Professional Library Education Research Articles

Первый ректор Петроградского института внешкольного образования В. А. Зеленко: новые факты биографии

The history of professional library education is closely connected with the name of the first director of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture Vasily Adamovich Zelenko (1878–1957). The article clarifies a number of biographical information about the social origin of his family, education, and professional activity before 1917. The facts of V. A. Zelenko’s participation in the revolutionary movement (1905–1906) are revealed. The pages of scientific and pedagogical activity of V. A. Zelenko have been supplemented. Zelenko and his cooperation with prominent figures of public education of the Russian Empire, interpersonal ties with members of the Bolshevik Party, which in the revolutionary years became an important factor in the foundation of the Petrograd Institute of Extracurricular Education.

“I ain’t read not one bit of it”

The primary source of value in any organization is the knowledge of its workers. Yet, American workplaces are often not structured to support the unstructured and intellectual efforts of these workers. This makes it more difficult for a worker to apply what they know. This study looks at the knowledge work of library staff and how it is influenced by the presence of canonical maps that outline how work will and should go. Through think-alouds and interviews with six library staff, this study found that staff felt restricted by some canonical maps, faced challenges in following other canonical maps, and relied heavily on emergent noncanonical maps. These findings are significant to the practice of library management and the education of library professionals, suggesting ways to further support the efforts of library staff and prepare students for library work.

Functional Structure of Tomsk Library Science Museum’s Book Collection (1919–1921)

The paper deals with the principles of the book fund organization in Library Science Museum (1919–1921), created by the future famous library scientist and bibliologist D. A. Balika during his professional formation in Tomsk. The Museum was created for didactic and methodological support of library professional education. The author shows the functional structure of the book collection and gives comments on possible dynamics of its composition, describes the methods to identify the source books and the sample books basing on the features of their publishing and printing form and various aspects of content (affiliation to a particular branch of knowledge, psychological type). She characterizes the ways to use two mentioned types of editions in educational process. (That is for the formation of knowledge and skills in library science, book studies, author studies and reader studies in a passive or active way – by the assimilation of the source books’ content or by the analytical description of the sample books). The author traces the biblio-psychological (Rubakin’s) traditions and biblio-pedagogic innovations in D. A. Balika’s vision of librarian’s “inner work” (“reading guidance” within the framework of the extracurricular education program). The transformation technology of a non-specialized fund into an educational one implemented by D. A. Balika seems to be relevant nowadays due to the strengthening (restoration) of the reader focus in the programs of higher library education in Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of the XXI century.

An assessment of the impact of professional development and training on job performance of library staff in Federal University Oye Ekiti libraries, Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of professional training and development for librarians/library staff in the southwest, Nigeria; especially the Federal University of OyeEkiti, Nigeria. Thus, this study intends to assess the impact of staff professional development and training on the job performance of library staff in the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachThe descriptive survey research design was used in carrying out this study. The population of study cuts across all library staff/attendants in the Federal University Oye Ekiti departmental, faculty and the university libraries. The purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the sample for the study (77 library staff). Research instruments, developed by the researchers, Staff Development Programme Questionnaire (r = 0.79), Staff performance Questionnaire (r = 0.81), Challenges of Staff Professional Development and Training Questionnaire (r = 0.82), were used for data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequency counts and percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inference statistics (correlation and one-way ANOVA) at a 5% level of significance.FindingsResults revealed that the level of the job performance of library staff in Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is high; there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the professional development of library staff and their performance in the job; professional development and training of library staff significantly impact their job performance; orientation, in-house training, seminars, on-the-job training and instructor-led training.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to the university libraries in the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria. The variables used in this study were restricted to training and development of library staff and job performance of librarians in FUOYE, and professional development programmes available for FUOYE librarians.Practical implicationsOther forms of professional development programmes such as Distance Educational Programmes, Conferences/Workshops, Study visits, Formal professional library education and TETFUND Programmes should be made available for university library staff. Universities should always organise staff professional development programmes; since it enhances the job performance of library staff.Originality/valueThis article is original and has not been published elsewhere.

The pages in the history of Culture Faculty of Dagestan State University. On the occasion of the 80-th anniversary of Kazim O. Omarov (14.09.1941–6.05.2008)

The article is written on the 80-th anniversary of Kazim Omarovich Omarov, Candidaate of Sciences in Pedagogy, Professor, and President of Dagestan Association of Librarians. He made a great contribution to library professional education and training librarians in the Republic of Dagestan and Northern Caucasus on the whole. Omarov’s biography is reviewed — his pedagogical, academic, research and public activities. His contribution as the head of library studies and bibliography (1983—2008) is emphasized.

