Purpose

This study aimed to develop and validate a list of core technology competencies for systems librarian in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey method was used to conduct this investigation. A structured questionnaire, consisting of 52 competency statements categorized into six core technology areas, was developed based on an extensive literature review, experts’ scrutiny and pilot testing. The administration of the survey questionnaire was done though online environments such as related listservs and Facebook pages. The received 62 responses were imported into statistical package for social sciences and analyzed by computing means, standard deviations, Pearson correlation and t-test.

Findings

The results indicated six core technology areas where competencies of systems librarians needed to be developed, namely, basic computing, programming and Web publishing, computer networks, cloud computing, database management systems and information systems. The respondents validated 50 statements with an average mean score more than three. Only two statements received mean scores less than three. The results also indicated higher consistency of these statements as the value of Cronbach’s alpha was 0.973.

Research limitations/implications

This research attempted to identify and validate core technology competencies needed for systems librarians in Pakistan. It neither attempted to determine the weightage each competency should have if it was to be included in curriculum nor it intended to identify a detailed content for each core technology competency. In Pakistan, System librarians develop their knowledge and skills with the specialized computer subject by studying on their own, attending training workshops and on job experience. It is therefore worth mentioning here that the knowledge of the needed competencies may be limited.

Practical implications

Library and information science schools need to consider these competencies in developing and designing information curriculum with regard to management of library systems. This set of competencies help academicians in designing need-based curricula and training programs for existing and prospect system librarians in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study would be a worthwhile contribution to the literature on competencies of information professionals especially systems librarians as no such study appeared providing pragmatic, evidenced and field-based insights toward proposed research area.

中文翻译：

---

系统图书馆员核心技术能力的开发和验证

目的

本研究旨在开发和验证巴基斯坦系统图书馆员的核心技术能力清单。

设计/方法/方法

本次调查采用调查法。在广泛的文献回顾、专家审查和试点测试的基础上，开发了一份结构化问卷，包括 52 项能力陈述，分为六个核心技术领域。调查问卷的管理是通过相关列表服务和 Facebook 页面等在线环境完成的。将收到的 62 份答复导入社会科学统计包，并通过计算手段、标准差、皮尔逊相关性和t检验进行分析。

发现

结果表明，需要培养系统馆员能力的六个核心技术领域，即基础计算、编程和网络出版、计算机网络、云计算、数据库管理系统和信息系统。受访者验证了 50 条平均得分超过 3 的陈述。只有两份陈述的平均分数低于三分。结果还表明这些陈述的一致性更高，因为 Cronbach 的 alpha 值为 0.973。

研究限制/影响

这项研究试图确定和验证巴基斯坦系统图书馆员所需的核心技术能力。它既没有试图确定每项能力在课程中应具有的权重，也没有打算确定每项核心技术能力的详细内容。在巴基斯坦，系统图书馆员通过自学、参加培训讲习班和工作经验来发展专业计算机学科的知识和技能。因此这里值得一提的是，所需能力的知识可能是有限的。

实际影响

图书馆和信息科学学校在开发和设计与图书馆系统管理相关的信息课程时需要考虑这些能力。这套能力帮助院士为巴基斯坦现有和潜在的系统图书馆员设计基于需求的课程和培训计划。

原创性/价值

这项研究将对有关信息专业人员，尤其是系统图书馆员能力的文献做出有价值的贡献，因为似乎没有这样的研究为拟议的研究领域提供务实的、有证据的和基于实地的见解。