ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Continuing Education—III

Continuing education is a process whereby library professionals update their knowledge, broaden their scope, or gain a more in-depth understanding of some aspect of their profession. It is distinct from staff development in two respects: the professional has the responsibility for identifying specific continuing education activities in which to participate based on immediate or long-range career interests, and the focus of continuing education activities is on the broad needs of the library profession. Staff development activities, on the other hand, are focused on the ongoing needs of staff to acquire and/or update knowledge and skills needed to effectively perform their jobs. Though primary responsibility for continuing education rests with the individual professional, library administrators have a responsibility to encourage continued growth and learning of their staff by supporting participation in continuing education activities.

Continuing education in the library profession is still in its youth—if not in years, in maturity— and there are a number of important issues that require careful thought and consideration from both library administrators and professionals to insure that this process is a positive influence in the profession. One such issue centers on the question of what type of recognition or reward system should be established for participation in continuing education activities. There is a danger that as continuing education becomes more prominent in the field, emphasis will move away from a system of recognition and reward based on demonstrated job competency to a system based on participation in activities. Though participation in continuing education activities should enhance someone’s ability to contribute to their job and library, it is conceivable for someone to participate in such activities without any improvement in performance or contribution of new ideas or approaches. Therefore, recognition and reward should always be focused on the professionals’ performance and not on the single fact of participation in certain activities. Every academic library should develop, where it does not already exist, a system for recognizing and rewarding staff based on job competency and contributions to the library and the profession. In an academic library, a system of recognition and reward might be reflected in the promotion in rank or tenure system, consideration of merit increments, and so forth. Library professionals also receive personal satisfaction for their accomplishments and contributions through the recognition received from colleagues.

Continuing education is critical to academic libraries, and therefore major issues should not be ignored or drowned in well-intentioned rhetoric. Now is not the time for library professionals to once again compare themselves with other professional groups. Instead, continuing education should be considered in relation to the needs of academic libraries and the professionals that staff these libraries. If we begin by defining the purpose and scope of continuing education in relation to these needs, we will be better able to identify essential programs and activities as well as mechanisms for recognizing and rewarding performance and contributions.—Sheila Creth, Assistant Director, University of Connecticut.