Making decisions in libraries: The Algerian National Library as a model

Abstract

Making decisions is one of the most important administrative processes in the management of any documentary institution. The importance of this process grows when it takes place in a national library considering its large size, its huge documentary record, and its various services. In this regard we sought through this study to know the mechanisms of decision making in the library, subject-matter of this study and the effect of certain variables on this process such as the communication process which is considered as a pivotal element in the transfer of information between the library services. The study highlights the important role of decision making in the quality of the management of this documentary institution and its different services. The main result of the study is that the process of decision-making faces a number of problems and obstacles preventing the adoption of effective administrative decisions that achieve the desired goal of the process, such as the process of collecting information that encounters considerable human and organizational difficulties