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Systematic Review

Relationship between Personal Traits and Sustainable Competence Development among Librarians in Relation to Value-Added Library Services in a Networked World: A Systematic Literature Review from 2002 to 2022

by
Khurram Shahzad
1,*,
Shakeel Ahmad Khan
2,
Mujahid Latif
3 and
Abid Iqbal
4
1
Department of Library, GC University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
2
Department of Information Management, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 62100, Pakistan
3
President Office, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
4
Central Library, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2359; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032359
Submission received: 25 October 2022 / Revised: 15 January 2023 / Accepted: 18 January 2023 / Published: 28 January 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Professional Competency Development and Talent Cultivation Strategies for Sustainable Education in the Post-Pandemic Era)
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Abstract

:
The objectives of the study were to identify the relationship between the personal traits and sustainable competence development of library professionals, explore trending practices for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians, and find out the challenges affecting the development of modern skills in librarians. The authors applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines as a research methodology. Thirty-five peer-reviewed articles were selected to conduct the systematic literature review. The results revealed that there is a strong positive correlation between personal traits and the professional development of librarians. The trending practices for the development of personal and professional skills included expert use of IT, continuous training sessions, teamwork, usage of social media forums, and a customer-oriented approach. The results also showed that old curricula, leadership problems, economic issues, and lack of personal interest were barriers to the development of modern skills in librarians relating to the implementation of value-added services in the networked world. The study contributes theoretically by adding valuable knowledge to the existing literature. It outlines practical implications to help devise strategies for capacity building among librarians related to the implementation of user-centered services in libraries.

1. Introduction

“Competence is a person’s potential for action developed as a result of their exposure to the social world” [1]. Rapid advancements in technologies are transforming library services in a networked world and demanding sound personal traits and professional competencies from librarians [2,3]. Modes of services in libraries are changing rapidly, and librarians need to be able to serve the end users in the networked world effectively and efficiently according to the new changes. New technologies have reshaped library service methods, particularly at the university level [4,5]. Librarianship has undergone dramatic changes and innovative competencies are demanded from librarians to satisfy the different needs of their users. Librarianship in the current age is entirely different from the past, as dynamic methods have developed due to the emergence of innovative technologies [6,7].
In the present age of social media, users’ behaviors are changing constantly. Library leadership needs to design services according to the changing trends among library users. Without the implementation of a user-centric approach, satisfactory services may not be provided to users [8]. Therefore, sustainable competence development among librarians is necessary [9]. Online services need to be provided to library users in the current networked world [10,11]. Skilled librarians are needed to meet the information and research needs of users in a world dominated by digital media [12,13].
The existing literature reveals that the personal traits of individuals are closely interconnected with the professional competencies that lead to the implementation of smart user services. Personal competencies are essential in the attainment of professional skills. Personal expertise is fruitful for the enhancement of organizational performance. Users in the current age are technology-literate; therefore, librarians need to build modern skills to play a leading role in meeting the needs of users efficiently [14,15]. The personal development of library employees is strongly correlated with institutional development. The continuing professional development (CPD) of librarians plays a useful role in the sustainability of innovative library services [16,17].
Motivated librarians with a positive attitude may take an interest in and develop the professional expertise required in the present age [17]. Personal competencies increase managerial performance because intrinsically motivated library staff initiate smart digital services for the provision of innovative services [18,19]. The personal traits of librarians enable them to implement user-focused information services in the changing library environment. The personal interests of librarians motivate them to develop professional skills for the delivery of customer-centered services [20,21].
Certain challenges are faced in the development of modern skills among librarians. Constant changes in the field and budget constraints are prominent barriers that affect librarians’ job outcomes [22,23]. Most libraries do not have an innovative director who can address challenging situations; hence, library services may be badly affected. Human resources experts are not usually consulted by library leadership before the arrangement of training programs for the personal and professional development of librarians. In the modern age of continuing changes, powerful leadership may prove highly fruitful for the strengthening of lifelong learning and the development of competencies among employees [24,25].
Continuing professional development programs may prove productive in cultivating the required skills related to transformative leadership among library directors and reframing library services and methods [26]. Digital literacy skills are of paramount importance for university librarians [27,28]. Adequate ICT infrastructure is not provided to libraries by funding organizations; consequently, innovative library services are not offered to users [29,30].
Continued professional development programs are of great value for the development of personal and professional competencies among librarians relating to the implementation of value-added services [18,30]. CPD provides innovative learning skills that can help in managing changes in the field [25], and organizations should realize the significance of continuous learning for the delivery of user-oriented services [31]. In the networked world led by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, academic librarians need to bring revolutionary changes to design value-added library services [32,33]. Library schools should introduce personality development and skill-building courses in the curricula [34,35]. Extensive revisions are required in the curricula of library schools to develop need-based competencies in library graduates [36,37]. Adequate planning and sufficient budgets are beneficial for the management of the rapidly changing academic library landscape [38,39,40]. In the current age, librarians are expected to support e-learning by offering Web-based off-campus services to users [41,42,43]. The digital skills of librarians are essential for innovate work. Organizations should also allocate a sufficient budget for skill enhancement for librarians to ensure efficient implementation of value-added services [44,45].

