Needs for Professional Development of Hospital Librarians in Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/jiskku.2023.3Keywords:
professional development, hospital librarians, administratorsAbstract
Purpose: This study attempts to examine librarian needs for professional development, determine a professional development model and identify problems and barriers to librarians’ professional development.
Methodology: This quantitative research used questionnaires for collecting data from 103 respondents comprising 42 deputy directors for service and health service support systems and directors of medical education centers, and 61 librarians from 3 hospital groups: 1) hospitals with medical education centers 2) hospitals without medical education centers and 3) general hospitals.
Findings: The study results indicated that while the administrators needed the librarians to obtain more knowledge and skills in information technology, the librarians needed to be trained in library technical work. With reference to the professional training models, both administrators, and librarians agreed to the maximum degree that training on various topics for librarians should be provided. In addition, in the views of the administrators, information technology was the major obstacle, while the librarians identified personnel as the main barrier to professional development.
Applications of the study: Findings from this study make great contributions to the formulation of hospital librarian development plans and the guidelines for hospital librarians to develop their knowledge and skills in order to improve their health information services.
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