Measuring the Training Needs of Specialist and Non-specialist Librarians in Mashhad’s Public Libraries and the Role of their Experiences on the Needs

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• hamide lotfi
• mohammadreza ahanchian
• shabnam kazemi
• amir sabetzade

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

10.22067/riis.v5i1.25870

Abstract

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to assess the training needs of specialist and non-specialist librarians in public libraries and the role of their experiences in the type and assortment of these needs in Mashhad.
Methodology: This Applied study used the survey method. The population was all librarians working in public libraries in Mashhad and the sample was 140 people who were selected from among the population through random cluster sampling method. The data were collected through a researcher made questionnaire with 57 items.
Findings: Specialist librarian training needs include the reference work and services, information technology, organization, information literacy skills, and collection. The non-specialist librarians training needs include information technology, reference work and services, information literacy skills, collection, and organization. Also, the organization needs of the specialist librarians were more than the non-specialist librarians. Their experience didn’t have any role in the training needs of the librarians and it made a difference only in reference work and the service needs of the non-specialist librarians.

Keywords

• Training needs assessment
• Training needs
• Specialist librarians
• Mashhad public libraries

---

References

Barbazette, Jean (2006). Training Needs Assessmant: Methods, Tools and Techniques. (Translated by Rahmatollah Pakdel). Tehran: Ayizh. (In Persian)

Borjian, Mahshid; Khosravi, Faribors (2012). Librarians Information Literacy Skill And compliance with the standard (ACRL) at the National Library of Iran. Journal of National Studies on librarianship and information organization. No. 2, 178-191. (In Persian)

Brown, Judith (2002). Training Needs Assessment: A Must for Developing an Effective Training Program. Public Personnel Management, No. 4, 569.

Chopra, Hans Raj (2001). User education: training the librarians to use new technologies in the developing countries [Online]. [cited 2006 Apr 25]; Available from: URL: http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla67/papers/103-126e.pdf

Entezarian, nahid (2010). Evaluation of Retraining needs of librarians working in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Libraries In the field of Information Technology. Monthly of Scientific communication, No. 2, 1-8. (In Persian)

Fathi Vajargah, Kourosh (2005). Educational Need assessment (Patterns and Techniques). Tehran, Ayizh. (In Persian)

Fisher, Biddy; Hallam, Oillian; Partridge, Helen (2005). Different approaches- common conclusions: The skills debate of the 21 Century. Continuing professional development- preparing for new roles in libraries: A Voyage of discovery, 41-52.

IFLA (2010). IFLA public library service guidelines. Munich, De Gruyter Saur.

IFLA UNESCO (2001). The public library service: IFLA/UNESCO guidelines for development. Munich, K.G. Saur

Mahmood, Khalid; Ajmal Khan, Muhammad (2007). ICT training for LIS professionals in Pakistan: a needs assessment. Emerald group publishing limited, 41, 418- 427.

Massis, Bruce Edward (2003). The practical library manager, Unites States, Haworth Information Press.

Massis, Bruce Edward (2004). The practical library trainer, Unites States, Haworth Information Press.

Mazinani, Ali (2000). Library and Librarianship. Tehran: Samt. (In Persian)

Mazinani, Ali (1998). Evaluation of Skills needs of librarians working in Iran libraries and information centers. Faslname-ye ketab. No. 33, 44-64. (In Persian)

Moarefzade, Abdalhamid; Saney Dehkordi, Parasto (2006). Evaluation of Manpower and skill needs of librarians working in academic libraries in Khuzestan. Library and Information Science. No. 3, 103-109. (In Persian)

Moarefzade, Abdalhamid; Kamaie, mahvash; CHraghi, Zohre (2012). Evaluation of educational needs of librarians working in Khuzestan Province public libraries. Journal of Research on Information Science and Public Libraries. No. 4, 391-406. (In Persian)

Nikkar, Malihe; Farzin, Farzane (2000). new information technologies training to Librarians and impact on productivity, Fifth Seminar on Library and Information, Tehran, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. (In Persian)

Rajabbaigy, Mojtaba; partovi, bamdad; Ghanbarzade alamdari, Nahid (2008). Evaluation of staff Training needs in the country public libraries. Library and Information Science. No. 4. (In Persian)

Seyed Javadin, Reza (2002). Human Resources Management and Staff Affairs. Tehran: publication of knowledge Look. (In Persian)

Shahrzadi, Leila; Mojiri, Shahin (2011). A Survey on Needs Assessment for In-service Training among Academic Librarians in Isfahan. Health Information Management. No. 7, 566-576. (In Persian)

Starke, Nancy A (1986). An examination of continuing education needs and attitudes of rural public library practitioners in Kansas. Thesis (Ph. D.), kansas state university.

Taavoni, Shirin; Soltani, Poori; Hariri, Mehrangiz; Mehrdad, Jafar (2011). Standards of Iran Special libraries. Tehran: Librarian. (In Persian)

Vemic, Jelena (2007). Employee training and development and the learning organization. Economics and organization, N 2, 209 -216.

Woolls, Blanche (2005). Continuing professional education to continuing professional development and work place learning: The journey and beyond. Continuing professional development- preparing for new roles in libraries: A Voyage of discovery, 14-25.

Zeinali Kermani, afsaneh; Fadayi, Gholam Reza (2012). Training Needs Assessment of Librarians working in public libraries in the city center of Kerman In relation to Information Technology. Monthly of Scientific communication. No. 3, 1-11. (In Persian)