Exlaipning and comparing university library competency assessment patterns and it effect on improving performances

Tahmasebi Limooni, Safiyeh; Tabibian, Foroozan

doi:10.22055/slis.2019.27678.1544

Exlaipning and comparing university library competency assessment patterns and it effect on improving performances

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

safiyeh tahmasebi limooni ¹

Foroozan tabibian ²

¹ Department of Knowledge &amp; Information Science, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran

² Elementry Education Group, Shahreza Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22055/slis.2019.27678.1544

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explain and design the university librarian's competency model and its impact on improving the performance of libraries. In order to achieve this goal, the debate of the role of library competencies based on the four standards of competence of libraries (technical, team and interpersonal skills, leadership and management, and librarians), will improve their performance which directly affects the vital activities of these libraries. So, it can be said that by rationally investing in this sector and moving from coherent competency models and considering appropriate competency mechanisms, the benefits of improving performance, a clear reflection of expectations for roles, providing conjunct and authoritative information for human resource planning in libraries, connecting and coordination of development activities in libraries with its strategies, increased librarians' motivation, Improving and developing capabilities by providing specific recommendations, supporting and strengthening supervisors relationships with subordinates by quantifying of performance management, targeting human resource management activities or libraries, and providing a common framework and language in the organization to implement employee development talent development strategies Libraries will benefit and this will not happen. Unless by exploring and recognizing the requirements of the competencies of the libraries and the suitable implementation of competency assessment and the development of optimal utilization of libraries by identifying the potential and actual capabilities of their staff.
Methodology: This research is applied in terms of its purpose and data collection is survey-analytical, and analytical is correlative methods. The statistical population of the study consisted of 43 employees of the Central Library of Islamic Azad Universities of the region who were surveyed. The sampling method was a census type. The data collection tool in this study is a questionnaire. To assess the competency variable, 37 statement for the competence of Iranian Tabibian and Fahimeh Babalhavaeji (2014) libraries were used. For the quality of performance variable, the questionnaire of 18 Statements of Shandy and others (2013) has been used. Considering the Cronbach's alpha and the reliability of the combination, which is greater than 0.7 in all research components. Therefore, the reliability of the research questionnaire is confirmed. Also, the AVE value of all research indicators is higher than the value of 0.5, the convergent validity of the questionnaire is acceptable, considering that the extracted mean square variance for each variable is greater than the correlation of that variable with other variables, therefore the diagnostic validity of the research questionnaire is also confirmed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-22 software and Structural Equation Modeling software based on Smart-PLS software.
Findings: The average for competency of the affiliated libraries is 4.04. The highest mean of competency is related to the managerial competency and leadership (4.06). The lowest average of the technical competence component is 3.9. Also, the results of one-sample t-test showed that there is a significant difference between the expected level (2.5) and its competency and its components and the mean level obtained in all cases. Data from the evaluation of the current status of quality of performance in libraries also indicated that the average status of quality of performance in libraries was higher than the expected average (2.5), (3.86). A single-sample t-student test also showed a significant difference between the expected mean and the mean calculated (significance level of 0.05). Also, the significant results of the bivariate regression analysis of librarian competence assessment and performance improvement showed that 50.3% of the changes in performance improvement can be explained and evaluated by assessing the competence of libraries. The value of t statistic for the significance of the variable regression coefficient of librarian competence assessment is 17.096 and greater than the critical value of 1.96, which shows the effect of the librarian competency assessment variable on performance improvement in libraries.
Finally, a meaningful statistic exists between the competency components of libraries and performance improvement in all cases larger than the value (1.96) and indicating that the relationship between all competency and performance improvement is significant. Regarding the path coefficients and the positivity of the effect of variables on each other, it is concluded there is a direct relationship of evaluating competency components with functional improvement in the library.
Discussion: Data analysis showed that the improvement of libraries 'performance is influenced by their competency assessment model so that by increasing the level of competency in all dimensions, libraries' performance and, therefore, the quality of their services will improve. Therefore, managers need to have an active and dynamic library to provide high-quality services that such high-quality services need to utilize competency in the fields of the technical, team and interpersonal, managerial and librarians. Therefore, in order to maintain a meaningful relationship between explaining the competency of libraries (and its components) and improving the performance of the affiliated libraries, the results of this study are confirmed, the librarian's requirements in this regard should be as follows Be prepared to increase the quality of the services provided. It is necessary to institutionalize the promotion of technical, managerial, team and interpersonal competencies and librarians in libraries.

Keywords

"Modeling"

"Competency Assessment"

" University Libraries"

"performance"

"Islamic Azad University "

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