Training and Developing the Skills and Competencies of Information Specialists in University Libraries in Light of the Electronic Environment

Abstract

To work in libraries in an electronic environment, information specialists need a set of skills, including administrative, technical, and strategic-building skills, which enable them to adapt to the technological changes occurring in their field of specialization. The research aims to identify the professional reality of staff working in college libraries at the University of Wasit and to identify the training needs of staff through training programs. A field approach and questionnaires were used as tools for collecting data and information. The most prominent results of the research revealed that library staff emphasized the importance of developing training programs for them in an electronic environment, especially with the emergence of digital libraries. Among the research recommendations is the need for libraries to strive for continuous professional training and development for their staff and to encourage the establishment of a specialized center at the university to develop the skills of its staff.