Job Responsibilities and Job Satisfaction at the University of California Libraries

The authors compare the roles and responsibilities of academic librarians and support staff at the nine-campus library system of the University of California. By surveying the frequency with which certain tasks were performed, areas of overlap between professionals and paraprofessionals were identified. Discrepancies in satisfaction with specific job attributes are examined. A wide gap in satisfaction levels between the two groups was found, particularly in the areas of promotion, job development, and influence. While calling for equity in compensation for library assistants, the paper identifies the responsibilities of professional librarians in setting realistic expectations for library staff.