2. Statement of Problem and Rationale

A substantial number of studies have been conducted related to personality traits and sustainable competence development; however, these studies were carried out using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research designs. No systematic literature review had been conducted to identify the relationship between individual characteristics and the professional development of librarians in relation to value-added library services in the networked world. There is a dearth of studies examining the association between personality traits and professional competencies. To address this study gap, it is essential to undertake a systematic literature review on personal traits and sustainable competence development. Therefore, this research aimed to systematically review past studies showing empirical evidence on the relationship between personality traits and professional growth and their impact on the implementation of value-added library services.
The current study will assist library managers, decision-making personalities, thought leaders, policymakers, organizational heads, library schools, institutional leaders, funding organizations, and other stakeholders in developing continued professional development courses that keep in view the needs of the current age. This systematic literature review will be fruitful for librarians who intend to implement user-centric services in their libraries. The results of the study will offer new horizons for human resources consultants and psychologists and help them improve the personal and professional competencies of employees relating to the implementation of value-added library services. The recommendations provided based on documentary evidence extracted from studies published worldwide will prove vital for the development of need-based training programs for librarians.

3. Objectives

This study had the following objectives:
  • To identify the relationship between the personal traits and sustainable competence development of librarians;
  • To explore trending practices for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians related to offering value-added library services in the networked world;
  • To identify the challenges affecting the development of modern skills among librarians.

4. Materials and Methods

The authors applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines [46] to conduct the study. “PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic review and meta-analysis. PRISMA is used for reporting of review, evaluating randomized trials, but it can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic review” [46]. It consists of four major parts with subparts at each stage: planning, selection, extraction, and data synthesis. These parts and subcomponents were used in the current study and elaborated below.

4.1. Part One: Planning

4.1.1. Research Objectives

The research objectives of the current study were: to explore trending practices for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians related to offering value-added library services in the networked world, to identify the relationship between the personal traits and sustainable competence development of library professionals, and to identify the challenges affecting the development of skills needed in modern times among the library workforce.

4.1.2. Search Strategy

The multiple search strategies that were used to explore the required datasets are explained below:
a: Search terms
The below-mentioned search strings were applied using predetermined criteria:
  • Formulation of keywords/variables from article title;
  • Construction of the study objectives;
  • Employability of the key terms used by other researchers in their published articles;
  • List of relevant terms, synonyms, and similar themes;
  • Usage of Boolean operators “OR”, “AND”, and “NOT” and stop words, phrase searching, proximity search, truncation, and wildcards.
After employing the different search strategies, a significant number of results were accessed. Thirteen electronic databases and tools were utilized to search for the maximum data related to the current study with the below search terms:
“Personal traits” OR “Sustainable competence development” OR “Impact of personal traits on job performance” OR “Librarianship in a networked world” OR “Value added library services” OR “Competencies for library professionals” OR “Relationship between personal traits and professional development” AND “Continued professional development” AND “Professional development of the librarians” OR “Challenges to create innovative skills in librarians” OR “Relation of personal competencies with managerial performance”
b: Literature resources and existing research
The authors conducted in-depth searches through the Emerald, Web of Science, LISTA, Scopus, LISA, Summon, EBSCO Host, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Taylor and Francis, IEEE Xplore, Springer Link, and Wiley Inter-Science databases. Research papers published in peer-reviewed journals from 2002 to 2022 were accessed through 13 leading databases. Index terms, restrictive phrasing, and different filters were applied to retrieve the maximum relevant data on the topic. Figure 1 graphically displays the number of documents retrieved from each database.

