Mid-Career Development of Librarians Through Advanced Management Training

ByDr. Mumtaz A. Anwar

Hon. ProfessorUniversity of the Punjab, Lahore

Career Development: National Models

• Judges: Judicial course will be compulsory for promotion at every level (Jang, 6 May 2012)

• Senior bureaucrats: Officials who do not complete the compulsory training course will be deprived from promotion (Jang, 13 October 2012)

• Federal Bureau of Revenue: Training course compulsory for promotion for senior official (Jang, 20 November 2013)

• Jail officials: Management course compulsory (Jang, 23 May 2013)

Survey Methods and Procedures

Being conducted in Punjab only• Used a 2-page questionnaire• 25 senior librarians (Grade 18 and above) from public university libraries

- All• 40 Senior government college librarians (10+ years of service) –

Convenience sampling• Response 38 (58.5%) out of 65

Table 1, Requirements preferred for promotion to higher salary scales (Mean Scores)

Statement of Requirements University Librarians

College Librarians

Combined Mean for Both

Rank for Both

All annual confidential reports for the past five years must be satisfactory

4.24 4.08 4.18 1

A minimum of five years of experience in the lower grade should be required for each step of promotion

4.20 4.08* 4.16** 2

The candidate must have attended at least one senior management training course for each step of promotion

3.96 3.92 3.95 3

There should be no adverse reports on the candidate’s performance during the past five years

3.92 3.62 3.82 4

At least one research-based paper should be required for each step of promotion from grade 18 and above

2.88 3.00 2.92 5

A Ph. D. in LIS should be required for promotion from 19 to 20

2.60 3.15 2.79 6

An M. Phil. in LIS should be required for promotion from 18 to 19

2.56 2.62 2.58 7

Table 2, Essential skills preferred for promotion / selection(Mean Scores)

Statement of Skills University Librarians

College Librarians

Combined Mean for

Both

Rank for

Both

Possessing writing skills to prepare policies, plans, and reports

4.56 4.07 4.39 1

Possessing management skills to run the organization effectively

4.52 3.77 4.26 2

Possessing skills to prepare and manage projects

4.36 3.77 4.16 3

Possessing communication skills for negotiations and making presentations

4.12 4.00 4.08 4

Possessing financial managements skills to prepare and mange budget

4.12 3.83* 4.03** 5

Possessing ability to conduct research

3.64 3.38 3.55 6

Table 3, Importance of management training course for promotion(Mean Score)

Management Training Courses University Librarians

College Librarians

Combined Mean for Both

Rank for

Both

Official / business writing/ communication

4.64 4.23 4.50 1

Management of human relations 4.48 3.92 4.29 2

Budgeting and financial management 4.48 3.69 4.21 3

Evaluation and measurement 4.32 3,92* 4.19** 4

Strategic planning and execution 4.32 3.83* 4.16** 5

Space planning and management 4.24 3.85 4.11 6

Project development and management

4.16 3.92 4.08 7

Should management courses be made a requirement for promotion / selection

Requirement University librarians (21)

College Librarians (13)

Total

Yes 14 (66.7%) 7 (33.3%) 21

No 7 (53.8%) 6 (46.2%) 13

Total 21 (61.8%) 13 (38.2%) 34

Table 4, Institutions preferred to offer management training courses?(Mean Scores)

Institutions to offer management training courses

University Librarians

College Librarians

Combined Mean for Both

Rank for Both

A public university that offers M.Phil., Ph.D. and has at least 3 full-time faculty members with Ph.D.

3.72 4.25* 3.89** 1

A public university that offers M.Phil. and Ph.D.

3.84 4.00* 3.89** 1

A public university that offers an MLIS programme

3.52 3.58* 3.54** 2

Any university whether public or private that offers at least an MLIS programme

3.48 3.46 3.47 3

What next: Recommendations

• Do we need researchers or managers with advanced managerial training?

• What is needed?1. Advanced managerial training compulsory for any promotions

from grade 18 onwards2. Such an arrangement to be made part of the service structure3. A post-master educational set-up in one or more public

universities, guaranteeing quality and standards, focusing on advanced managerial and specialized education parallel to other professional models

• This process will create good leaders and managers