Do library staff have what it takes to be a librarian of the future?

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to outline strategies and approaches in the workforce plan tornaddress skill shortages in the university of Melbourne library to ensure that staff have the appropriaternskills for the future.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The objectives were achieved by developing a workforce plan tornidentify skills gaps, and then to work with training providers to develop a training plan. There wasrncollaboration with two TAFE colleges to deliver accredited courses to staff to develop the skillsrnrequired, ensuring key competencies were achieved and the staff received accreditation for theirrnlearningrnFindings - The workforce plan showed an aging workforce but also skill shortages across thernlibrary. If the library was to be able to deliver services to meet the needs of future students then itrnneeded to develop training programs to enable staff to develop the appropriate skill sets required tornmeet the needs of the library in the future. A brief survey of participants of the course discovered staffrnfound the course very useful, although not all staff were able to utilize their new skills as effectively asrnthey might in their current roles. This showed a need to review and re-write position descriptions forrnstaff.rnPractical implications - The outcomes and implications for the future are to ensure there is:rnan ongoing staff development and training program in place for staff to enable them to continuallyrnupdate their skills as required to meet the needs of the library; that staff have opportunities to utilizernthe new skills they have acquired to improve and deliver library services; and that staff have thernappropriate time to learn and develop themselvesrnOriginality/value - The paper shows that some of the key competencies required by staff are notrnalways learnt in the workplace, or in universities, but can be delivered by vocational training providersrnsuch as a TAFE college. The idea of working with TAFE teachers to develop and adapt a trainingrnprogram is quite a different approach to solving this skill gap problem.