Continuing education for LIS professionals: why

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the outcomes of continuing education programs that are being carried out, either having positive or negative effects on the personal and professional lives of the participants. Design/methodology/approach The research method used for this study was a survey, which had been based on findings derived from a comprehensive literature review. The data collection tool was an online questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. Questionnaires were circulated to the 120 library professionals equally divided among three online discussion groups which have high rate of library professionals’ memberships: Pakistan Library Automation Group, Pakistan Librarians Welfare Organization (PLWO) and Pakistan Library Club through emails. The 100 completely filled questionnaires were received and so the response rate was 83 per cent. Findings The study concluded that continuing education programs (CEPs) had positive effects on the participants’ professional as well as personal lives. The results revealed that CEPs improved librarians’ professional knowledge about digital resources, library automation and management systems, searching techniques, library management and skills regards team work. The effect on their personal lives was also noticeable: helped them to build confidence, increased personal interaction and developed their ability to research, leadership, communication and managerial skills. Therefore, the study clearly indicates that CEPs proved very helpful in capacity building of professional librarians. Practical implications The paper clearly addresses the effects of CEPs on participants’ professional and personal lives. As expressed, the results CEPs are playing an important role in the capacity building of professional librarians. This study will stimulate CEPs managing associations or organizations to check outcomes, whether they are valuable for the participants. Originality/value This paper reports the effects of formal or informal training sessions on LIS professionals’ professional and personal lives.

The facts of continuing professional development for LIS professionals in Pakistan: a literature review

“…Likewise, Ullah et al (2011) argued that “training opportunities for medical librarians in Pakistan are limited” and suggested that the Medical Library Association of Pakistan and College of Physician and Surgeons Pakistan should offer postmaster specialized diploma in medical librarianship. Hamid and Soroya (2017) studied the impact of CPE on the personal and professional lives of library and information professionals. Results found a positive impact of CPE on the professional and personal lives of respondents.…”

“…The department of libraries, a department under the ministry of education and PLA failed to produce visionary library professionals. Hamid and Soroya (2017) found out that PLA is playing a major role in providing CPE to professionals and PAKlag and Pakistan librarian welfare organization (PLWO) are also playing a key contributing role till 2015. Based on the observational and personal experience, it can be written that PLWO is playing an effective role for the professional development and education of librarians; in recent years many pieces of training/seminars/and workshops were conducted by PLWO to uplift the profile of professionals and profession.…”

An evaluation of digital library education in library and information science curriculum in Nigerian universities

“…Mohammadyari and Singh (2015) emphasized that effective digital library instructions require the cooperative efforts of trained mentors, latest courses, technological roadmap, mutual respect and trust between teachers and students. Hamid and Soroya (2017) studied the impact of continuing education on LIS professionals. The results revealed that continuous educational programs improved librarians' professional knowledge about digital resources, library automation and management systems, searching techniques, library management, skills regarding teamwork and also helped them to build confidence and increased personal interaction.…”

“…She found that Library and Information Management schools have introduced roughly 33% new ICT-related subjects into their educational programs. Hamid and Soroya (2017) conducted a study on continuing education to take into account the current trends of Continues Educational Programmes in LIS profession in Pakistan. The results revealed that training on digital library software, research, exploring online databases and bibliographies management tools are highly affected areas on which most programs are being arranged.…”

Developing Library Staff Digital Literacies

“…In terms of digital literacy, there is also a need for librarians to address disintermediation through the wider use of internet technologies such as podcasts and social media (Brabazon, 2014). It has been suggested that continuing professional development (CPD) not only contributes to professional but also generic attributes such as confidence and communications (Hamid and Soroya, 2017). Although CPD is not globally formally required or mandated (Cooke andTeichmann, 2012, Thomas et al, 2010), in the UK it is strongly encouraged through the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals' (CILIP) Professional registration scheme.…”