(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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