Continuing Professional Development of LIS Professionals Working in Select University Libraries in Nepal

Abstract

Continuing professional development (CPD) programmes emerge as  nstrumental mechanisms for elevating employee skills, nurturing a culture of perpetual learning, and augmenting professional success. This study attempts to focus on the CPD programmes and their impacts in Nepal. A structured questionnaire was designed and circulated personally among eight librarians in October 2022, and all duly filled-in questionnaires elicited a response rate of 100%. The findings unveiled a notable need for more participation of university librarians in scholarly
communication endeavours. Most LIS professionals were found to need more affiliations with national-level professional associations. They had yet to find opportunities to attend conferences, workshops, and training programmes to fortify their professional acumen. Furthermore, this study identified several formidable barriers obstructing attendance at  CPD programmes, including inadequate workplace support, financial constraints, an interaction gap between subject matter experts and participants, time limitations, and logistical challenges related to travel. In light of these findings, it is recommended that an expanded array of CPD initiatives be orchestrated specifically for LIS professionals in Nepal. The findings of this study will certainly add value for the working professionals in Nepal to enhance their professional skills.