Organizational Structure
The current organizational structure of the Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) Library follows a hierarchical management system headed by the College President, who provides the overall direction of the institution. Under the President is the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), who supervises all academic support units, including the Library. The College Librarian serves as the head of the library and is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and monitoring all library operations and services.
Supporting the College Librarian are the library personnel, including the Library Staff, who manage circulation services, cataloging, technical processing, acquisitions, digital resources, and patron assistance. These personnel perform routine library operations such as borrowing and returning books, maintaining library collections, processing new acquisitions, and assisting students, faculty, researchers, and other library users.
At present, most library services are managed through separate systems and manual administrative procedures. Information regarding library resources, appointments, digital repositories, and user inquiries are distributed across different platforms, requiring users to access multiple systems depending on the service they need. Responses to frequently asked questions and library assistance rely primarily on library staff during office hours, which may result in delays in providing information and support.
The existing organizational structure demonstrates that while the library maintains an effective chain of command and clearly defined responsibilities, the delivery of information services remains dependent on human intervention. This creates challenges in providing immediate assistance, integrating library information, and supporting users outside regular operating hours. These limitations provide the basis for the development of the proposed AI-powered library assistant, which aims to complement the current organizational structure by enhancing information accessibility, automating routine inquiries, and improving the overall efficiency of library services.