The document discusses centralization and decentralization in university libraries. It defines centralization as combining parts into a whole, while decentralization spreads power away from the center. Decentralization delegates authority to lower levels except what can only be exercised centrally. Decentralization can improve decision making and motivation but may lead to coordination issues. Centralization allows for specialization and flexibility during crises but limits local adaptation. The document argues both sides and provides criteria for determining the appropriate level of decentralization within a university library system.

2. Muhammad Sohaib
BS(HONS) 5th semester
Roll No:10
Department of library and information
science
The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur
14 June 2013

3. Definition of centralization
The act or process of centralizing,
or the state of being centralized;
the act or process of combining or
reducing several parts into a whole.

4. Definition of decentralization
 The spread of power away from the center to local
branches or governments.
 According to Henry Fayol, "Everything that goes
to increase the importance of the subordinate’s
role is decentralisation; everything that goes to
reduce it is centralisation.“
 According to Louis Allen, "decentralisation
refers to the systematic effort to delegate to the
lowest levels all authority except that which can
only be exercised at central point."

5. Advantages / Importance of
Decentralization
 Decentralisation helps to improve the quality of
decisions/decision-making at the top level
management.
 Decentralisation facilitates diversification of activities
 Decentralisation encourages development of
managerial personnel
 Decentralisation improves motivation within
organization
 Decentralisation makes decision-making quicker and
better
 Decentralisation provides opportunity to learn by
doing

6. Limitations of Decentralization
 Decentralisation may lead to the problem of co-
ordination at the level of an enterprise as the decision-
making authority is not concentrated
 Decentralisation may lead to inconsistencies (i.e.
absence of uniformity) at the Organisation level
 Decentralisation is costly as it raises administrative
expenses on account of requirement of trained
personnel to accept authority at lower levels

7. Limitations of Decentralization
 Decentralisation creates special problems particularly
when the enterprise is facing number of uncertainties
or emergency situations. The decision-making process
gets delayed and even correct decisions as per the
changing situations may not be possible

8. Advantages of centralization
 Unbiased allocation of work: Being fair and just in
assigning a particular amount of work
 Area of specialization: There is an immediate
advantage if a leader who handles a particular area is
an expert in the same field
 Flexibility: In a crisis or an emergency, standardization
of work takes just one step to revise all the activities at
once

9. Centralization versus
decentralization in university
libraries
 Either university libraries should be centralized or not
is become a debatable topic.
 This issue has four aspects, namely, physical location,
administrative control, processing and services

10. Arguments for centralization
 Processing should be centralized because it will be
beneficial for the library, If there is uniformity in
cataloguing and classifying the library reading
material, a user would not face any difficulty in using
the collection of the library.
 Requires less number of personnel.
 Requires less equipment.
 Easier to maintain complete central records for
periodicals and central catalogue.

11. Arguments for centralization
 In centralization we can avoid from the duplication of
tools required for reference services, catalogue, and
classification.
 Possible to have uniform lending policy and
borrowing privileges

12. Arguments against centralization
 Decentralization leads to placing of books in locations
useful to those who are likely to make the greatest use.
 By dividing the library collection into units based on
subjects, it becomes possible to bring all forms of
material on a subject together. It would be economical
for providing subject base services
 . In decentralization it is possible to employ persons
with necessary background and experience to provide
better services
 Teachers completely favor the decentralization

13. Arguments against centralization
 But librarians are opposed to complete
decentralization
 If the resources are limited, then the staff should avoid
the decentralization as possible
 From the control point of view the university libraries
should have a setup belong to university library
system. The chief librarian should have a complete
control in each university library

14. Criteria for decentralization
 In 1952, Ernest Dale developed criteria for determining
the degree of decentralization within an organization.
These criteria were developed in order to conduct a
management study for the American Management
Association, and they remain valid today.
1. The greater the number of decisions made lower
down in the management hierarchy the greater the
degree of decentralization
2. The more important the decisions made lower down
the management hierarchy, the greater the degree of
decentralization

15. Criteria for decentralization
3. The more functions affected by decisions made at the
lower levels
4. The less checking required on the decision.
Decentralization is greatest when no check at all is
made, less when the supervisors have to consult
before the decision is made

16. coming
for
Thank
you

17. References
1. Krishan Kumar, library administration and
management, vikas publishing house pvt ltd
new Delhi, 2007, p.66-67.
2. Prof.Dr.M.Fazil, Management Techniques for
Librarians, academic press inc,1982,p.103-105
3. http://kalyan-
city.blogspot.com/2010/07/decentralisation-
advantages-and.html/02/01/2013
4. http://blog.commlabindia.com/elearning/syste
m-of-centralization/02/01/2013