Stress and burnout in libraries & information centers

Abstract

Stress has been variously defined by popular sources and researchers. A useful construct positions stress and burnout on continuum. In recent years, psychologists have become interested in the study on phenomenon known as, burnout. Burnout is an occupational stress. In organizations, different factors cause stress. One of the immediate outcomes of psychological stress is phenomenon of burn out. Some of the causing agents of burn out, of burn out are presence of severe and improper working condition at organization, improper leadership style practices in the organization and marital status. In this regard, due to development of new technology, information explosion, reduction of finance, lack of professional staff, immediate change at execute posts, specially chiefs of libraries and not using trained librarians caused which stress on the library staff which is followed by reduction of performance, job change, interferences (frustration), pre-term retirement, frequent lack of illness, burnout syndrome, consequently, in search of jobs and having official and executives roles. When there is no job stress for the librarians, they can do these most effort, stress free environment, would result in the acceleration of performance and efficacy. In this condition, proper management can no irradiate burnout. Material and Methods: This research designed and performed for the librarians employed in the libraries affiliated to Mazandaran and Babol Medical Sciences in Mazandaran Province in the North of Iran. Data were collected in the questionnaire designed for different questions. Results: 19 people were married and 11 people unmarried. Most of the participants had bachelor degree holder and 14 permanent (official elopement) employed. It is note worthy that 53.3 % of participants suffered stress (burnout). Since this study is going on, in case of acceptance the results will submit later, with detail and completed. Very little, however, has been done to measure the effectiveness of these remedies in preventing, improving, or eliminating the problem of burnout in these professionals. Conclusion: There is growing research supporting the existence of burnout among academic librarians. Many suggestions to prevent, or remedy, this condition in librarians, some of them addressed specifically to help the academic librarians, have been considered and appear promising. Proffered solutions are targeted at both the individual level, and at a level deemed more effective by most researchers, the organizational level, which includes the broadest level, that of society itself. Very little, however, has been done to measure the effectiveness of these remedies in preventing, improving, or eliminating the problem of burnout in these professionals.