کتابداری و اطلاعرسانی (Jun 2023)
Factors Affecting the Maintenance of the Volunteers of Astan Quds Razavi Libraries Based on the Three-Branch Model
Abstract
Objective: 'Voluntary activities' domain in public libraries is a very important and expanding topic; so that many librarians are exploring new ways to use and retain volunteers. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effective factors on preservation and maintenance of volunteer working in libraries affiliated with Astan Quds Razavi.Methodology: This applied research was conducted by survey method. The statistical population includes 200 volunteers working in the libraries of Astan Quds Razavi, which with the Cochran's formula, 131 people were determined as the sample size. A simple random sampling method was used to select the sample size of the research. The data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire. The model used in tool design is a three-branch model that has three main components: structural factors, behavioral factors and underlying damages. The validity of the tool was done with the opinion of information science and knowledge experts and librarians with voluntaries staff and the internal coordination of the questionnaire items with Cronbach's alpha coefficient was confirmed.Findings: Research findings showed that among the sub-components related to structural factors, the sub-component of organizational structure had a higher priority and at the end was the service compensation system. Among the components of the behavioral factors, the sub-component of the motivational system had more priority for the volunteers, and then the organizational culture and the characteristics of the managers had the next priorities. From volunteers's point of view, behavioral factors are more important than the other two factors, and from this approach, structural factors are ranked last. It was also found that there is a positive and significant relationship between all sub-components related to structural factors and behavioral factors. Also, a positive and significant relationship was observed between the three investigated factors.Conclusion: The impact and relationship of all organizational factors on the maintenance of volunteers, shows that the respective managers should have a comprehensive view on the issue of management of volunteer forces to be able to use their maximum capacity in Astan Quds libraries. In the organizational structure, attention should be paid to the determination of their position and role, while removing the strict rules on the employment of volunteer's forces. The incentive system also plays an important role in attracting and keeping volunteers, which should be taken into consideration. In order to attract and retain volunteers, managers should take measures to strengthen the sense of belonging among volunteers and optimize their capacities; otherwise, the human force that can be effective in reducing the various costs of the organization will stop volunteering after some time.
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