INFORMACINIŲ IR RYŠIŲ TECHNOLOGIJŲ (IRT) TAIKYMAS TOBULINАNТ BIBLIOTEKŲ PERSONALO KVALIFIKACIJĄ.

The importance of ICT competencies acquired by librarians has been particularly highlighted in the context of the pandemic, as a tool for service delivery, social networking and professional development. The research analyses issues of ICT competencies in the development of the qualifications of librarians. An analysis of the system of professional development of librarians has shown that the professional development of librarians is inconsistent and fragmentary, carried out mainly on a project basis; and therefore it does not provide conditions for the qualitative improvement of qualifications. The problem is that no scientific research has been done in Lithuania on ICT competencies and their impact on professional development. There is no research in Lithuania for librarians that examines which ICT competencies need to be acquired for successful work done according to duties. There are no clear criteria on the basis of which the level of competencies can be assessed; therefore, the planning of the improvement of qualifications is inefficient. Klaipėda region libraries were selected for the study. The study consists of two parts: qualitative research and quantitative research. The article presents the results of the qualitative research. After an analysis of scientific sources, two methodologies for the assessment of ICT competencies were selected for the research. These methodologies for assessing ICT competencies have been adapted for libraries. The main difference is that one methodology for assessing ICT competencies has eight levels of competencies, and another has six. The interview method was used in the study. The interviewees were county library staff, because the county library is a methodology centre for regional libraries. Twenty-eight interviewees from county libraries attended. They were provided with a list of 45 ICT competencies and asked to assess their acquired ICT competencies according to this list using both ICT competency assessment methodologies. A total of 17 out of the 28 study participants indicated the methodology for assessing information and communication technology competencies by DigiComp as more convenient to use. The study identified the 20 most important ICT competencies required for librarians to carry out their daily work. This list also included ICT competencies that are needed to learn other ICT competencies. By applying methodology for the assessment of ICT competencies, comprehensive lists of ICT competencies can be compiled for each position, and the recommended levels of each competency can be determined. The study has revealed that librarians have a good understanding of the importance of ICT competencies and ICT tools in terms of professional development, and agree that ICT competencies contribute to comprehensive professional development. Recommendations are made based on the issues analysed in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straipsnyje aptariama bibliotekų personalo kvalifikacijos tobulinimo problematika. Akcentuojamos pasaulinės tendencijos, kai ypač aktualios yra IRT kompetencijos ir jų tobulinimas, nes padeda bibliotekoms teikti šiuolaikiškas ir aktualias paslaugas, kurios tenkina lankytojų ar jų paslaugų vartotojų poreikius bei lūkesčius. Lietuvoje laikomasi tokio paties požiūrio, tik bibliotekininkų kvalifikacijos ir IRT kompetencijų tobulinimas kol kas fragmentiškas, nenuoseklus, neindividualizuotas ir vykdomas daugiausia projektinių uždavinių bei finansavimo pagrindu. Nėra kriterijų ir metodikų, kurios padėtų nustatyti, kokias IRT kompetencijas bibliotekininkas yra įgijęs ir kokio jos lygio, kaip atsižvelgiant į tai planuoti jo kvalifikacijos tobulinimą. Lietuvoje neatlikta tyrimų, kurie būtų įvertinę, kokios IRT kompetencijos aktualiausios bibliotekininkams pareigų aspektu, atliekant kasdienes darbo funkcijas, kokio jos turi būti lygio, atsižvelgiant į pareigas, koks IRT kompetencijų poveikis visapusiškai tobulinant kvalifikaciją. Siekiant gerinti Klaipėdos regiono bibliotekininkų kvalifikacijos tobulinimo procesą ir spręsti šias problemas, vykdytas kokybinis ir kiekybinis tyrimas. Šiame straipsnyje dėmesys sutelktas ties kokybiniu tyrimu, kuris leido nustatyti, kad bibliotekininkų IRT kompetencijoms vertinti galima adaptuoti ne bibliotekoms skirtą metodiką, ja remiantis pateikti svarbiausių visoms pareigybėms IRT kompetencijų sąrašą, į kurį įtrauktos ir kompetencijos, padedančios visapusiškai tobulinti kvalifikaciją. Kokybinio tyrimo rezultatai sudarė prielaidas vykdyti išsamesnį kiekybinį tyrimą. Pateiktos išvados ir rekomendacijos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]