Professional capacity development: New Bulgarian University Library case study

Abstract

The New Bulgarian University Library (NBU Library) is an open data-sharing institution, where experience, projects and initiatives are public transparent. As an academic library, we are challenged to work for the constant improvement and sustainability of librarianship in Bulgaria. We were aware that investing in human capital will repay us in the near future. We realized the necessity to redesign the career pathway for librarians, based on defined stages of achievement, self-directed participation in library-wide projects, promoting team-working and demonstrated commitment to lifelong learning. The NBU Library has design a three-stage training program for continuing education and professional capacity development -formal education, group training and individual training. Librarians were stimulated to acquire Master Degree, either in a subject field or in Librarianship, according their occupation requirements and ensuring better service level. To acquire new or improve the level of their competences, librarians are attending close group trainings within the Library. We have specialized group training on e-resources accessibility and functionalities, which is open for wide group of professionals. NBU Library personnel also attend group training in specialized courses of the National Center for Continuing Education of Librarians and trainings at other libraries. Library staff participates actively in joint local and international projects, conferences and workshops to exchange innovations and practices, and share experience. The Library has developed a network for exchange of knowledge and is voting for continuing qualification of library personnel and distributed librarianship. In 2000 year the Library added a new communication channel – the first open access professional library and information science e-journal “Bibliosphere” (http://bibliosphere.eu/), indexed in DOAJ, Elektronische Zeitschriftenbibliothek and „Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text (EBSCO Information Services). In 2008 the Library has launched an own blog (http://www.nbulibrary-blog.eu/), with daily updates, and since 2010 we also have our Facebook representation. The necessity to build a knowledge base for permanent distribution of library achievements was realized. A long-term project (started in 2014), to build a complete open access archive, collecting 20 years of library staff publications, has been initiated, to make the Library a tribune for experience exchange. To increase accessibility and visibility of library output, publications are also deposited in the International digital repository for Library and Information Science „e-LIS“ and the network “ResearchGate”. The project pursues to demonstrate the NBU Library innovative approach to knowledge transfer as a step to build an open science environment in Bulgaria in the field of library and information science. Thus, we have built a digital image of a modern Bulgarian library and have laid the foundations to collaborate on exploiting new processes, solutions and innovations, ensuring that open output is integrated in the ultimate research frame of the futur

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