Educational collaboration of Russian libraries: The possibilities and prospects

Collaboration is one of the most efficient forms of cooperation within the system of continuing library and information education. The study is based on general scientific methods, including that of institutional analysis. The study subject is collaboration as an instrument of interaction and joint efforts, wшер the results to be actualized through exchange of knowledge, experience and skills in a specific educational ecosystem. The study object is collaboration within the system of continuing library professional education. With resource, organizational and process approaches, the essence of the concept of "collaboration" is identified; the focus is made on its special institutional structure and role in efficient interaction between the subjects of knowledge economy. The essence of the definition of "educational collaboration" is revealed, taking into account the inherent features and various individual approaches to its interpretation. The experience in building the collaboration of library continuing education providers, i.e. "LENINKA" Corporate University of the Russian State Library and Department of Continuing Professional Education of the State Public Scientific and Technological Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences Siberian Branch, is analyzed (20192020). The special role of collaboration in providing continuing professional education to Russian library specialists is emphasized. It is demonstrated that collaboration in education facilitates co-organization of professional communities, render their activities more efficient and highly demanded within the digital economy and knowledge society.

The American Library Association: The landmarks of international library and bibliographic cooperation (1876–1976)

During the first 100 years of its existence, the American Library Association (ALA), the oldest national library association in the world, contributed much to the international library and bibliographic cooperation. The author describes the key areas of ALA international activity during the period under review. He identifies the following areas: support of building national library associations of other countries, projects and programs of international information exchange, promotion of basic democratic principles of libraries’ work, shared cataloguing, building the professional library education system, creation of the library periodicals and others. Based on the facts revealed in the periodicals, the author claims that national library associations are among the key instruments of library development both on the national and international levels. The fact that the American Library Association played a critical role in interlibrary relations strengthening during the described period evidences the association’s importance in the process of international library cooperation development.

THE PROCESS OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARY SPECIALISTS IN KAZAKHSTAN AFTER THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1946-1960)

In the postwar period, the library staff played an important role in the restoration of the national economy and the development of virgin and fallow lands in the Republic. They aсtively assisted the party and the Soviet government in political and ideological work, provided services for citizens in the cultural and educational sphere. Undoubtedly, these years had a direct impact on the continuous cultural growth of the population in enhancing employability and rising of socio-political activity. The article comprehensively examines the level of young specialist staffing in libraries in the post-war years (1946-1960), the ways and development of training library personnel and its professional development efficiency and the opening and activities of educational institutions for librarians. In this regard, archival and other materials on this topic are analyzed and reviewed. Also, the ideological policy of the party and state institutions for the training of employees of political and educational fields are examined. Overall, the Soviet bodies played a significant role in the formation and education of library professionals despite of some shortages in this sphere.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ ДИСТАНЦІЙНОЇ БІБЛІОТЕЧНОЇ ОСВІТИ В УКРАЇНІ: КОМПЛЕКСНІСТЬ І ВАРІАТИВНІСТЬ

Стрімке поширення нових інформаційних технологій, трансформація суспільних запитів на інформаційні продукти та послуги, а також упровадження нової спеціальності 029 "Інформаційна, бібліотечна та архівна справа" і пов’язане з цим скорочення бібліотекознавчого компонента в підготовці майбутніх фахівців-бібліотекарів актуалізують завдання організації підвищення кваліфікації кадрів для бібліотечної галузі та набуття ними додаткових компетенцій. Стаття присвячена висвітленню сучасних вітчизняних підходів до використання технологій Інтернет-середовища в організації дистанційного навчання у фаховій бібліотечні освіті. Розглядаються приклади організації дистанційного навчання на основі інтернет-технологій вітчизняними бібліотеками, закладами вищої освіти та громадськими ініціативами. Підкреслюється перспективність впровадження в дистанційну бібліотечну освіту мобільних технологій. Аргументується доцільність поєднання традиційних діалогічних та інтерактивних полілогічних форм навчання, необхідність підготовки відповідного навчально-методичного матеріалу: текстів лекцій, посібників, підручників, методичних рекомендацій щодо виконання практичних занять, тестових питань. Пропонується базова модель організації інтернет-простору навчального курсу, яка забезпечуватиме комплексність сприйняття матеріалу шляхом інтеграції різних варіантів комунікації і роботи з інформацією через варіативність підходів до набуття передбачених курсом знань і навичок. Висновки дослідження ґрунтуються на використанні системного методу, результати застосування якого обумовили розгляд дистанційного навчання на основі інтернет-технологій як компонента комплексної підготовки бібліотечних фахівців та цілісної системи, яка поєднує монологічну, діалогічну і полілогічну моделі навчання, методів включеного спостереження (автор має досвід навчання іноземній мові в інтерактивному режимі в рамках проходження курсу з підготовки до іспитів IELTS Британської Ради і на платформі edX) і моделювання (при розробці базової моделі організації інтернет-простору навчального курсу).

