Library Management and Administration
What the exam tests
This domain tests library routines, organisational structure, budgeting, staffing and policy. Expect questions on acquisition, circulation, library records and the sequence of technical processing.
Core rules and concepts
- POSDCORB: planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting and budgeting.
- Sections: acquisition, technical processing, circulation, reference, periodicals, maintenance and administration.
- Acquisition methods: purchase, gift and exchange. Selection considers curriculum, user demand, quality, price and duplication.
- Order routine: identify need, select titles, check duplicates, obtain quotations, raise purchase order, receive and verify, stamp, enter accession register, classify, catalogue, label and shelve.
- Circulation: membership, issue, return, renewal, reservation, overdue fine and lost-book replacement.
- Budget types: line-item, lump-sum and programme or performance budgeting.
- Library committee and rules: advise on policy, collection and services; rules cover membership, borrowing limits, fines and conduct.
Worked example
A school library receives ₹20,000 for new books. The librarian checks the syllabus and user requests, prepares a list, invites quotations, compares discount and delivery, issues a purchase order, verifies the invoice and bills, stamps each book, enters accession numbers, classifies and catalogues the books, labels the spines and shelves them. Reason: each step creates accountability and makes the book retrievable.
Traps
An accession register is a permanent stock record; it is not a catalogue and not a shelf list. Do not skip duplicate checking before ordering. Open access lets users browse shelves; closed access requires staff retrieval. Management is not only administration - it includes planning and coordination.