Key skills and competencies of LIS professionals in the digital library environment: a content analysis of job advertisements

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhilesh K.S. Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Central State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Skills ◽  
Job Advertisements

PurposeThe main purpose of this research study is to identify the essential skills and competencies sought by prospective employers for library and information science (LIS) positions in India. The research study aims to find out various designated positions in job advertisements.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected from a major weekly job journal “Employment News” in India over five years from 2016 to 2020. The Employment News provides the latest job vacancies of central/state governments, public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies in India. Each issue of Employment News was carefully scanned and searched for job advertisements in the field of LIS. The researcher analyzed various posts on permanent, deputation and short-term contracts to gain insights into the job’s skills.FindingsThe findings highlight that public sector academic and school libraries are the top employers of LIS professionals. One of the most frequent demands of employers is profession-related work experience. Results show that employers place the strongest emphasis on library administration, computer knowledge, technical skills, managerial skills and soft skills. Library management, library supervision and procurement of journals and books are the primary job responsibilities for top-level positions.Research limitations/implicationsThe weekly job journal, Employment News, is the largest source of LIS jobs in publicly funded organizations and institutions in India. It does not cover private educational institutes, industries and corporates. Job-related data were collected solely from this journal for the duration of 2016–2020. Therefore, this research study does not fully represent the LIS job market with regard to private educational institutes and corporate organizations.Practical implicationsThe research findings can help LIS professionals prepare themselves according to market needs and demands. The LIS school should integrate these required skills and competencies into the course curriculum for preparing professionals in the digital age.Originality/valueThe results are benchmarked to guide and evaluate LIS course curricula in India. LIS schools may emphasize soft skills in future curriculum design, which employers frequently seek.

WhatsApp groups: channel for sharing information among LIS professionals in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-820
Author(s):  
Obiora Kingsley Udem ◽  
Doris U. Aghoghovwia ◽  
Ebikabowei Emmanuel Baro
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
Shared Information ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Professional Information ◽  
Training Opportunities

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the type of information Library and Information Science professionals share in the WhatsApp groups in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative content analysis research design. With a total of 739 participants, 1,385 posts of six different WhatsApp groups of Library and Information Science professionals for three months were analyzed. Findings The study found that the most shared information among the Library and Information Science professionals in Nigeria is post on professional information. This demonstrates that librarians are determined to share professional information among them to promote the profession. This was followed by political information basically on the Nigerian Library Association national executives’ election, and job advertisements related to the library. Although a few members violate the rules by posting the kind of information not required in the WhatsApp group, the erring members are quickly called to order and warned by the WhatsApp group administrator. Social implications Professional ties can grow among information specialists and library practitioners through participation in virtual communities such as WhatsApp group. The implication of this work is in showing that social media especially WhatsApp groups can be used as a knowledge sharing mechanism to share timely, current and relevant information among professionals in different occupations. Originality/value Findings on the use of WhatsApp group in sharing professional information will inform several other Library and Information Science professionals in other countries of the need to adopt this channel to disseminate timely information related to up-coming conferences, training opportunities, workshops, call for papers and so on among the professionals. The results of this paper are valuable for anyone interested in an avenue to share or receive much quicker and pertinent information that saves the time of professionals in any occupation.

Professionalism, rewards, job satisfaction and organizational commitment amongst accounting professionals in Uganda

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel K. Sejjaaka ◽  
Twaha K. Kaawaase
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Measurement Scales ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private And Public

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which the constructs of professionalism (Hall, 1968), rewards (Bartol, 1979) and job satisfaction (Stamps and Piedmonte, 1986; Hampton and Hampton, 2004) can be used as valid predictors of organizational commitment (Porter et al., 1974) in an emerging economy context. Design/methodology/approach – Using pre-existing scales for these constructs, the authors collected data from 277 ICPAU licensees’ and carried out a factor analysis to examine their validity. Given the relevance of the organizational-professional conflict (OPC) debate to performance in public and private sector organizations, the authors use ANOVA to assess whether there are significant differences between CPAs in the private and public sectors. We also develop a structural equation model to assess the extent to which organizational commitment can be explained by professionalism, rewards and job satisfaction. Findings – The findings show that the four scales can be used as valid measures in an emerging market environment, albeit with some modifications. The correlations between the study variables are significant (p<0.01) but weak. There are also no significant differences between the scores of private and public sector Certified Public Accountant (CPAs) on professionalism, rewards and organizational commitment. However, there is significantly lower job satisfaction amongst CPAs employed in the public sector. The authors also find that job satisfaction is the best predictor of organizational commitment. Professionalism and rewards are weak predictors of organizational commitment. The fitted model shows that there is a weak fit between organizational commitment and professionalism, rewards and job satisfaction (GFI=0.86, RMSEA=0.086). Originality/value – The authors modify the extant measurement scales for use in emerging market conditions and show that with some adjustment, they are robust measures of the study variables. The paper also extends the organizational commitment (OC) debate to emerging market conditions and shows that rewards on their own are not enough to ensure organizational commitment amongst professionals. It is important to improve job satisfaction through more enriching work experience.