4.2. Part Two: Selection

4.2.1. Search Process

A comprehensive search was carried out to locate all existing studies on the topic.
Step 1: Thirteen of the world’s leading scholarly databases were explored systematically to retrieve the required results.
Step 2: The studies obtained were passed through the scrutiny phase to remove irrelevant results and check relevancy, and the titles of the retrieved documents were evaluated carefully. Studies published before 2002 were excluded. In total, 2984 documents were obtained through the initial search. In the elimination phase, 1026 documents were excluded for not matching the predetermined criteria. After the exclusion of duplications, 739 documents were withdrawn; additionally, 482 studies were excluded after the screening, and 11 papers that were not published in the English language were withdrawn. After a critical assessment of the full texts of the manuscripts, 425 documents were eliminated and 266 irrelevant research articles were also excluded. Thirty-five research papers aligned with the formulated study objectives were chosen to carry out a systematic literature review. Figure 2 graphically illustrates the whole process.

4.2.2. Scrutiny and Filtering

The retrieved results (2984, as displayed in Figure 2) were subjected to scrutiny and filtering to ensure relevancy. Different steps were undertaken to execute this process. The titles of the research papers were carefully analyzed to conduct a systematic literature review of the selected studies (n = 35). Only articles published in the English language were considered for inclusion. Outdated studies were not selected. Peer-reviewed articles published in reputed databases were considered for inclusion. Research papers published from 2002 to 2022 were selected to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR). Table 1 illustrates the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

4.3. Part Three: Extraction

In accordance with the study’s objectives, a scoring system was applied to the retrieved research articles. The scores were provided keeping in view the articles’ relevancy to the objectives of the study. The scoring system consisted of the options ”yes”, “partly yes”, and “no”. Papers matching the predefined criteria were marked with a score. A good score was required for the inclusion of the papers in the current study. Through this process, the most relevant papers addressing the objectives of the current study were selected. This process enabled the researchers to include only relevant articles and address the study objectives. The thirty-five most relevant papers published in peer-reviewed journals were included in the study to conduct the systematic literature review, and all other irrelevant documents that did not align with the study’s objectives were excluded (Table 2).

4.4. Part Four: Execution

To ensure the validity of the retrieved documents, the list was checked against predetermined criteria. Only those articles that were indexed in Scopus and Web of Science were included in the systematic review. Consequently, 35 peer-reviewed articles were included in the study, and all other studies were eliminated.

5. An Overview of the Selection of Studies and Data Extraction

After carrying out an in-depth search related to the personal traits and sustainable competence development of librarians using 13 databases, 2984 results were retrieved. Mendeley software was used to remove duplicate studies, and 739 documents were removed due to duplications. The research team scanned all articles carefully to identify potential studies and eliminated 482. Eleven articles were not in the English language and were excluded from the list. The full texts of 726 articles were assessed carefully and 691 were excluded, as these articles did not focus on the relationship between the personal traits and sustainable competence development of librarians, trending practices for the development of personal and professional competencies among librarians related to offering value-added library services in the networked world, or challenges related to the development of skills suitable for modern times among librarians. Eventually, 35 research papers aligned with the objectives of the study were chosen to carry out the systematic literature review (Figure 2).
Data extracted from the 35 selected studies are shown in Table 2. The first column provides information about the authors of the selected articles, the second column shows the years of publication of the articles, the third is related to the journals in which the selected articles were published, and the other columns include information about the study’s objectives (Table 2).

6. Results

Data synthesis, which is the fourth stage in the PRISMA guidelines, was carried out for the analysis. The results are reported using data synthesis.

