UNIONS AND PUBLIC LIBRARIANS' ATTITUDES TOWARD UNIONIZATION AND THE PROFESSION OF LIBRARIANSHIP

• Other Authors: KARP, RASHELLE SCHLESSINGER.
• Format: Others
• Subjects: Library Science
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/lib/digcoll/etd/3086062

The purpose of this study was twofold. The first purpose was to assess the impact, if any, of unionization upon public librarians' attitudes toward the profession of librarianship and toward unionization. The second purpose was to determine what relationship, if any, existed between the type of union within their institutions, and their attitudes. === Two thousand, three hundred and seventeen public librarians employed in unionized and nonunionized public libraries serving populations of 100,000 and over, were surveyed with questionnaires. === Three major research questions were examined: (1) What is the relationship between the presence or absence of unions in public libraries and the attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship of the librarians employed there; (2) What is the relationship of union membership to librarians' attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship in unionized public libraries; and (3) What is the relationship of the type of union (independent or nationally affiliated) present in the library, to librarians' attitudes toward unionization and toward the profession of librarianship in unionized public libraries? === Additionally, the demographic data obtained from respondents were examined in relation to their attitudes regarding unionization and librarianship; and respondents' attitudes toward unionization and toward librarianship were examined in relation to each other. === T-tests were used to examine the three major research questions, and stepwise multiple regression was used to examine the additional research interests. === The study's major findings indicate that: (1) Public librarians employed in unionized libraries hold more favorable attitudes toward unionization than do public librarians employed in libraries without unions; (2) Union members hold more favorable attitudes toward unionization than do union nonmembers; (3) Union members hold less favorable attitudes toward service than do union nonmembers; and (4) Generally, librarians who hold more positive attitudes toward unionization are more likely to have had more experience with unions, be employed in larger libraries, have worked less years as professional librarians, command lower salaries, be politically liberal, be primarily involved in nonadministrative duties, and be employed to libraries without staff associations. === Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 0826. === Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.