Influence of the interpersonal relationship with the supervisor on the job satisfaction of employees of university libraries through the work environment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/1518-2924.2026.e109202

Keywords:

Librarians, University libraries, Work environment, Interpersonal relationship with the supervisor, Job satisfaction, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory

Abstract

Objective: This study examines how the work environment may mediate the interpersonal relationship with the supervisor and the job satisfaction of librarians working in undergraduate and graduate libraries at highly prestigious public universities in Mexico.

Method: Conceptually, it is based on the assumption that job satisfaction within organizations is composed not only of intrinsic but also extrinsic factors, grounded in Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, in which the work environment plays a crucial role. In addition to an exhaustive systematic literature review on the topic, data collection and analysis were triangulated through 290 surveys administered via Microsoft Forms to librarians from the public universities: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), Universidad de Guadalajara (UDG), and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), which are ranked among the top five Mexican universities. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SPSS 29.0 and SmartPLS 4.1.0.9.

Results: As the relationship with the supervisor improves, a better work environment and higher job satisfaction are also perceived.

Conclusions: It is concluded that achieving job satisfaction among university librarians requires an optimal interpersonal relationship with the supervisor, which in turn fosters a healthy work environment, without considering external factors such as political, social, and economic contexts, family environment, health aspects, among others.

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Author Biographies

Nancy Irasema Quiroga Garza, Autonomous University of Nuevo León

Full-Time Professor at the Faculty of Accounting and Business Administration of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), where she has served for 15 years. She holds a Ph.D. in Administration from the University of San Martín de Porres (USMP) in Lima, Peru, where she graduated Cum Laude. She also earned a Master’s Degree in Human Resources and a Bachelor’s Degree in Administration, both from the Faculty of Accounting and Business Administration at UANL.

Zapopan Martín Muela Meza, Autonomous University of Nuevo León

Earned a Doctoral degree in Information Studies from the University of Sheffield, England. Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA. Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science from the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, Mexico, in 1999, his first Alma Mater. Since 2011, has worked as a Full-Time Professor and Head of the Ing. Cayetano Garza Garza Library at the Faculty of Sports Organization, UANL, where he has taught at the doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s levels.

Marco Antonio Mariano Torres, Panamerican University

Master's Degree in Library Science and Information Studies 2023-2025. Bachelor's Degree in Library Science and Information Studies 2010-2014. Reference Librarian at the Universidad Panamericana, Santafé, Bosque Real, Mexico City. Librarian at Infotec Library. Provider of library services, repository, and general library services. Vasconcelos Library.

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Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

QUIROGA GARZA, Nancy Irasema; MUELA MEZA, Zapopan Martín; MARIANO TORRES, Marco Antonio. Influence of the interpersonal relationship with the supervisor on the job satisfaction of employees of university libraries through the work environment. Encontros Bibli: electronic journal of library science, archival science and information science, Florianópolis/SC, Brasil, v. 31, p. 1–24, 2026. DOI: 10.5007/1518-2924.2026.e109202. Disponível em: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/eb/article/view/109202. Acesso em: 17 may. 2026.

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Vol. 31 (2026): Ethics and informational integrity in the climate emergency: the socio-environmental responsibility of Information Science.

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Copyright (c) 2026 Nancy Irasema Quiroga Garza, Zapopan Martín Muela Meza, Marco Antonio Mariano Torres

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