before undertaking the organizational analysis. From the organizational
analysis will flow the job analysis, job descriptions and hiring protocols.
Original/value – Core concepts of organizational analysis and job analysis from the field of
industrial and organizational psychology are pertinent and useful to library leaders in planning,
implementing and staffing new service models, such as Information Commons.
Keywords Job analysis, Organizational analysis
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
There are quite possibly as many definitions of “Information Commons” as there are
potential staffing models. Even a common name for this common space proves elusive.
The names for this space which, typically, places high-end computers in a library
together with technical and reference support, include Knowledge Commons, Gateway
Commons, Information Arcade, Digital Learning Collaboratory, Electronic Information
Learning Center, Information Services, but most often Information Commons. (ARL,
2004) The articulation of purpose, mission and goals of this space are likewise diffuse.
This essay providesan overview of basic Information Commonsconcepts, but will focus
on the specific challenge of appropriately staffing this new model. Supplementing the
library literature, there is a body of scholarship from the field of industrial and
organizational psychology which defines the particular knowledge, skills, abilities and
other characteristics of a job analysiswhich can and should be appliedin the Information
Commons setting. Having reviewed the industrial and organizational psychology
methodology and its relevance to an Information Commons, this paper will conclude by
reviewing thebasic competencies and necessarystaff training requiredto implement and
sustain a successful Information Commons.
Introducing the Information Commons
With his article, “Conceptualizing an Information Commons”, Donald Beagle (1999)
triggered a rash of opinion and commentary on what, precisely, constitutes an
“Information Commons”. Beagle set out the particular identifiers of the conceptual and
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
26,2
232
Received 15 August 2007
Revised 23 September 2007
Accepted 28 January 2008
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 26 No. 2, 2008
pp. 232-243
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378830810880333
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