Continuing education needs of library and information science professionals in universities in Malaysia

Abstract

The research was undertaken to discover the continuing education needs of library and information professionals in universities, both public and private, in Malaysia with a focus on the current practices, needs and preferences, obstacles and motivating factors. The instrument for the study was an 8-page questionnaire. The questionnaire was mailed to 305 library and information science professionals in universities, in Malaysia, fiom which 151 (49.5%) returned the questionnaire. It was found that 131 (87.92%) respondents had attended continuing, education activities over the past 3 years (i.e. 2000 — 2002). Malaysian library and information science professionals are aware of the importance to improve and update their knowledge, skills and competencies in order to survive in development of Ilie field. This is shown by the increasing number of respondents attending continuing education programmes over the past 3 years. 'file most highly need areas / topics needed in continuing education were issues in reference infomiation service (61.1%), leadership (56.5%), developing digital libraries (51.9%), metadata (45.0%), management of library materials (39.7%), copyright issues (32.8%), purchasing electronic resources (32.8%) and licensing agreement / issues (32.7%). The factors that encouraged library and information science professionals' participation in continuing education programmes included the oppornmity to gain new knowledge, topic(s) relevant to respondents' needs, opportunities to update existing knowledge, convenient time / date and location, reasonable cost and interesting format. The obstacles and barriers that would prevent the library and information science professionals' participation in continuing education included not being chosen by head / institution, insufficient funds, time / date not convenient, as well as the place being too far / not convenient. This study supports the view that continuing education needs of library and information science professional are especially useful in raising the status of professionals in Malaysia.