Continuing Professional Development and Institutional Support for Academic Librarians in Botswana

Abstract

Among other benefits, continuing professional development (CPD) is an adventure to keep current with developments in the profession and be  reskilled for challenges that may rear up in  the industry. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the kinds of CPD activities that academic librarians in Botswana are involved in; examine different ways in which academic institutions support CPD activities; investigate the perceived  impact of CPD activities and challenges faced by the academic librarians in their endeavor to keep abreast with developments in the profession. A  survey design with a questionnaire was used to assess continuing professional development (CPD) and institutional support amongst academic  librarians in both public and private tertiary institutions in Botswana. A total of 188 copies of the questionnaire were distributed, 116 copies were  returned. Responses point to an environment with minimal management support for CPD. The findings revealed that academic librarians mainly participate in conferences (52.9%), workshops and in-house training. There is very limited external training. A total of 43 (37%) respondents stated  that their employers support them in terms of ‘paid time to attend’ to attend training or conferences. This means that respondents are paid their  usual salary while attending training. Twenty-nine (25%) respondents stated that they received support in terms of travel expenses being paid by  the employer. Whilst librarians decry a lack of mentoring and funding for CPD, management is of the view that the staff did not make the best use of CPD opportunities availed to them. The paper provide some useful recommendations.