Continuous professional development requirements of public librarians in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Abstract

Continuous professional development (CPD) is a vital tool for maintaining and sustaining the skills, knowledge and expertise of staff members in organisation. The user-friendliness of information and communication technology (ICT) has made this possible. CPD activities are designed to bridge the knowledge gap between formal education and the demands of library and information professionals. This study investigates CPD requirements of public librarians in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The study was informed by the positivist research paradigm that employed the quantitative approach followed by descriptive research design. The population for the study consisted of 114 librarians managing public libraries in the Mpumalanga province. The instruments used for data collection was the questionnaires. A total of 114 copies of the structured questionnaire were self-administered among the respondents and others sent as email to the respondents due to the covid-19 pandemic. This was to adhere to the restriction of the covid- 19 pandemic amidst carrying out the research investigation. Data obtained from the respondents were analysed using descriptive statistical tools. Finding from the study reveal that, respondents have interest and willing to pursue CPD programmes. The essence of the CPD programmes was help librarians to function better in a changing workplace environment. The scenario at public libraries in the Mpumalanga province is different due to challenges faced by many library staff; for example, irregular training, lack of funding and non-affirmation of policy within the library environment. It was established in the study that, the CPD programmes would help to upgrade librarians’ knowledge and skills constantly throughout their career growth, especially in this changing world where core skills of emerging technologies are evolving. The study recommends that librarians should embrace CPD, as a means of improving knowledge and skills and keeping up to date with current developments in the field. This would help improve their job performance and develop new skills to add to what they have learnt. The study also recommends that the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) and LIS sectors should obtain a copyright copy of the framework for consideration and implementation in the organisation. Organisations in these sectors should implement the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) framework if they intend to survive in the competitive changing environment. This would help solve the problem of not having a structured and well-formulated policy for training and development and CPD of staff.