Shaping the Future Information Professionals: Searching for the Balance of Job Requirements in Libraries and Education

Abstract

Preparing new information professionals for work is challenging and difficult for organizations like libraries, archives, museums and other public and government institutions as well as for commercial firms seeking highly knowledgeable, skillful and motivated individuals. The paper presents the results from the research study in public libraries in Croatia about their views on knowledge, skills and literacies required for employment in these institutions. The research questions inquire about the understanding of knowledge, skills and literacies of new employees; the adjustment of university study programs to the library practices; and about introduction and frequency of changes of the university study programs. An online questionnaire with nine closed type questions was chosen as the research method. A total of 159 public libraries participated in the research which presents a clear view of public libraries’ attitudes about the paper topic, and a need for further and more frequent communication with universities.