7. Trending Practices for the Development of Personal and Professional Competencies

Five major trending practices play vital roles in the facilitation of personal and professional development among library professionals. These practices include expert use of IT, continuous training sessions, teamwork, usage of social media forums, and a customer-oriented approach. They are described below.

7.1. Expert Use of IT

The findings of the study revealed that expert usage of information technology is a trending practice adopted by library professionals to develop personal and professional competencies for the provision of value-added library services [47,48]. Combining libraries with IT to transform library services, use of emerging technologies, blended learning, and the Centre for Instructional Technology have been shown to strengthen librarians’ personal development and professional growth [25,48,49]. The growing use of ICTs, the use of digital technologies, adoption of e-learning, adoption of contemporary tools, the use of e-portfolios, learning emerging skills, and following technological trends help individual and professional expertise grow among academic librarians [13,16,17,25,31,50].

7.2. Continuous Training Sessions

Continuous training sessions, life-long learning, continuous professional development activities, motivational talks, and evidence-based practices create interpersonal skills among library employees [20,21]. Specialized subject knowledge, research-based competencies, digital literacy, virtual groups, and additional training play vital roles in developing the personal and professional skills of librarians [3,5,11,30]. Formal training; self-evaluation; adaptation to changing environments; participation in conferences, workshops, seminars, and on-the-job training; and visits to other libraries help build multiple competencies in library staff [35,38]. Brainstorming sessions, consistent presentations to improve communication skills, information literacy sessions, and motivational talks improve the abilities of the library workforce related to the provision of value-added services in a networked world [7,13]. Cultural literacy talks, media literacy sessions, staff capacity-building programs, online professional development for staff, and e-learning opportunities improve the competencies of library staff related to the delivery of innovative library services [41,42,48,51].

7.3. Teamwork

Collaboration in the workplace, teamwork, a collaborative environment, a friendly working atmosphere, good time management, and collective efforts enable academic library staff to develop themselves personally and professionally [14,20,21,35]. Psychological ownership, rotation of staff duties, effective leadership and management, and efficient organizational planning for staff unity enhance workforce development and produce innovative outcomes [7,13,38].

7.4. Usage of Social Media Forums

Usage of social media forums, new technologies in media, social media and networking, and social media tools are useful to improve staff skills and achieve better job outputs [3,7,16,25].

7.5. Customer-Oriented Approach

A customer-oriented approach, behavioral changes, openness, empathy, integrity, awareness of recent developments in the field, and creativity encourage library staff to work on sustainable competence development [8,13]. To implement user-focused services, librarians must play different roles, including information broker, change agent, facilitator, educator, business manager, image maker, information enabler, information architect, knowledge engineer, knowledge creator, database and network creator, Web designer, online publisher, and decision-support specialist [13,50]. A user-centric approach can be adopted by library professionals through maker spaces, data visualization labs, gaming zones, and other technology hubs and services [33,49].
Figure 3 graphically illustrates the trending practices for the development of personal and professional competencies. The figure shows that various techniques are used by library professionals to help them grow personally and professionally. Information communication technologies (ICTs) are used to enhance professional expertise. Blended learning is a trending method for the improvement of skills. E-learning is helpful in the present era to develop required competencies. Continued professional development (CPD) assists in keeping pace with evolving changes in the field. Digital literacy is a good way to implement emerging technologies in libraries. Virtual groups and teamwork bring efficiency and innovation. The feeling of psychological ownership and effective leadership are useful in sustainable competence development. Social media is a valuable way to enhance learning and competencies in the current age. The user-centric approach in libraries leads to professional growth. Time management assists in learning and acquiring core skills.

