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Developing competencies for medical librarians in P akistan
Author(s) -
Ullah Midrar,
Anwar Mumtaz A.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
health information and libraries journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1471-1842
pISSN - 1471-1834
DOI - 10.1111/hir.12008
Subject(s) - likert scale , medical library , scrutiny , listing (finance) , medical education , medicine , library science , psychology , nursing , computer science , political science , business , developmental psychology , finance , law
Objective To identify competencies for medical librarians and get these validated from head librarians and employers. Methods The survey method was used. A structured questionnaire, listing 84 competency statements, covering eight areas, prepared after extensive literature review, expert scrutiny and pilot testing, using a 5‐point Likert scale was distributed among the head librarians and chairpersons of library committees ( CLC ) in 115 medical libraries. Results Sixty seven (58%) useable responses were received from head librarians and 63 (55%) from CLC . Of the 84 competency statements 83 were validated by the head librarians, 44 receiving four or higher mean score while the other 39 statements getting mean scores in the range of 3.97 and 3.06. The CLC validated 80 statements. Only 27 statements received four or higher mean score from CLC while the other 53 got mean scores in the range of 3.97 and 3.22. Conclusions Medical librarians are required to be well versed with all those competencies which are needed for general librarianship. In addition, they are expected to have adequate knowledge of health sciences environment including medical terminologies and concepts. Sound knowledge of some competencies specific for medical libraries is an additional requirement for library personnel.