Types of Library and Information Service

Library and Information Services within the Organisation It is quite possible for some managers to be unaware of the extent or even the existence of a library or information service within their organisation. This has become evident more than once at the beginning of both MBA and management development programmes where participants from the same organisation have been discussing access to information with the tutor. Manager “A” might know about the company library, being an occasional or frequent user; Manager “B” knows that there is a library but knows nothing of its services or its collection; Manager “C” is surprised to hear that there is a library. Arguably, managers within certain functions, notably marketing, are more likely than others to seek out and use information services within the organisation as they need more information concerning the “external environment”. Nonetheless during these discussions managers from all functions have expressed an interest in the available information services when they are told of their existence. At the end of the sessions, when they have been introduced to the management literature, there is often a determination not only to use the organisation's own library but to take an active part in selecting and requesting information sources.