Preparing Academic and Research Library Staff for the 1990’s and Beyond

One definition of human resource management is “that area of organization life that focuses on the effective management and utilization of people.” ¹ This function is often understood to mean administrative activities such as recruitment, wage and payroll management, and benefits. Over the past forty years, however, a shift in the concept of management from control to development has led to a more inclusive definition of the human resources field. With a growing recognition of the key role staff play in the success of an organization, ² it now encompasses those activities that promote greater job satisfaction and that support the development of individuals within the context of the workplace.