SKILLS FOR FUTURE AND CURRENT LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS – PERCEPTIONS OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS IN NEW DELHI

Abstract

New Delhi academic librarians were asked to rank traditional as well as new skills needed for future library and information professionals. For this study, skills were identified based on the published literature. A simple web based questionnaire was administered to 25 academic librarians in the city of New Delhi, India. Twenty librarians responded and it was found that the majority are not fully satisfied with the present skill sets of the new information professionals. The study showed that communication skills were perceived as the most important skills required for emerging information professionals, followed by information-communication-technology (ICT), management, organization, research, marketing and negotiation skills. Ninety-two per cent of the librarians stated that re-training was essential especially in the areas of ICT applications for professionals already working in libraries. The study highlights the need to reinforce education and training programmes in the country to turn out fully skilled future library and information professionals, as well as to update current practitioners' skills.