A subordinate evaluation instrument was used to identify factors that employees of Dayton-Montgomery County (OH) Public Library value in their supervisors. Results suggest that subordinates place considerable value on supervisors as role models and expect supervisors to treat them with respect and to encourage their opinions. Implications of these…

Describes results of a survey of catalogers in academic libraries that investigated if and how their job functions have changed over the past 10 years. The 271 respondents discussed a change from print to electronic formats, involvement of nonprofessionals, outsourcing, and more cataloging of specialized items including Internet resources.…

This introductory chapter to this theme issue on job satisfaction among faculty and staff first reviews the faculty satisfaction literature and then discusses a conceptual model of faculty job satisfaction based on six life event "triggers" and three mediators of job satisfaction. Reviews how each trigger affects college professors and offers data…

This issue of Impact is devoted to paraprofessionals in the helping professions and develops the discussion through five major articles. Part 1 offers an introduction to the role of paraprofessionals in classrooms and pupil personnel services. Part 2 relates the historical and legislative developments of paraprofessionals in the mental health…

Investigated the perceived influence of chance and contingency factors on nonprofessional workers' career choices. Results suggest unpredictable events do impact nonprofessional employees but employees are more likely to view career choices as rationally made, considering interests, vocational and financial needs, and social responsibility.…

Discusses the threat posed to administrators by noncertified collective bargaining. Suggests that the noncertified employees feel a strong bond with the trade unionists from the private sector and little sense of kinship with school administrators. Cites several reasons why the unions are working to change the laws governing noncertified workers.…

Examines the neglect of library support staff within the context of six areas of library management: physical facilities; effective and efficient work stations; supplies; attitude toward human resources; communication and information; and performance evaluation and feedback. Graphs present data on expenditures in several areas, and suggestions for…

Eight concrete and positive suggestions are made which a school principal can use to provide motivation, recognition, and enthusiasm to both school personnel (teachers, custodians, secretaries, students) and non-school personnel (grandparents, parents, business leaders, volunteers). (KC)

Discusses the concept of professionalism for librarianship, questioning the position of library associations on credentials as well as the validity of the graduate degree in library science with regard to the individual librarian and public service. (CWM)

Investigated coping strategies for dealing with role conflicts among returning women students (N=92). Found that professional and nonprofessional women used different coping strategies for different conflicts. Indicated that professional women experienced more intense conflicts between roles as employee-home maintenance person and employee-parent…

Describes a study that used a nonobtrusive methodology to determine the effectiveness of an information desk staffed by graduate students and nonprofessionals in an academic library. Relationships that were found between the level of staff members and the quality of reference services are described, and the implications for staffing patterns and…

Describes a study conducted at the Brigham Young University Library that examined the quality of reference service provided by students and department assistants, the adequacy of the training program, and the effectiveness of the system of referring patrons to subject specialist librarians. Recommendations for improving training programs and…

Provides basic information about disabled students for school support personnel: bus drivers, custodians, food service personnel, and school secretaries. Defines disability terms in layman's vocabulary. Addresses maintenance of least restrictive environment, basic skills for dealing with disabled students, and specific responsibilities of each…

Examines historical reasons for the reference desk and workers to establish how reference work has been circumscribed, describes how it has evolved, and attempts to define perimeters between tasks and duties of paraprofessionals and professionals. Highlights the Williamson Report (1923) on training for library services and considers how practices…

Reflects on the personal experiences and research that lead to the idea of recruiting avocation teachers in Jewish supplementary schools. Raises provocative questions about the possibilities and limitations of avocational teachers as a vehicle for improving the quality of these schools. (DSK)