Abstract
Introduction: The definition of competencies is continuing to become more common in Library and Information Science (LIS). It is used for describing the library positions and the means of assessment. The main object of study was to determine the skills and knowledge that the academic medical librarians required for the emerging roles of medical librarianship in Iran and to find out their education and training needs. Methodology: A survey method was used for gathering data. A structured questionnaire, listing 60 competency statements, which covered six areas, was arranged after an extensive literature review. The structured questionnaires were sent to all academic medical librarians in Iran, those who had at least an undergraduate or Master’s degree in Library Science throughout the country. A total number of 165 questionnaires were returned and went under analysis. Results: The results of study indicated that the essential competencies which were expected from Iranian academic medical librarians with Bachelor’s degree qualification were “general-and personal competencies”. In addition, “health science reference and information services competencies” were recognized as the second most important competencies for academic medical librarians with Bachelor’s degree qualifications. However, the priority for academic medical librarians with a Master’s degree qualification was “management theory and techniques competencies”. The other priorities were “Health sciences reference and information services competencies”. Conclusion: The study concluded that the confirmed competencies can be used for the assessment and adjustment of the curricula of formal education programs of medical librarianship in Iran.
Highlights
The definition of competencies is continuing to become more common in Library and Information Science (LIS)
The structured questionnaires were sent to all academic medical sciences departments in Iran, those who had at least an undergraduate or Master’s degree in Library Science throughout the country
This study investigated the skills and knowledge required by academic medical librarians in two different levels of medical library and information science (MLIS) education
Summary
The definition of competencies is continuing to become more common in Library and Information Science (LIS). The structured questionnaires were sent to all academic medical sciences departments in Iran, those who had at least an undergraduate or Master’s degree in Library Science throughout the country. Results: The results of study indicated that the essential competencies which were expected from Iranian academic medical librarians with Bachelor’s degree qualification were “general-and personal competencies”. “health science reference and information services competencies” were recognized as the second most important competencies for academic medical librarians with Bachelor’s degree qualifications. The rapid growth of information technologies has changed our world into a globalized village, where any kind of information can be accessed systematically The influence of such change could be seen in the libraries more clearly than other places. The library schools are the initiate point of preparing the information professionals for preparing them in information centers for disseminating the pertinent information regarding the clients’ needs [2] [3]
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