Assessing the entrepreneurial orientation of the librarians

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 253-268
Author(s):  
Abbas Doulani ◽  
Sepideh Sahebi ◽  
Mohammad Karim Saberi
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
Level 3

Purpose The purpose of this study is to carry out the demographic evaluation and analysis of the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians in Iranian public libraries using the Lumpkin and Dess model. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a structured questionnaire of entrepreneurial orientation was used. The research population consisted of 5,000 librarians of Iranian public libraries who were selected using Krejcie and Morgan table (95% confidence level and p-value of 5%) and stratified the random sampling method. A total of 365 individuals were selected as the study sample. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive statistics (frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation and standard error mean) as well as inferential statistics (Pearson correlation, one-sample t-test, independent samples t-test and ANOVA. Findings The results showed that the mean level of entrepreneurial orientation of librarians was 2.92 with an average level (µ = 3). Librarians were at an average level (µ = 3) in terms of components of innovativeness (2.98), risk-taking (2.93) and proactiveness (3.02). The status of the autonomy component (2.53) was at an undesirable level (3 < µ), and only the competitive aggressiveness status (3.12) was at the desirable level (3 < µ). The analysis of the librarian’s entrepreneurial orientation based on demographic characteristics indicated that the male librarian’s entrepreneurial orientation was higher than the female librarian’s (p-value = 0.039). Meantime, librarians with library and information science degrees have less entrepreneurial orientation than the librarians with other (non-librarian and information science) degrees (p-value = 0.01). Also, the higher the librarian’s degree, the lower their entrepreneurial orientation will be (p-value = 0.000). In addition, there was no significant relationship between librarians’ age (p-value = 0.14), marital status (p-value = 0.15) or work experience (p-value = 0.388) and their entrepreneurial orientation. Practical implications Entrepreneurial orientation is one of the significant concepts in entrepreneurship of organizations. Accordingly, studying the concept of entrepreneurial orientation and formulating an appropriate strategy is of great importance in improving the performance of libraries because libraries can be more useful and appealing to library members by enhancing the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians, delivering new, unique and tailor-made services to users’ needs. Originality/value Not much research has been carried out on entrepreneurship in library and information sciences. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the entrepreneurial orientation of librarians based on their demographic characteristics.

scholarly journals The gap in soft skills perceptions: a dyadic analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-377
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Tsirkas ◽  
Alexandra-Paraskevi Chytiri ◽  
Nancy Bouranta
Keyword(s):  
Job Search ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Dyadic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposePrevious studies have shown that soft skills play a significant role in applicants' employability and in the job search, recruitment, selection and hiring process. However, past research indicates a gap in perceptions of soft skills, between employees and employers. The present empirical research aims to explore this gap in perceptions and to suggest effective ways to resolve any mismatch. Demographical factors affecting these perceptions are also taken into consideration for the analysis.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative research design has been applied. The survey undertaken, covers all three main sectors of employment (manufacturing, retail and services), with 151 employee–employer dyads around Greece participating in the survey. Paired sample t-test, independent t-test and One-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results show a gap between employees' and their subsequent employers' perceptions of employees' soft skills. Employees seem to regard their skills more highly than do their employers, whereas employers seem to consider employees as not properly equipped with the necessary soft skills. These findings are a worrying sign for business operations and suggest that difficulties in manager–employee co-operation can arise.Practical implicationsThis study has both theoretical and practical implications. It adds to the literature in human resources appraisal process by identifying soft skills perceived differently by employees and employers. It also highlights the reasons for that gap and makes suggestions for the enhancement of required skills.Originality/valueThe majority of previous studies in the field focus either on employees' or employers' perceptions, without comparing them. In addition, the few former studies attempt a comparison focused on students as employees or trainees, with no previous work experience. The current study focuses on employees whose work experience has already shaped perceptions of their skills and employability.

