(CAUL questionnaire 11 April 1995)
Compiled and updated by The University of Queensland Libraries June 1995
Q.1 Do all people at the base level share all tasks - i.e. desk duties, shelving, special duties like shelf erection, furniture movement etc.?
Australian Does not employ Attendants for shelving and similar
NationalUniversity duties. Shelf erection, furniture movement,courier
runs, ordering stationery and equipment, and
liaising with Buildings & Grounds on repairs and
maintenance of Library buildings are performed by
permanent staff in the Library's Administrative
Section. Loans desk staff (ANU Officers Grades 2
and 3) perform all circulation duties and assist
with shelving if required. They do not assist with
furniture movement or shelf erection.
Central Queensland University HEW level 2 staff perform any relevant duties at
that level.
Curtin University of No separate classification for Library Attendants.
Technology All Library Assistants (HEGS 3) share these tasks.
Charles Sturt University Yes
Deakin University Not applicable
Flinders University of South Student casuals erect shelves and move furniture
Australia under supervision. All permanent HEO2 level staff
are rostered for one hour shelving daily.
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University Attendants re-graded to HEW level 3 equal with
Library Assistants. Most Attendant duties concern
re-shelving, furniture moving etc. as Assistants not
asked to do these. New HEW level 2 category of
Assistant Attendants created whose duties include
re-shelving, photocopying, furniture moving etc.
Queensland University of Shelvers and loans desk attendants are HEW level 3
Technology and are used interchangeably. The exception is at
Kelvin Grove campus. Cleaners do all furniture
moving.
University of Adelaide All staff at HEO2 level can be asked to do these
jobs; in practice they are done mainly by
reshelving staff.
University of Melbourne Attendants responsible for shelving and security.
Shelf erection/furniture movement depend on time
required; if additional help required this comes
from General Services Unit or is contracted out.
University of New South Wales General Library Assistants perform these duties.
University of Newcastle Yes. Includes simple charging/discharging items -
complex problems referred to higher level staff.
University of South Australia Library Attendants are not employed.
University of Southern No separate staff classification for Library
Queensland Attendants.
University of Sydney General Library Assistants (Level 2) shelve and
staff service desks. Level 3 GLAs do not shelve.
University of Tasmania Yes
University of Western Yes
Australia
University of Western Sydney A staff reorganisation is being considered.
Q.2 If tasks are not fully shared, on what basis are they distributed?
Australian Nat. Univ. Does not employ Library Attendants. See Q.1 above.
Central Qld Univ. No comment.
Curtin Univ.of Tech. No comment.
Charles Sturt Univ. Depends on circumstances
Flinders Univ. of S.A. All staff have usual duties plus a shelving roster.
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University Library Assistants' duties mainly at circulation
desk; Attendants include occasional charging and
relief discharging, security, re-shelving, moving
furniture etc. Assistants do all work in branches
without Attendants.
Qld Univ. of Tech. Shelvers and loans desk assistants used
interchangeably.
University of Adelaide Staff work in at least two areas of Lending Services
- reshelving, ILL, loans, reserve and membership
services.
University of Melb. Tasks not fully shared at present; still under
consideration.
University of Newcastle Depends whether employed in shelving area, or Short
Loan area.
University of New South Wales Core duties are fully shared, but some
specialisation has occurred.
University of S.A. Library Attendants are not employed.
University of Sth Qld No separate staff classification for Attendants.
University of Sydney Employs two separate groups - shelvers and
non-shelvers.
University of Tasmania Shelving tends to be put off by circulation
assistants when there is too much work.
University of Western When attendants were integrated some were exempt
Australia from the desk roster.
Univ. of West Sydney A staff reorganisation is being considered.
Q.3 Have any industrial or personnel management problems arisen through task differentiation between staff?
Australian Nat. Univ. See Q.1 above
Central Queensland University Some dissatisfaction with the outcome of recent job
evaluations was expressed, but this resulted from
higher level of tasks undertaken by shelf
maintenance staff also working in technical
services. The work undertaken there had allowed
these staff to move up to a level on the HEW band,
while staff employed wholly in shelf maintenance
remained at the same level.
Curtin University No. Moves were gradual and involved considerable
staff training and development. A special library
programme on customer skills was run; there is also
a range of courses through the library's Staff
Training and Development Section.
Charles Sturt Univ. None that were formally reported beyond the library.
Flinders University of South With shelving being shared by a much greater number
Australia of staff working shorter periods this has virtually
solved the problem.
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University No
Newcastle University No. Little difference between the tasks performed
at Level 1 (Attendant) and Level 2 (General Library
Assistant).
Qld Univ. of Tech. No comment
University of Adelaide No
University of Melbourne Yes. Attendants have slightly different conditions
of employment e.g. regular overtime and shift work,
and receive uniforms. The Loans area uses casual
staff for excess demand; no uniforms are supplied.
