The purpose of this article is to explore decentralization as a management strategy in university library administration using University Libraries of Calabar, Uyo and Cross River State University as case studies. It examines how effective the different levels of decentralization in a large establishment such as a university library can stabilize the management system and create cohesion, and harmony in spite of problems of communication, coordination and control.
These objectives are achieved through the descriptive survey methodology investigating the implications of a decentralized system of administration in a university library using the instrument of questionnaire.
The finding is that decentralization could make for efficient management in a large establishment such as a university library especially if enhanced by the new technologies.
For further research, this paper suggests investigation into the implications of the assertion that no organization is totally centralized or totally decentralized.
The practical implication of this paper is the fact that there are both centralized and decentralized systems of functions, services and administration in most university libraries. Where a library is totally decentralized, the high executive has no more responsibilities and the library may collapse. Where it is totally centralized, subordinates are alienated and are remote from activities.
Provides the rather paradoxical vision of the internet as a centralized approach towards the enhancement of a decentralized system of administration.