8. Relationship between Personal Traits and Professional Growth

Out of the 35 extracted studies, 20 articles showed a significant positive relationship between the personal traits of librarians and sustainable competence development related to offering services in an interconnected world. Jordan [5] found that personal skills assist in developing professional competencies. Hashim and Mokhtar [11] remarked that personal competencies continually help to improve information services in response to changing needs. Okoye [14] suggested that personal and professional competencies enable librarians to work effectively. Ayoku and Okafor [30] stated that personal performance and career building are important for the success of an organization. Jain [16] observed that personal development is always tied to the development of an institution. Jena et al. [19] noted that personal and professional competencies are positively correlated with managerial performance. Alawadhi [52] showed that personal traits and professional competencies are positively correlated with each other and prove useful in offering user-centered services.
Farooq et al. [7] stated that personal skills are positively connected to professional advancement, as individual competencies enhance organizational performance. Cherinet [13] found that professional and personal skills play a vital role in organizational survival. Acheaw and Akussah [40] claimed that the self-commitment trait leads to professional advancement related to the provision of value-added services to users. Bell et al. [53] asserted that personal traits, including willpower and determination, have a close connection with professional competencies related to the provision of user-focused services. Boamah [51] argued that the personal trait of self-motivation leads to sustainable competence development related to the provision of innovative library services.
Idhalama et al. [54] concluded that personal traits and professional expertise result in positive changes in the library profession. Edewor [55] found that the personal characteristics and professional abilities of librarians assist in implementing customer-centered services in libraries and, hence, are positively correlated. Decker [33] suggested that employees’ personal skills improve sustainable competence development, while Samah et al. [41] found that self-directed learning has a positive influence on the development of professional skills. Jamali [42] pointed out that there is a significant relationship between personal management and professional skills in terms of the provision of innovative services in academic settings. Hamad et al. [44] revealed that personal skills are necessary to work with and manage electronic library infrastructures and services in the networked world. Alenzuela [45] proved through an empirical study that personal traits and sustainable competence development are mutually integrated. Keshavarz [43] found that the personality factors of librarians have a positive impact on the cultivation of the professional skills required to offer need-based library services.
Figure 4 displays the relationships between personal traits and the professional development of librarians. It shows that the personal traits of librarians lead toward sustainable competence development in the workplace. Furthermore, the professional development of librarians is helpful in the implementation of value-added library services. Through the implementation of user-centric services, the information and research needs of users can be satisfied effectively and efficiently using modern techniques and methods. Therefore, there is a strong positive connection between the personal and professional development of librarians and the provision of value-added services.

9. Challenges Related to the Development of Modern Skills in Librarians

The results of the study highlighted the different challenges affecting the development of modern skills among librarians for the provision of value-added services in the digital age. These challenges include old curricula, leadership problems, economic issues, and lack of personal interest. These challenges are elaborated below.

9.1. Old Curricula

Traditional librarianship courses, old curricula, lack of integration of digital library technologies in library and information science curricula, and outdated syllabi being taught in library schools are barriers to the development of modern skills among librarians [14,30,44,47].

9.2. Leadership Problem

The negative attitude of the library management, the traditional mindset of library heads, and the workload are pertinent obstacles to staff development [5,8,16,38]. A non-cooperative organizational atmosphere, lack of spiritual leadership, planning issues, and the prevalent methods of management create constraints on the development of core competencies in accordance with the ever-changing landscape of librarianship [31,39,40].

9.3. Economy Issues

Economy issues, lack of funds for training programs, shortage of functional IT facilities, and irregular and inconsistent upgrading of digital facilities create certain problems for the delivery of user-required services in the technology-dominant era [5,30]. Continuous budget reductions, growing demand for service and increased expectations, the lack of sponsored programs, the narrow scope of training, and other related financial issues make providing capacity-building activities for library staff very difficult [7,16,38,40,44].

