Mentoring librarians for scholarly publishing

Abstract

This paper illustrates the experiences of the University of Namibia (UNAM) Library in demonstrating that librarians in its employment are, indeed, academic staff by research and publications and by performing academic support functions for researchers, students, faculties and centres. This was tested through the UNAM Library capacity building project initiative in partnership with the Helsinki University (HU) Library and Tampere University (UTA) Library, in Finland. The learning objectives of this collaborative project were to improve competencies of UNAM Library staff so that they are able to function expertly and competently in an academic environment and to evidently assert their position as academic staff. The approach applied in this collaborative capacity building project included staff exchanges to share best practices; joint seminars, meetings and mentorship programs with research as a cross cutting issue in all the areas. Staff members were encouraged to think critically about what they have learned, how it contributes to their work at UNAM and to develop their research skills. One of the highlights of this collaborative project is a book with the title Empowering People – Collaboration between Finnish and Namibian University Libraries. The book provides evidence to the librarians themselves as well to the university community that research and scholarly communication is equally a part and parcel of the librarians’ work.

Current and required competencies of university librarians in Pakistan

“…Moreover, research and scholarly communication skills are important components of work for the university librarians to affirm their value as academic employees in universities (Namhila, 2014). Grgic and Zivkovic (2014) focused their study on core competencies for academic reference librarians.…”

Sister library cooperation

“…In 2006, the University Librarian of Xiamen University, China and the University Librarian of Haifa University, Israel met in Seattle and initiated a personal relationship which later became a sister libraries relationship between Israel and China (Xiamen University, 2014). A successful tripartite collaboration partnership between University of Namibia, University of Tampere and University of Helsinki, Finland established in 2010 was also reported by Namhila (2014). According to Rosa and Storey (2016), there are more than 100 library consortia in the United States, each offering significant advantages to libraries.…”

“…However, they expressed that caution should be exercised so that they would not be seen as constituting a burden on their sister library. They noted that in learning from each other, the partnership would enhance library service delivery in their library as it would provide them the opportunity to learn how to do the same work differently (Namhila, 2014). It would also promote technological advancement in FUNAAB because this would expose them to new trends in librarianship.…”