Abstract:
This study investigated factors that influenced the job satisfaction of 10 female
African-American librarians working in urban public library systems in various
geographic areas of the United States. The epistemological basis of the study was
phenomenology. Narrative methodology was used to collect the data. The investigator
interviewed participants on a face-to-face basis. The interviews were audio taped. The
tapes were transcribed and coded using Sage Publication’s QSR N6 Software. Each
participant submitted a written document six weeks after her interview responding to
a question about her job satisfaction. Depending on the content of their interviews,
some participants were asked to describe the role religious belief played in their
achieving job satisfaction. Others were asked to describe their perception of the
competency of their managers and supervisors. Grounded theory methodology was
used to extract meaning from both sources of data. Triangulation was achieved by
using the transcripts of the interviews, the written documents, and the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations enforcing federal laws
prohibiting job discrimination.
Performance of the duties of a professional librarian emerged as the prime factor in
attaining job satisfaction. The primary reason cited by all participants for satisfaction
in performing the work of a professional librarian was helping people. Other
predominant factors contributing to job satisfaction noted were mentoring and
religious beliefs. The chief source ofjob dissatisfaction was the perception that
managers lacked the necessary skills to manage their organizations. The primary
reasons cited for poor management were the perception that managers and
supervisors discriminated in assigning work duties, in awarding promotions, and in
allowing library patrons and staff to behave in a discriminatory manner toward
African-American employees. Salary did not emerge as a factor for job satisfaction or
job dissatisfaction.