9.4. Lack of Personal Interest

Shortage of trained and skilled personnel, lack of interest and passion with regard to the acquisition of needed IT skills, and lack of a resource-sharing culture inhibit the professional growth of library staff [17,30]. Staff resistance to change and a lack of staff awareness about database management and Web design applications cause problems in the implementation of value-added library services [16,30,34]. Lack of personal dedication among staff; the unavailability of magnanimity; a lack of priority given to the development of competencies; a pessimistic nature; distracting thoughts; and having no interest in keeping abreast of new resources, services and technologies make a workforce stagnant and mean that emerging technologies will not be adopted in libraries to offer value-added services [8,39,41].
Figure 5 reveals the challenges affecting the development of modern skills among librarians related to the provision of value-added services in the current age. The figure shows that traditional courses and outdated syllabi for library science are great challenges affecting the development of creative skills in librarians. The negative attitudes of the employees and employers are also a barrier to personal and professional growth. Workload, a non-cooperative environment, a lack of spiritual leadership, and planning issues negatively affect the sustainable competence development of librarians. Moreover, consistent changes also cause challenges for the development of required skills in library staff. Additionally, a lack of funds, the shortage of IT facilities, and the narrow scope of training opportunities are prominent challenges affecting the cultivation of innovation in librarians’ performance. Finally, the shortage of trained staff, a lack of personal interest, and resistance to change are serious challenges for the development of personal and professional competencies in library professionals.

10. Discussion and Conclusions

In the current age of the networked world, the personal abilities of librarians are essential, as personal traits have a strong positive relationship with sustainable competence development. The professional development of librarians is useful for the implementation of value-added library services. The user-centric approach assists in satisfying user information and research needs efficiently. With regard to the development of personal and professional skills, continued professional development (CPD) provides creative learning opportunities for library staff to improve their skills. Life-long learning skills are highly significant for library professionals and can help them provide smart, user-centered services. Professional development among librarians is aligned with the implementation of innovative library services. Fruitful strategies are needed for organizations to enable library staff to attend continued professional development activities devotedly. Librarians working in academic libraries need CPD to update their knowledge and skills and to deliver satisfactory library services to end users. Trained library professionals may successfully launch virtual reference sources and services to serve users remotely. On-the-job training is part and parcel of equipping a workforce with the trending practices in the field. CPD provides a wealth of knowledge to the workforce and is productive in the implementation of emerging technologies and tools in academic libraries. Professional competencies need to be enhanced among university librarians to help them manage organizational changes and challenges and to produce fruitful outcomes in the workplace.
A positive attitude is required among librarians for their continued professional development (CPD) and to enable them to respond to reference queries comfortably. Librarians should develop specific expertise and knowledge to provide context-based services to users via innovative techniques. E-learning is essential for librarians to improve their professional competencies and to cater to the different needs of reference users using modern techniques and methods. Motivation is required for librarians to revamp library services. Librarians need to understand their job roles in relation to the rapid changes in the field so that refined and innovative services may be designed for the user community. Without an effective CPD plan, services that satisfy the different needs of users may not be developed. Various changes are taking place in academic libraries due to ever-changing technological advancements, so trained library staff are required to provide satisfactory services in the current technology-driven environment.
The objectives of the current study were to determine the relationship between personality traits and sustainable competence development related to the provision of value-added services in the networked world, to identify trending practices being adopted for the cultivation of personal and professional development, and to reveal the challenges barring the development of modern skills among librarians related to the implementation of innovative services for end users.
Regarding the relationship between personal traits and sustainable competence development, it can be concluded that there is a strong positive correlation between these two variables, as both are interconnected and enable library professionals to deliver value-added services in accordance with the changing landscape of librarianship in the networked world. Personal growth is essential for the professional development of librarians and can prove useful in producing efficient work outputs. Without the personal growth of librarians, their professional skills may not improve. Consequently, a lack of professional development negatively affects the performance of librarians. This conclusion is consistent with the results of the studies conducted by Jena et al. [19], Farooq et al. [7], Cherinet [13], Acheaw and Akussah [40], Bell et al. [53], Decker [33], Samah et al. [41], Jamali [42], Hamad et al. [44], Alenzuela [45], and Keshavarz [43].
The current study identified the trending practices being adopted to develop personal and professional skills related to the implementation of user-focused services in academic libraries. These trending practices included expert use of IT, continuous training sessions, teamwork, usage of social media forums, and a customer-oriented approach. The skills related to ICTs can prove useful in the implementation of emerging technological tools in libraries. CPD can prove useful in improving the education and the professional expertise of librarians. Teamwork is necessary to enhance organizational efficiency. Social media is a useful way to enhance personal and professional expertise in the current age. A customer-centered approach motivates library staff to enhance their skills related to the delivery of efficient services. These results are consistent with the findings of the work carried out by Grgic and Zivkovic [25], Jain [16], Robati and Singh [35], Agbo [38], Cherinet [13], Jamali [42], Farooq et al. [7], and Decker [33].
It is worth highlighting that old curricula, leadership problems, economic issues, and lack of personal interest are barriers to the development of modern skills among librarians related to the effective and efficient implementation of innovative information services. An outdated syllabus might not fulfill the demands of the current age. Leadership is essential to inspire library employees to improve their learning and skills and deliver user-focused services. Without personal interest, library professionals might not improve their personal and professional competencies. Similar barriers were illustrated in the past by several other authors, including Ayoku and Okafor [30], Narang and Kumar [8], Keith [39], Acheaw and Akussah [40], Samah et al. [41], and Hamad et al. [44], through empirical studies.
To sum up, it may be suggested that librarians who have strong positive personal traits grow into creative professionals and play a great role in the uplifting of their organizations through the implementation of value-added services while keeping in view the changing needs of the field.

