Adapting Librarians’ Professional Competences to Current Requirements through Initial Education and Lifelong Education

Abstract

The alert pace of technological, information and social development of contemporary society prevent academic programmes of initial education (bachelor, master) in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS) from supplying graduates with enough knowledge and competences to meet the employers’ requirements: this makes lifelong learning indispensable. The initial education and lifelong education options for graduate professional librarians in Romania as stipulated by the specific legislation are bachelor in LIS, bachelor in another professional field plus a master in LIS, bachelor in another field plus competence acquired otherwise than through formal education and assessed based on Occupational Standards as acknowledged by the National Agency for Qualifications. The beneficial effects of lifelong learning are blurred in Romania by the propagation of a traditional, outdated professional profile strongly marked by negative stereotyping and that still keep youth away from a career in the info-documentary field. To well adapt the profession of librarian to the requirements of our society (information technology and globalisation), lifelong learning programmes need to pay attention not only to specific professional competences but also to competences and activities related to institutional internationalisation and adaptation to the multicultural environment, educating the public in the spirit of information literacy, and revitalising the didactics and promotion of reading.