Abstract
This paper reports on an aspect of a 2016 masters study which addresses the research question: what knowledge and skills do humanities librarians require to effectively provide support to postgraduate students in the digital age? The study adopted a qualitative approach using a multiple case study design, within a constructivist paradigm, to respond to the research question, with core competency theory used to provide theoretical support. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with purposively sampled librarians and postgraduate students from Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape, all of which are situated in the Western Cape of South Africa. A significant finding of the study is that a mixture of discipline-specific knowledge and skills, generic skills and personal attributes are required by humanities librarians to effectively support postgraduate students, especially in the current digital age. The study presents a knowledge and skills framework that could be used to ascertain humanities librarians’ current knowledge and skills as well as establish areas for further knowledge and skills acquisition.
References
Adanu, T. 2007. “Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in State-Owned University Libraries in Ghana.” Library Management 28 (6/7): 292–305. doi:10.1108/01435120710774440.Search in Google Scholar
Association of College & Research Libraries [ACRL] Research Planning and Review Committee. 2016. “2016 Top Trends in Academic Libraries: A Review of the Trends and Issues Affecting Academic Libraries in Higher Education.” College & Research Libraries News 77 (6): 274–81. doi:10.5860/crln.77.6.9505.Search in Google Scholar
Bless, C., C. Higson-Smith, and S. Sithole. 2013. Fundamentals of Social Research Methods: An African Perspective, 5th ed. Cape Town, South Africa: Juta.Search in Google Scholar
Bunting, I. 2006. “The Higher Education Landscape Under Apartheid.” In Transformation in Higher Education, edited by N. Cloete, P. Maassen, R. Fehnel, T. Moja, T. Gibbon, and H. Perold. Netherlands: Springer. doi:10.1007/1-4020-4006-7.Search in Google Scholar
Chiware, E., and Z. Mathe. 2015. “Academic Libraries’ Role in Research Data Management Services: A South African Perspective.” South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science 81 (2): 1–10. doi:10.7553/81-2-1563.Search in Google Scholar
Choi, Y., and E. Rasmussen. 2009. “What Qualifications and Skills are Important for Digital Librarian Positions in Academic Libraries? A Job Advertisement Analysis.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 35 (5): 457–67. doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2009.06.003.Search in Google Scholar
Johnson, G. 2016. “A Study of the Knowledge and Skills Requirements for the Humanities Librarian in Supporting Postgraduate Students.” MA Thesis, University of Cape Town. Accessed August 2, 2018. https://open.uct.ac.za/handle/11427/22774.Search in Google Scholar
Kahn, M., R. Higgs, J. Davidson, and S. Jones. 2014. “Research Data Management in South Africa: How We Shape Up.” Australian Academic & Research Libraries 45 (4): 296–308. doi:10.1080/00048623.2014.951910.Search in Google Scholar
Kealy, K. 2009. “Do Library Staff Have What It Takes to Be a Librarian of the Future?.” Library Management 30 (8/9): 572–82. doi:10.1108/01435120911006539.Search in Google Scholar
Ketlhoilwe, B., and S. Molatedi. 2015. “An Evaluation of the University of Botswana Reference Services Staff: Current and Future Skills and Competencies.” International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Reference and Information Services Section (RISS). Satellite Meeting and Pre-Conference, August 11–13, 2015, 1–12. Botswana: Gaborone. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/reference-and-information-services/publications/2-ketlhoilwe-en.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Kwanya, T., C. Stilwell, and P. Underwood. 2012. “A Competency Index for Research Librarians in Kenya.” African Journal of Library, Archives & Information Science 22 (1): 1–18. Accessed March 21, 2017. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christine_Stilwell/publication/268800913_A_Competency_Index_for_Research_Librarians_in_Kenya/links/54ec9c790cf27fbfd7711eec/A-Competency-Index-for-Research-Librarians-in-Kenya.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Lahti, R. 1999. “Identifying and Integrating Individual Level and Organizational Level Core Competencies.” Journal of Business and Psychology 14 (1): 59–75. doi:10.1023/A:1022906400927. Accessed March 15, 2017.Search in Google Scholar
Luce, R. 2008. “A New Value Equation Challenge: The Emergence of Eresearch and Roles for Research Libraries.” In No brief candle: Reconceiving research libraries for the 21st century. Council on Library and Information Resources, Ed. Washington, D. C.: Council on Library and Information Resources. 42–50. Accessed January 06, 2016. http://www.clir.org/pubs/reports/pub142/pub142.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Mathew, K., M. Baby, and S. Pillai. 2010. “Professional Development of Academic Library Professionals in Kerala.” Education for Information 28 (2): 215–25. doi:10.3233/EFI-2010-0903.Search in Google Scholar
Nonthacumjane, P. 2011. “Key Skills and Competencies of a New Generation of LIS Professionals.” IFLA Journal 37 (4): 280–88. doi:10.1177/0340035211430475.Search in Google Scholar
Ocholla, D., and Shongwe, M. 2013. “An Analysis of the Library and Information Science (LIS) Job Market in South Africa.” South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science 79 (1): 35–43. doi:10.7553/79-1-113.Search in Google Scholar
Orme, V. 2008. “You Will Be … : A Study of Job Advertisements to Determine Employers’ Requirements for LIS Professionals in the UK in 2007.” Library Review 57 (8): 619–33. doi:10.1108/00242530810899595.Search in Google Scholar
