INSTITUTIONAL CULTURE AND THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES OF LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS: A SOCIOCULTURAL STUDY OF GOVERNMENT-AIDED COLLEGES IN SOUTHERN MAHARASHTRAT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhgyan.v4.i2.2026.146Keywords:
Institutional Culture, Sociocultural Environment, Library Professionals, Professional Identity, Government-Aided Colleges, Southern Maharashtra, Professional RecognitionAbstract [English]
Institutional culture plays an important role in shaping professional identity, workplace experiences, recognition, motivation, and the sense of belonging of employees within educational institutions. In academic libraries, professional experiences are influenced not only by salary and physical working conditions but also by institutional values, professional hierarchies, recognition practices, career structures, technological environments, and opportunities for collective participation. This study examines the professional experiences of library professionals working in government-aided colleges in Southern Maharashtra through an institutional and sociocultural perspective. The study covers 625 institutions located in Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Solapur, and Pune districts. A total of 3,125 questionnaires were distributed, of which 2,387 completed questionnaires were received, representing an overall response rate of 76.38%. Structured questionnaires and personal interviews were used for data collection, while percentage analysis, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and SPSS were employed for analysis. The findings indicate that 72% of respondents reported overall job satisfaction; however, several institutional conditions significantly influence their professional experiences. Inadequate supporting staff, limited recognition of librarians as teaching professionals, unsuitable promotion mechanisms, slow internet connectivity, employment insecurity, and weak professional associations emerged as major concerns. These conditions are interpreted as expressions of institutional culture because they shape professional status, workplace relationships, access to resources, and opportunities for development. The study concludes that a supportive institutional culture based on professional recognition, equitable advancement, adequate staffing, effective digital infrastructure, and stronger collective representation is essential for improving the professional experiences of academic library personnel.
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