Awareness of Legal Issues Related to Libraries among Library Professionals of Gujarat


 
 
 The awareness of legal issues related to libraries among library professionals in Gujarat is discussed in the current study. The research is based on an online survey of library professionals of Gujarat. The major findings of the survey reveal that there is an acute need to improve the awareness and knowledge about legal issues and legal provisions among LIS professionals in Gujarat. The results also show that educational background, experience, or designation have no correlation with level of awareness or knowledge about legal aspects among library professionals. This study provides indications to major legal issues that affect the work of library professionals and what resources may be needed to enhance the level of awareness and knowledge about legal aspects related to libraries.The current study is limited to the study of library professionals in Gujarat, India and has potential to be conducted on national scale to check the level of awareness and knowledge about legal issues and legal provisions and may also provide important indications to address the issue of training and education of library professionals.
 
 

Training library staff in the Republic of Cameroon

Negative trends in the system of library education in the Republic of Cameroon and their the exterior and intrinsic factors are examined. Among the exterior factors are: the low economic development of the country and the labor market; lack of efficient standards and laws and state regulation of education, culture and library activities; low literacy and education level; undeveloped information culture; severe natural and climatic conditions. Insufficient standard, regulation, methodological, staff and logistical support of library education, insufficient application of modern pedagogical and information and communication technologies of education make the intrinsic factors. The author also emphasizes that the exterior and intrinsic factors are interrelated and interdependent: developed information and communication technologies, finances and logistics of library professional education always depend on the country’s economic development, and library education legislation depends on the national policy for libraries and education, and this is true for the Republic of Cameroon. Until the negative factors are eliminated, the level of professional training of librarians and their professional motivation will remain low.

Nikolay Kartashov’s heritage today

The author reviews the subject scope and the presentations of the inter-university research and practical conference hold on the occasion of the 90-th anniversary of Professor Nikolay Kartashov (1928–2011), a prominent library scientist, an architect of the USSR librarianship, the USSR Honored Worker of Culture. It is Nikolay Kartashov who was the first to substantiate the system approach principle in the library studies, and to develop the concepts of regional and comparative library studies.At the conference, the significance of Kartashov’s personality and science concepts were objectified within the context of modern library science. The participants focused on characterizing Kartashov as a scholar, administrator, and pedagogue. In their discussion, problematic, and practice-oriented papers, theoretical, methodological and methodical aspects were analyzed. The participants were examining the term “regional library studies” within the modern context and the possibility to apply this relevant concept in the professional library education and library practice.The Conference specific feature was the wide range of poster papers; the speakers revealed Kartashov’s contribution into the library science and practice, in particular, methodological approaches and theoretical tools of the regional library studies, the concepts of library management based on functional modeling, revamping the system of territorial library services, etc.

The current state and prospects of library and information education in the Republic of Cameroon

The article is devoted to the goals and objectives of the national development of the concept of professional library education, reflecting the reform on the basic ideas of library and information education. It proposes priority solutions to support legal fields in libraries of the country. It highlights prospective directions to organize the system of professional training of library staff. From this analysis and international experience the author express the need for international norms and standardization of professional library and information education.

Jack of all trades: Modern librarians from historical perspective

Library professional standards for the digital era are examined. Historical background for multifunctionality of libraries as a sociocultural institution is analyzed. The author argues that the existing library professional education system should be preserved and practicing librarians should be involved into training specialists for modern libraries.

Library and Information Studies Education in New Zealand and Australia: Background, Issues, and Challenges

Professional library education in New Zealand and Australia has developed independently, with different structures for entry-level qualifications. Both countries face challenges in continuing to offer high-quality programmes, in part due to the distribution of students relative to the providers. This paper outlines the LIS qualifications and characteristics of the providers in each country, followed by a discussion of issues the programmes face in remaining relevant in the future.

From Dialup to Digital Inclusion: Leading the Way in Library Data

Over the past twenty years, public libraries in the United States have been undergoing some of the most extensive changes in their identity, services, and programs since assuming their modern form. The introduction of digital services as part of the mission and purpose of the library’s contract with their communities has impacted the physical structures, the technical infrastructure, the funding models, and the training and education of library staff—virtually the entire library/community system. Throughout this transformation, we have been fortunate to have the work of John Carlo Bertot as a reference point—the data and analysis that have come from his research have provided ðand will continue to provideÞ us with insights and direction to help guide the infusion of technology into our library systems and communities. His research trajectory has grown in parallel with the issues that emerged as libraries and our communities moved from print to digital in their services and offerings, and it offers both a historical record of those changes and a reference point for those who have been working to understand and communicate the changes both to the library community and the broader policy arena. It is also instructive to see what a tremendous collaborator and colleague John has been with the researchers, policy makers, funders, libraries, and library organizations he has worked with since the start of his career. The breadth and reach of John’s work is remarkable, and he has provided us with an important foundation both through the research he has done and by the collaborations he has facilitated in the library community and beyond. Three major areas of John’s work with libraries have been instrumental in the work of those interested in the effect of technology on libraries and our communities: ð1Þ documentation of the changing technology landscape and its impact on libraries, librarians, and their communities; ð2Þ the development of suitable methodologies and the analysis of the data collected through those methods, which is the underpinning of the documentation; and ð3Þ exploration of the changes in store for professional library education necessary to produce leaders who will shape the future of libraries in this new landscape.

