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Impact of continuing education programs (CEPs) on LIS professionals in academic libraries in Mumbai, India

Madhura Deodhar (IES Management College and Research Center, Mumbai, India)
Sushama Powdwal (Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, Mumbai, India)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 14 March 2017

564

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report the research findings of an evaluation of the impact of continuing education programs (CEPs) on library information science (LIS) professionals of academic libraries in Mumbai, India. The paper also introduces Donald Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation for Library Science research in the area of program evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

The impact of CEPs was evaluated using Donald Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation using survey method. The impact was evaluated at four levels; reaction, learning, behavior and results. The population of the present study included 344 LIS professionals working at colleges libraries affiliated to University of Mumbai and Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women’s University in Mumbai, India. The data collected through questionnaire were supplemented by five specimen interviews of heads of institutions of the academic librarians who had attended more than five CEPs in five years, 2009-2013.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that professionals were satisfied with CEP attendance; keen on gaining more knowledge and transferring the acquired knowledge and skills at their workplaces and interested in implementing the learning to achieve results. The reasons given by academic librarians on not implementing the learning in the library indicated that there were hindrances like lack of management support, lack of technical expertise, inadequate staff in the library, poor IT Infrastructure, etc. in transferring the learning at work.

Research limitations/implications

The study was based on self-perceptions of respondents. The limitation of self-perception was eliminated to some extent by supplementing qualitative data wherever required. CEPs included conferences, seminars, workshops, refresher courses, orientation programs and online courses. Pre-test and post-test recommended by the Kirkpatrick model could not be conducted as the researcher has not adopted experimental design. The data of feedback from the organizers and content of the CEPs attended by respondents were not analyzed in the study.

Practical implications

The paper describes the implementation of Kirkpatrick model to evaluate the CEPs, which can be used by the organizers or institutions to evaluate the impact of CEPs in future. This will help them to improve upon the contents of CEPs making them more relevant and effective.

Social implications

Evaluation of CEPs will be useful to ensure the effectiveness of CEPs and performance of LIS professionals.

Originality/value

This paper reports an original research initiative undertaken to evaluate the impact of CEPs attended by LIS professionals of Indian academic libraries in Mumbai, India. It fills the gap in LIS research. The application of Donald Kirkpatrick model of Training evaluation is also valuable for LIS research.

Keywords

Citation

Deodhar, M. and Powdwal, S. (2017), "Impact of continuing education programs (CEPs) on LIS professionals in academic libraries in Mumbai, India", Library Management, Vol. 38 No. 2/3, pp. 117-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-07-2016-0051

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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