Attendants have been concerned these will be lost
and at different times have refused to work towards
integration.
University of New South Wales Personnel management problems were eased by allowing
staff to choose specific duties according to special
needs. Problems were further reduced by appointing
new staff to split positions.
University of S.A. Library attendants are not employed.
Univ. of Sth Qld No separate staff classification for attendants.
University of Sydney It has proved impossible to get Level 2 staff who
have not worked as shelvers to shelve. Many cite
occupational health problems.
University of Tas. No
University of W.A. No
Univ. of West Sydney A staff reorganisation is under consideration.
Q.4 Did any problems arise in integrating attendant staff into a group of assistants; (e.g. did all attendants have the requisite educational background to cope) and if so how were issues resolved?
Australian Nat. Univ. See Q.1 above
Central Qld. Univ. No
Curtin University Not all staff accepted the moves. As staff retired
new positions were advertised which covered all
duties.
Charles Sturt University The backgrounds of existing staff were tolerated;
new appointees required appropriate qualifications.
Flinders University of South Staff quickly learned new skills and were relieved
Australia to have less physical work.
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University No
Newcastle University No
Qld Univ. of Tech. No comment
University of Adelaide No
University of Melbourne Some; issues are still being worked through and it
is possible selection criteria will be altered in
the future.
University of N.S.W. No
University of S.A. Library attendants are not employed.
Univ. of Sth Qld No separate staff classification for attendants.
University of Sydney No
University of Tas. Not applicable
University of W.A. No
Univ. of West Sydney A staff reorganisation is under consideration.
Q.5 Did any problems arise with assigning assistants to shelving duties?
Australian Nat. Univ. See Q.1 above
Central Qld University No comment
Curtin University Some injury problems through improper techniques.
Charles Sturt Univ. No
Flinders Univ. of S.A. A few injury problems. Shelving is now included on
the duty statement of all HEO2 staff.
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University No
Newcastle University No
Qld. Univ. of Tech. No comment
University of Adelaide No
University of Melb. Yes
University of N.S.W. No
University of S.A. Library attendants are not employed.
University of Sth.Qld. No separate classification for attendants.
University of Sydney Yes
University of Tasmania No
University of W.A. Staff didn't like it; one RSI case resulted.
University of West.Syd. A staff reorganisation is under consideration.
Q.6 Were there any attitudinal issues needing resolution in integrating attendants with assistants?
Australian Nat. Univ. See Q.1 above
Central Qld.Univ. No comment
Curtin University No
Charles Sturt Univ. Importance of punctuality when rostered on service
points.
Flinders Univ. of S.A. No
La Trobe University Integrating attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University No
Newcastle University No
Qld. Univ. of Tech. No comment
University of Adelaide Very few
University of Melb. Yes. Loans staff are not convinced there is any
benefit to them in the proposal.
University of N.S.W. Resolved
University of S.A. Library attendants are not employed.
University of Sth. Qld. No separate staff classification for attendants.
University of Sydney Shelving work was considered to be of low status and
therefore shelvers could not manage other work.
University of Tas. Not applicable
University of W.A. Yes
University of West.Syd. A staff reorganisation is under consideration.
Q.7 Do you have any feel for the pros and cons of the new arrangement,
including any data on comparative shelving rates and overall costs?
Australian Nat. Univ. See Q.1 above
Central Qld. Univ. No comment. Staff working in shelf maintenance and
circulations are expected to assist in either areas as
work fluctuations permit.
Curtin University Generally considered a wise move.
Charles Sturt Univ. New arrangement preferred, but no formal data.
Flinders Univ. of S.A. Consensus is more efficient with less physical strain
to staff.
La Trobe University Integration of attendants with other staff under
consideration.
Monash University No. Providing uniforms for attendants has given them
authority when dealing with recalcitrant users.
Newcastle University Moving desk staff to shelve, and vice versa, would
require extensive training programmes and cause
resistance from those reluctant to move to the
circulation desk. Retraining costs and loss of
"expertise" would be quite high.
Qld. Univ. of Tech. No comment
University of Adelaide Gives some flexibility but reshelving duties seen as
loss of status.
University of Melb. No comparative data
University of N.S.W. New arrangements provide greater flexibility of staff.
University of S.A. Library attendants are not employed.
Univ. of Sth. Qld. No separate staff classification for attendants.
University of Sydney Given up trying to convince staff not in usual
shelving jobs to shelve regularly. Using more
shelving staff for desk work. Staff freezes mean many
jobs filled in a temporary capacity.
University of Tas. A person can only concentrate on shelving for a few
hours. The more shelvers the better.
University of W.A. No comment
Univ. of West. Syd. A staff reorganisation is under consideration.
Updated 8 September 1995
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