Staff training and development in Ugandan private chartered university libraries.

Abstract

This research is a critical examination of the nature of training and development in Ugandan private chartered university libraries. For contextualization of the study, the nature of training and development were taken into account, the training needs, challenges and strategies for improvement of library staff training and development and implementation were delineated. The study adopted a pragmatism paradigm. After outlining the research problem, which was inadequate skills of staff and lack of proper training and development programmes, the explorations of existing scientific work provided very little help. Therefore a decision was taken to carry out an empirical investigation. The Cybernetic Open Systems Model provided an appropriate conceptual framework for the study. The study adopted the mixed method approach of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to explore the research questions. Methods are combined for overcoming the tensions between qualitative and quantitative research and also to obtain knowledge about the issue of the study which is broader than the single approach provided. Methods of data collection adopted included use of a self-administered questionnaire and interview schedule The data was collected from university librarians, para-professionals and professional library staff of the Ugandan private chartered universities. The chosen methodologies and the data generated enabled the researcher to examine the nature of training and development. Practical strategies for and solutions to the challenges of library staff training and development were generated. These include inadequate finances to support staff training and development, staff retention after training, negative attitudes of staff towards new technology, lack of support and overall direction from university management manifested in reluctance to finalize a training and developing policy and lack of human, physical and financial resources required to achieve efficient and effective service delivery. Partnerships and collaborative service delivery solutions are required to address the backlog in training and development.