CONCEPT, DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF LIBRARY MANAGEMENT

     Management involves systematic functions for organizing and overseeing activities and staff within an organization, including libraries. Management techniques in libraries started around the mid-1950s and have grown as libraries expanded in size, resources, finances, and staff.

Efficient management improves effectiveness, quality, cost-efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction. Chief Librarians, especially in large academic or public libraries, require strong management skills. Specialized libraries with diverse document formats also apply scientific management principles.

Today, librarians face challenges due to competition and evolving technology. Therefore, effective management is crucial for libraries of all types and sizes, regardless of location.

The word 'Management' is used in different ways. As a relatively new field, it has borrowed ideas from various subjects like economics, sociology, and statistics. This has led to different groups approaching management in unique ways. Economists see it as a production element, while sociologists consider it a collection of people. This has resulted in different perspectives on what management involves. L.M. Prasad suggests that 'Management' can be understood in three main ways:

1. Management as a Discipline
2. Management as a Group of People
3. Management as a Process 

1. Management as a Discipline: Management is a structured field with clear concepts and principles. It involves essential ideas that aid in effective administration. In this sense, management can be seen as either a scientific or artistic endeavor. Since management offers guiding principles applicable to organization management, it blends aspects of both science and art.

2. Management as a Group of People: Management comprises individuals who carry out managerial tasks within the organization. When discussing the interaction between management and other staff, we're referring to two distinct groups: those in managerial roles and those in non-managerial positions. This management approach is widely favored.

3. Management as a Process: A process is a systematic way of handling tasks. However, the management process is more intricate and can be described as a recognizable flow of information through interconnected stages of analysis aimed at achieving specific goals. Thus, management involves various activities and sub-activities. Put simply, management is about what managers do. Since it encompasses operational and managerial groups, management can be defined as the process of accomplishing tasks through others. Considering these aspects, different management concepts can be outlined as follows:

a) "Management by Communication" means that a manager's main job is to create and put into action plans, and to do this well, they need to talk or write to their team. Managers usually spend most of their time talking to others to get work done. Communication is a constant and organized way of sharing information, listening, and understanding. The success of management relies on good communication.

b) Management by System is a way of dealing with problems. It involves figuring out what the problem is, looking at different ways to solve it, and learning from the experience for the future. 

Here's how it works: First, you find the problem and study it. Then, you gather information that's useful and study it too. After that, you come up with different options to fix the problem. You try out these options and pick the one that works the best. 

Later on, you check to see if everything is still going well. If not, you make changes to make things better. This helps make sure things run smoothly in the long run.

c) Management by Results is a way of running a business where we regularly check how well the organization is doing. We focus on the outcomes we achieve, which show how successful our management is. This means our management should always aim for good results.

d) Management by Participation, also referred to as Participative Management, is a method where employees in a company have a chance to be part of making decisions. This approach is based on the idea of trusteeship, where everyone has a role to play. When employees are involved in decision-making, they feel more engaged. They can better understand the issues and obstacles in the company's processes. This understanding helps them make practical and realistic decisions for the organization.

e) Management by Motivation is about motivating employees in a company to reach their goals. When they succeed, they are rewarded and recognized, which boosts their confidence and motivates them for future tasks. Essentially, management means inspiring people to achieve the organization's goals.

f) Management by Exception is a way of handling things in an organization. Usually, the regular tasks are done by the workers without any issues. But sometimes, really tough situations come up, and that's when the management needs to make big changes to reach their goals. A good management team can handle these tough times effectively. This is just one aspect of management.

g) Management by Objectives (MBO) is an idea from Peter F. Drucker. It means first deciding on the goals for the organization and then sharing them with the people who make decisions. The manager needs to make sure the work is done according to these goals. MBO is an active way of managing that requires hard work but brings good results. Many businesses use MBO, and even libraries are starting to use it to give better services and achieve their goals.

Is management a science or an art?
    According to Koontz, "Science" is organized knowledge. Science involves using a scientific method to develop knowledge. So, science includes clear concepts, theories, and knowledge gained from hypotheses, experiments, and analysis. Management has clear concepts and principles of scientific management. It uses scientific methods and principles. 

    According to L.M. Prasad, science can help solve managerial problems in two ways:

    When trying to solve a problem, it's helpful to use existing research and ideas related to the issue. 

    Sometimes, if there's enough time, new research can be done to find more information and come up with a solution. Being a good manager means knowing the principles of management and how to use them effectively. If someone lacks either the knowledge or the skills, they won't be very efficient. So, we can think of management as a type of science.

    Management is sometimes seen as an "Art." According to L.M. Prasad, art means achieving a desired outcome by using skills. In contrast, "Science" helps us understand the reasons behind things, while "Art" focuses on how things are done. Art is about knowing how to get a job done. So, management is considered an art because it can effectively solve different problems in organizations depending on the situation.

This means that management is both a science and an art. It's like a combination of proven rules and creative skills. Managers use knowledge to make decisions, which is the science part. But they also use their own unique ways to solve problems, which is the art part. So, management is a mix of science and art.