Improving Library Personnel Management

Abstract

An investigation of personnel management in Kuwaiti libraries prior to the Gulf War showed that serious problems existed in most libraries. Describes a further study which was therefore carried out to try to define actions which might help to alleviate these problems. A soft‐systems methodology was used for the first time in this context: the approach seems generalizable to most situations involving library personnel management. Subsequent discussion of the study with senior library management in Kuwait was delayed by the advent of the Gulf War. However, the changed conditions in Kuwait brought about by the war are found to have imparted particular significance to the conclusions and to their implementation.