Library Employees’ Perspective of Capacity Building through Continuing Professional Development in the Republic of Maldives

Abstract

Due to many factors, particularly developments in technology, LIS professionals need to continuously refresh and upgrade their knowledge and skills through participation in continuing professional development (CPD) activities. The objective of this pilot study was to understand LIS employees’ perceptions, motivation, assessment, and preference for participation in CPD programs. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were used. An online questionnaire was administered, and 49 responses were received which was adequate considering the small size of the country. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom with four LIS employees representing national, academic, and school libraries and with three other LIS professionals in the country. Findings revealed that only 30.7% of the respondents had participated in any CPD learning programs. It was also revealed that LIS employees in the Maldives had access to a very limited number of LIS-related CPD programs. The CPD programs offered by the National Library of Maldives’s (NLM) were mainly targeted at new entrants to the profession as a majority of them were without any LIS qualification. As a result, appropriate training programs were lacking for supervisory and middle management employees across all types of libraries. Data analysis also revealed that the top three barriers to pursuing CPD programs were lack of suitable training programs, too costly to pay from personal funds, and lack of opportunities for career advancement. Three areas of potential improvement pertaining to LIS employees’ engagement in CPD activities were identified. The findings are expected to provide some basic data for developing a CPD plan and strategies for the LIS sector in the Maldives.