Library Instruction – Not Just for our Users: Skills Upgrading for Librarians as a Way of Increasing Self-Confidence

Abstract

This article examines how librarians can improve their skills through a systematic skills upgrading programme, and how this can help improve their confidence in their own expertise. Two identical questionnaires have been issued to the same group of librarians engaged in research support services. In the time period between the two surveys, a skills upgrading programme was carried out. The aim of the second survey is to examine if the librarians' confidence has increased after the yearlong training programme. Even though one of librarians' main tasks is searching, research is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and thusly setting new expectations for librarians.

Managing Knowledge in Academic Libraries Are we? Should we?

“…To build knowledge it is important to map out what knowledge is needed and how this can be obtained. A study from 2015 describes how liaison librarians were asked to complete a survey that rendered their competencies and self-esteem connected to different desired skills visible, and further how a socio-cultural environment and community of practice had a positive effect on their self-confidence (Daland, 2015). Another study on libraries and knowledge management concludes that "[…] information professionals constantly need to upgrade the variety and depth of their subject" and further that "To provide a service that continues to play an irreplaceable part in supporting the organisation's progress the library and information professional must maintain an awareness of both subject and professional developments (Pantry & Griffiths, 2003, p. 107).…”

The need to grow, learn and develop – how does management affect motivation for professional development?

“…IFLA has formulated the standard for "Continuing Professional Development: Principles and Best Practices" (IFLA, 2016), but few libraries seem to have an explicit focus on this yet. According to Townley (2001), Islam, Agarwal and Ikeda (2014) and Daland (2015), much more attention could be dedicated to the area of knowledge management in libraries. Librarians are knowledge workers and a natural assumption would be that their professional self-esteem and job satisfaction would be affected by whether they had the possibility for professional development or not.…”