Social construction theory and the library environment

In her book, Organization Theory, Hatch discusses Karl Weick thoughts on social construction theory. Weick is an American Social Psychologist who wrote the book, The Social Psychology of Organizing. He asserts an organization determines the environment in which it operates by analysis and decision making. Decisions based on the analysis generate activities and programs that meet the needs of specific populations who then become the organization’s environment. A social construction theorist would argue that an organization “socially constructs the reality of their environment and enact what they take to be the objective world.” (Hatch, 2001, p. 42)
Libraries base decisions on needs assessments of the community in which it resides. Decisions on services and programs are based in part on these assessments. These decisions determine which patrons will use the services and become the social environment of the library. Use of the social construction theory allows a librarian to understand the process of limiting or expanding the social environment of the library. With limited resources such as money, time and physical space a library must choose and choose wisely. Decisions based on the use of a social construction theory are not static. If further analysis indicates resources are better used for different programs, the resources can be allocated differently. This creates a new social environment in which the library operates. Libraries have broadened their social environment with the advent of computers and the internet. The decision to provide computers for the use of patrons greatly changed the social environment of libraries. Since computers are costly, decisions to provide computers to library patrons limit the money available for other programs. Patrons wanting these unaffordable programs may be left out of the library’s environment.
Hatch quotes Weick, a social psychologist, during her discussion of social construction theory. Psychologists are concerned with the behavior of humans. A social psychologist is interested in theories regarding the relationships among individuals. They are more attuned to group dynamics or social interactions than other areas of psychology. Social construction theorists naturally draw on knowledge from this discipline to study the interactions between an organization and the individuals within the organization’s environment. Social Psychologists are more attuned to subjective areas found in symbolic-interpretive research. They also are less disturbed by the fluidity found in postmodern theories since social relationships are not static and constantly redefine the needs of the relationship.
Here is an interesting link to a website describing social psychology.
http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/socpsy.html
The author, Dr. George Boeree, notes that psychologists can not agree on one theory from which to base their research. This allows us to experience richness from many psychological theories in partnership with organization theories. Since organizations are individuals collectively working together for an end result, organization theories easily partnership with the field of psychology.

Reference
Hatch, M.J. (2001). Organization Theory. New York: Oxford University Press.
Submitted by Ann H.