Partridge, H., J. Lee, and C. Munro. 2010. “Becoming “Librarian 2.0”: The Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes Required by Library and Information Science Professionals in a Web 2.0 World (And Beyond).” Library Trends 59 (1–2): 315–35. Accessed March 31, 2017. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/39553/1/39553.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Partridge, H., V. Menzies, J. Lee, and C. Munro. 2010. “The Contemporary Librarian: Skills, Knowledge and Attributes Required in a World of Emerging Technologies.” Library & Information Science Research 32 (4): 265–71. doi:10.1016/j.lisr.2010.07.001.Search in Google Scholar
Prahalad, C. K. 1993. “The Role of Core Competencies in the Corporation.” Research Technology Management 36 (6): 40–47. Accessed March 10, 2017. https://mark-mortensen.wiki.uml.edu/file/view/Core_Competencies_and_Growth.pdf.10.1080/08956308.1993.11670940Search in Google Scholar
Prahalad, C. K., and G. Hamel. 1990. “The Core Competence of the Corporation.” Harvard Business Review 79–90. Accessed March 5, 2017. http://www.cuhkemba.net/Nova_Management/07/0712/071223,%2030/The_Core_Competence_of_the_Corporation.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Punch, K. 2014. Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, 3rd ed. London: SAGE Publications.Search in Google Scholar
Raju, J. 2014. “Knowledge and Skills for the Digital Era Academic Library.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 40 (2): 163–70. doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2014.02.007.Search in Google Scholar
Raju, J. 2016. “Core Competencies in LIS Education: Professional, Generic and Personal Competencies for the Higher Education LIS Sector.” Paper presented at the World Library and Information Congress 82nd IFLA General Conference and Assembly Satellite Meeting Co-organised by the Section on Education and Training and Section on Library Theory and Research, the Conference Centre at OCLC, Dublin, Ohio, USA, August 10, 2016. Accessed March 13, 2017. https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/events/2016/IFLA2016/presentations/Core-Competencies-in-LIS-Education.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Selematsela, D., and A. Du Toit. 2007. “Competency Profile for Librarians Teaching Information Literacy.” South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science 73 (2): 119–29. Accessed March 11, 2017. http://sajlis.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1345/1261.10.7553/73-2-1345Search in Google Scholar
Selznick, P. 1957. Leadership in Administration: A Sociological Interpretation. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.Search in Google Scholar
Sewdass, N., and J. Theron. 2004. “Towards a Framework for Continuing Professional Development of Library and Information Service Personnel in South Africa.” Mousaion 22 (1): 103–18. Accessed March 15, 2017. http://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/mousaion/22/1/mousaion_v22_n1_a7.pdf?expires=1534832347&id=id&accname=57709&checksum=C11941D2D36F4A298DBD8CB944016990.Search in Google Scholar
Smith, D. J., J. Hurd, and L. Schmidt. 2013. “Developing Core Competencies for Library Staff: How University of South Florida Library Re-Evaluated Its Workforce.” College & Research Libraries News 74 (1): 14–17, 35. Accessed March 16, 2017. http://crln.acrl.org/content/74/1/14.full.10.5860/crln.74.1.8880Search in Google Scholar
South Africa, Department of Higher Education and Training. n.d. “Universities in South Africa.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://www.dhet.gov.za/SiteAssets/New%20site%20Documents/Universities%20in%20South%20Africa1.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Stellenbosch University. 2011. “General Contact Details.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://library.sun.ac.za/English/aboutus/contactus/Pages/default.aspx.Search in Google Scholar
Stellenbosch University. 2015a. “Discover Stellenbosch University.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://www.sun.ac.za/english/about-us/Why-SU.Search in Google Scholar
Stellenbosch University. 2015b. “Faculty Profile: Statistical Profile.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/arts/about/faculty-profile.Search in Google Scholar
Tanloet, P., and K. Tuamsuk. 2011. “Core Competencies for Information Professionals of Thai Academic Libraries in the Next Decade (A.D. 2010-2019).” The International Information & Library Review 43: 122–29. doi:10.1016/j.iilr.2011.07.0005.Search in Google Scholar
Thomas, J. 2011. “Future-Proofing: The Academic Library’s Role in e-Research Support.” Library Management 32 (1/2): 37–47. doi:10.1108/01435121111102566.Search in Google Scholar
University of Cape Town. 2015. “Overview.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://www.humanities.uct.ac.za/hum/about/overview.Search in Google Scholar
University of Cape Town Libraries. 2013. “About the Libraries.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/lib/about-libraries.Search in Google Scholar
University of the Western Cape. 2013a. “Opening Hours.” Accessed March 25, 2017. http://lib.uwc.ac.za/index.php/2012-11-20-02-38-33/library-hours.html.Search in Google Scholar
University of the Western Cape. 2013b. “UWC Faculties.” Accessed March 25, 2017. https://www.uwc.ac.za/Faculties/Pages/default.aspx.Search in Google Scholar
University of the Western Cape. 2013c. “UWC History.” Accessed March 25, 2017. https://www.uwc.ac.za/Pages/History.aspx.Search in Google Scholar
University of the Western Cape. 2013d. “Welcome to the Faculty of Arts.” Accessed March 25, 2017. https://www.uwc.ac.za/Faculties/ART/Pages/Home.aspx#Centres.Search in Google Scholar
Zauha, J., and G. Potter. 2009. “Out West and down Under: New Geographies for Staff Development.” Library Management 30 (8/9): 549–60. doi:10.1108/01435120911006511.Search in Google Scholar
© 2018 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston