Organizational Culture as a Development Resource in the Conditions of Changing Institutional Functions of Libraries

Abstract

In the context of technological and socio-cultural transformations, libraries are in search for landmarks and new formats of activity. The vector of transformation of library functions is from the preservation and transmission of information to agentive: structuring communities, managing information, communicative functions. Libraries are becoming conductors of social innovation. The article considers organizational culture as a catalyst for the development of libraries in the future. The authors pose the problem of inconsistency of organizational culture with new demands and needs, as well as justify the need for the formation of an innovative type of culture. The paper presents the results of quantitative and qualitative research in the Municipal Information Library System (MILS) of Tomsk in 2021. Questionnaires and interviews were conducted with employees of three libraries of Tomsk MILS, one of which took part in the Federal project “Cultural Environment” of the National project “Culture” on the creation of model municipal libraries. The authors study organizational culture at the formal and informal levels. The analysis showed that each of the libraries demonstrated insufficient level of compliance with the context of social transformations. Barriers of organizational culture in public libraries are conservative mission, management attitudes to support performing competencies, features of clan culture (orientation to isolation, lack of openness for cooperation on the part of staff both within the library network and with external communities, underestimation of the role of partnership), technological focus of activities, etc. Reserves for the development of organizational culture are the willingness of staff to take initiatives, focus on support and building positive relationships in the team. As an opportunity to manage organizational culture, the authors note that transformations should begin with a change of emphasis in the libraryʼs mission based on a new spatial approach.