11. Implications

We advocate for the revision of curricula in library schools, keeping in view the changing needs of the market in this interconnected world. Linkages between academia and industry are necessary to transform the educational system. This study is a benchmark that can help library-school heads accelerate personal development and the growth of professional expertise in the context of skill-based education.
We also believe that capacity-building programs may prove highly valuable in cultivating the required personal and professional expertise among information professionals related to the provision of value-added services in the current networked world. Training programs are at the heart of professional development. Human resources development needs to be focused on equipping professionals with the core competencies that are required to provide user-centric services through modern tools and methods.
From the findings of the current study, the authors recommend that government representatives and higher education bodies make considerable investments in human capital skill-strengthening activities to attain maximum job efficiency and output. Additionally, there should be transformative leadership in academic settings with a strong vision to provide learning and development opportunities for the library workforce.
Figure 6 presents the key solutions for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians related to the provision of user-centered services in libraries.

12. Limitations

The key limitations of the study are as follows:
  • We acknowledge that some of the relevant research articles published worldwide may not have been covered in the current study;
  • We also realize that more study objectives could be developed regarding the best practices that could be adopted to create the required set of skills among library professionals;
  • Thirteen databases were explored to retrieve studies related to personal traits and sustainable competence development among librarians. Specific databases related to medical librarianship were not included.

13. Future Research Directions

The future research directions are as follows:
  • Future researchers could empirically test the relationship between personal traits and sustainable competence development related to the provision of value-added services in libraries in the networked world;
  • Future studies could also be conducted on the impact of digital learning on the continued professional development of library professionals through the mediating role of motivational factors;
  • Future investigators could conduct a systematic literature review on the relationship between personal traits and sustainable competence development among librarians by including other sources of knowledge, including books, conference proceedings, and dissertations;
  • Future researchers could explore the literature on the personal and professional competencies of librarians using other databases, including PubMed, to offer a broader spectrum.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, K.S., S.A.K. and A.I.; methodology, K.S. and A.I.; validation, M.L. and A.I.; formal analysis, M.L. and A.I.; investigation, K.S., S.A.K. and A.I.; resources, M.L.; data curation, M.L. and A.I.; writing—original draft preparation, K.S., S.A.K., M.L. and A.I.; writing—review and editing, K.S. and A.I.; visualization, K.S., M.L. and A.I.; supervision, S.A.K.; project administration, S.A.K. and A.I.; funding acquisition, M.L. and A.I. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This work received no external funding however APC was provided by Prince Sultan University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge and appreciate the financial assistance of Prince Sultan University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in covering the APC.

Conflicts of Interest

The research team does not have any conflict of interest.