Acquiring New Competencies Through Continuing Library Education Programmes for Academic Librarians in Nigeria

Information technology has created a new information order that threatens the role of academic libraries and librarians as the main sources of information in their institutions. This threat arises from the fact that many Nigerian librarians fail to re–tool and re – train themselves in order to remain relevant in the new electronic information age. The paper described the impact of the World Wide Web (WWW) and highlighted the opportunities missed by some Nigerian librarians to rebrand themselves. The major findings were that in Nigeria’s days of economic prosperity, nothing was done to make libraries and librarians feel the impact of the new technology, that the 21st professional will continue to remain illiterate if he cannot learn, relearn and unlearn, that unless Nigerian librarians accept the challenge of the new technology and use it as a tool, Nigeria will continue to be information poor and remain as a developing country, and that continuing education programmes are not taken with the seriousness they deserve. The salient recommendations are that the Librarians (Registration etc) Council of Nigeria should, as a matter of urgency, specify core competencies to be acquired by all practicing librarians, that the Nigerian Library Association must take the issue of library continuing education seriously to enable librarians to retain their jobs and global job mobility and that Nigeria Library Schools should lead the way to provide training opportunities to practicing librarians KEYWORDS: Continuing Library Education Librarians - Professional Library Education – Nigeria

Library and Information Science Education in East and North-East India: Retrospect and Prospects

Due to information explosion library and information centres have important role to play in the information society. Only well-trained manpower can handle this situation efficiently and effectively. Meeting the need of development of manpower requires a systematic education for library professionals. This paper deals with the LIS Education in east and North-eastern India covering eight states of North-eastern India, Orissa, and West Bengal. Identifies that in this region LIS education was started in West Bengal and spread over other neighbouring states. This glorious history is mentioned here. The paper identifies that undergraduate courses were started in many colleges, but most of these have been stopped due to many reasons whereas a few of these still exist. At present, there are different levels of courses, viz., CLIS, BLIS, MLIS, MLIS in DL, PGDLAN, MPhil, PhD, DLit, etc. of various durations. Need of standardisation of these courses is essential. Data related to admission requirements, course content, course material delivery: teaching methods have been collected through questionnaire, interviews, and from respective websites. The data present status of today’s LIS education in this region.http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/djlit.30.613

How relevant are library and information science curricula outside their geographic domain?

Australian library and information science (LIS) courses are popular outside Australia, and Australia is a popular study destination for students in the region. This paper takes a comparative approach to attempt to determine whether ALIA (the Australian Library and Information Association)’s core curriculum for LIS education is appropriate outside Australia. It is based on research into the future needs for education of library professionals in the digital era with special consideration of the needs of the Special Administrative Region (SAR), Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China (PRC), on ALIA education statements, and on curriculum statements from the US and Europe. Recent research attempted to identify an ideal curriculum especially for use in Hong Kong and also in other areas of Southeast Asia. A consensus was reached regarding appropriate curriculum content which tended to concentrate in seven areas. These results were mapped against ALIA’s education statements, and compared with statements about LIS curriculum from IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) and from European educators. The paper concludes that the relative lack of consensus about what constitutes a core curriculum may not have major implications for LIS education and course recognition processes, and raises questions for further investigation.

LIS Education and Multidisciplinarity: An Exploratory Study

Library and Information Science (LIS) education has a long tradition of multidisciplinarity. Faculty from a wide variety of subject disciplines staffed professional library education programs prior to the establishment of the LIS doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1928. In the mid-twentieth century faculty in LIS schools commonly possessed the LIS doctorate as well as the master's degree in library and information science. But by the late twentieth century, more subject specialists with doctorates from outside the field of LIS were hired as LIS school faculty, contributing to the multidisciplinarity of the field. This study reviews Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) statistics and analyzes selected faculty and doctoral student characteristics relevant to multidisciplinarity. The question is raised as to whether the trend toward multidisciplinarity among faculty and doctoral students in LIS professional education programs will result in the enhancement or the disintegration of the discipline of library and information science. Suggested criteria for measuring the outcome of the trend are discussed.