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC): powerless but accountable leadership for former GCEO

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Maijang Mpherwane ◽  
Kurt April ◽  
Claire Barnardo
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
South African ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Complex Dynamics ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chief Operating Officer ◽  
Key Skills

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes are as follows: identify the key challenges of leading a large organisation that is self-serving as compared to one that has people of integrity in its employ; understand how resilient leaders need to be to remain focussed on the task at hand while faced with resistance and controversy at every turn; demonstrate how to cultivate a culture of trust and integrity in an organisation bereft of both, and rebuild an organisation’s reputation; navigate the dynamics of having an unruly subordinate [chief operating officer (COO)] who in reality is more powerful; and develop key skills in practicing self-care in an environment where one is constantly undermined and devalued. Case overview/synopsis This case looks at the leadership of former GCEO Lulama Mokhobo at the South African Broadcasting Corporation SABC from 2012 to 2014 and her lived experience within the theme of empowered powerlessness. With an unsupportive board, destructive COO, and minister of communications at government level, Lulama is disempowered in her position and battles to make changes. Colleagues attest to the unusually complex dynamics that she had to navigate on a daily basis. The case details how this eroded Lulama’s self-confidence as well as her ability to lead the organisation and pushed her to resign. The SABC managed to undo the strides she made during her tenure and now finds itself in financial quagmire due to poor and questionable decisions made after her resignation as the GCEO of the organisation. Complexity academic level The target audience for this case comprises students enrolled in tertiary business education programmes who have already had some sort of work experience and hands-on exposure to real-world business. MBA and EMBA students, as well as executive education programmes. Including disciplines such as leadership, organisational behaviour and people management and strategy. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.

scholarly journals The alumni narrative of the connection between university skills and knowledge, and industry: An ‘outside-in’ understanding

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fleischman ◽  
Peter English
Keyword(s):  
Appreciative Inquiry ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Educational Tool ◽  
Graduate Attributes ◽  
Inquiry Approach ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Video Format ◽  
Career Future

This study takes an ‘outside-in’ approach by exploring the narratives of university alumni working in industry. The aim of the study is to understand how engaging with industry alumni supports and informs graduate skills and knowledge needed for future employability, and university career/future focused curriculum design. To achieve the aim, the study adopted an Appreciative Inquiry approach to guide a series of n=8 depth interviews recorded in a digital video format. This approach provided alumni with a platform to construct their unique professional narratives in a manner that was relatable and engaging to students, and that universities could use as an educational tool. Data from the interviews resulted in three main themes: 1) the necessity of soft-skills and work experience, 2) the importance of resilience, and 3) the willingness to constantly learn. Theoretically, the findings contribute externally validated support and extension of important and desirable graduate attributes, providing evidence for informing and extending career/future focused curriculum design. Practically, the findings provide students and universities with professional confirmation and foresight of the skills and knowledge needed to transition and navigate the professional workforce, along with an educational tool to implement into curriculum.

The essential skills and competencies of LIS professionals in the digital age: alumni perspectives survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhilesh K.S. Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Library Automation ◽  
Computing Skills ◽  
Essential Knowledge ◽  
Library Skills

Purpose The librarianship profession has gone through many changes over time, more so with the emergence of digital technologies. To thrive in the library and information science (LIS) profession, professionals must have knowledge, skills, competencies and abilities to perform their job duties. The purpose of this paper was to identify essential knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) for the LIS professionals. Design/methodology/approach The targeted survey group for the study were alumni of ten LIS schools in India, who are now working in various library sectors. A structured questionnaire was designed to seek their opinions, and the snowball sampling technique was adopted to collect the data. A total of 377 responses were received from the respondents. Findings Five broad areas of KSAs were identified: traditional library skills, research skills, computing skills, data management skills and soft skills. This study found that computing skills, library automation and library digitization are considered absolutely essential for the LIS professionals. The results also brought out the importance of “soft skills” for the LIS professionals. Prerequisite knowledge of library liaison services, technical services and foreign language were reportedly important only for working in special libraries. Practical implications This study identified 54 skills across five broad areas that are essential for the professionals working in library and information centres. The research findings will be helpful for the educators who want to design, develop and upgrade the LIS course curriculum in accordance with the skills that are in demand in the market. Originality/value This study establishes that though the participants expressed satisfaction with the practicum of the curriculum, the LIS course curriculum needs to be improved. It would be in the best interest of the LIS schools to identify and rectify the gap.

Skills in the market: an analysis of skills and qualifications for American librarians

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 21-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michalis Gerolimos ◽  
Afrodite Malliari ◽  
Pavlos Iakovidis
Keyword(s):  
Communication Skills ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Academic Librarians ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Content Analysis Method ◽  
Academic Librarian ◽  
Job Advertisements ◽  
American Academic

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to create a profile of the modern American academic librarian through the content analysis method of job advertisements. Design/methodology/approach – One hundred thirty-four advertisements were analyzed in various ways, e.g. salary, skills, qualifications, duties, followed by a multivariate analysis. Findings – Most significant findings include the importance of communication skills for all academic librarians, the significance of the Library and Information Science (LIS) degree and that applicants should expect a salary of $40,000-60,000. Originality/value – This paper builds on the previous studies in the field to verify that communication skills are among the most, if not the most, desired skills for a modern librarian, and that an LIS degree is still an asset.

Self-facilitation framework for developing soft skills – FSIAR

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Author(s):  
Deepa Sethi
Keyword(s):  
Work Experience ◽  
Business School ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
First Time ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate various ways in which soft skills can be developed. It proposes a self-facilitation framework to develop and enhance soft skills. Design/methodology/approach A survey questionnaire was developed based on a pilot study with reference to key components of an individual’s life which can be instrumental in developing soft skills. Study was conducted on participants of Management Development Program (MDP) in a business school in India between June 2017 and March 2018. Participants who had attended a session on soft skills were selected for the study. In all, 180 participants from 12 programs filled the responses based on a five-point Likert scale. Of all, 167 responses were complete and deemed fit for analysis. Factor analysis using SPSS 22 resulted in five factors, namely, family, self, industry, academia, and resources. Findings Findings indicated that irrespective of gender, age categories, type of organizations working in, and the years of work experience, majority respondents accepted that soft skills could be developed through a holistic approach with the help of a self-facilitation framework (FSIAR) comprising family, self, industry, academia, and resources. Research limitations/implications The framework can be generalized by testing the questions with a larger number of respondents. A further research could be to delve into the cultural factors while using this framework in various countries. Practical implications The study is extremely beneficial for heads of organizations, working executives, educational institutions, scholars, faculty, and trainers. Originality/value This study for the first time has proposed a self-facilitation framework – FSIAR for developing and enhancing soft skills of an individual.

Work-based learning tools to inform the implementation of degree apprenticeships for the public sector in England

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 715-725
Author(s):  
Jonathan Garnett
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe article identifies and examines key elements of a work-based learning framework to consider their use as part of the higher education response to the apprenticeship agenda for the public sector in England.Design/methodology/approachThis article draws upon work-based learning academic literature and the authors 28 years’ experience of the development and implementation of work-based learning at higher education level in the UK and internationally.FindingsThe article suggests that while the experience of work-based learning at higher education level appears to offer many ready-made tools and approaches for the development and delivery of higher and degree apprenticeships, these should not be adopted uncritically and in some cases may require significant repurposing.Research limitations/implicationsThis article is intended to inform practitioners developing degree apprenticeships. Given the degree apprenticeship is still at a relatively early stage in its implementation, this has limited the extent to which it has been possible to review entire degree implementation to the point of participant graduation.Practical implicationsThe article draws upon real-life implementation of innovative curriculum design and is of direct practical relevance to the design and operation of work-based learning for degree apprenticeships.Social implicationsDegree apprenticeships have the potential to increase productivity and enhance social mobility. Effective design and implementation of degree apprenticeships in the public sector has the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of public services.Originality/valueThe article provides an informed and sustained examination of how degree apprenticeships, especially those designed for public sector employees, might build upon previous higher education experience in work-based learning.

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