References

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Sustainability 15 02359 g001 550
Figure 1. Documents retrieved from databases.
Figure 1. Documents retrieved from databases.
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Figure 2. Diagram of the search process.
Figure 2. Diagram of the search process.
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Figure 3. Trending practices for the development of personal and professional competencies.
Figure 3. Trending practices for the development of personal and professional competencies.
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Figure 4. Relationships between personal and professional development and value-added services.
Figure 4. Relationships between personal and professional development and value-added services.
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Figure 5. Challenges affecting the development of skills needed in modern times.
Figure 5. Challenges affecting the development of skills needed in modern times.
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Figure 6. Key solutions for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians.
Figure 6. Key solutions for the development of the personal and professional competencies of librarians.
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Table
Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
AArticles published in the English languagePapers published in other languages
BPapers covering the study’s objectivesPapers not covering the study’s objectives
CArticles published from 2002 to 2022Articles published before 2002
DPapers covering the variables of the study; i.e., personal development, professional development, sustainable competence development, professional development methods, value-added library services, etc.Papers not covering the variables of the study
EPeer-reviewed articles in electronic databasesBooks, conference proceedings, dissertations, magazines, newspaper articles, institutional newsletters, etc.
Table
Table 2. Data extracted from the selected studies (n = 35).
Table 2. Data extracted from the selected studies (n = 35).
S. N.AuthorYearCountryJournalTrending Practices for the Development of Personal and Professional CompetenciesRelationship between Personal Traits and Professional GrowthChallenges Related to Developing Modern Skills
1.Khalid2002PakistanEducation for Information
  • Expert use of IT
  • Old curricula
2.Ashcroft2004United KingdomLibrary Review
  • Continuous training sessions
  • Collaboration at workplace
3.Corrall2010United KingdomLibrary Management
  • Convergence of academic services
  • Combining libraries with IT and/or other learning support services
  • Awareness of information literacy
4.Patridge et al.2010USALibrary Trends
  • Teamwork
  • CPD
  • E-learning
  • Motivational talks
  • Evidence-based practice
5.Jordan2012USAIFLA Journal
  • Research-based competencies
  • Personal skills assist in developing professional competencies
  • Economy issues
6.Hashim and Mokhtar2012MalaysiaInternational Journal of Humanities and Social Science
  • Specialized subject knowledge
  • Personal competencies continually improve information services in response to changing needs
7.Grgic
and Zivkovic		2012CroatiaQualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries
  • Usage of social media forums
  • Use of emerging technologies
  • Adoption of e-learning
8.Wu2013USAReference Services Review
  • Monitoring of curriculum development
  • Blended learning
  • Centre for Instructional Technology
9.Meyers et al.2013USALearning Media and Technology
  • Use of new technologies in media
  • Digital literacy
  • Virtual groups
10.Okoye2013NigeriaLibrary Philosophy and Practice
  • Teamwork
  • Personal and professional competencies enable librarians to work effectively, demonstrate the value-added nature of their contributions, and survive in the new world of work
  • Lack of computer literacy
  • Traditional librarianship courses
11.Ayoku and Okafor2015NigeriaThe Electronic Library
  • Additional training
  • Personal performance and career building are important for the success of the organization
  • Inefficient information delivery
  • Lack of resource-sharing culture
  • Not moving in line with current trends in the profession
  • Lack of funds for training programs
  • Lack of functional IT facilities
  • Irregular and inconsistent upgrading of digital facilities
  • Lack of trained and skilled personal
  • Lack of integration of digital library technologies in library and information science curricula
  • Lack of interest and zeal with regard to acquisition of the needed IT skills
  • The workforce does not have awareness of database management and is not skilled in Web design or familiar with Web design applications
12.Jain2013BotswanaEuropean Journal of Academic Research
  • The growing use of ICTs
  • Transformation through digital technologies
  • Adoption of contemporary tools
  • Usage of social media and networking
  • Personal development is always tied to the development of the institution
  • Continuous budget reductions
  • Negativity towards libraries because of other competitors
  • Growing demand for service and increased expectations
  • Staff resistance to change
13.Hampe and Lewis2013AustraliaThe Australian Library Journal
  • E-portfolio
  • Lack of skilled staff
14.Robati and Singh2013IranJournal of Librarianship and Information Science
  • Formal training
  • Self-evaluation
  • Time management
  • Collaborative efforts
  • Adaptation to changing environment
15.Emanuel2013USAInformation Technology and Libraries
  • The skills associated with traditional librarianship are firmly rooted in practice
16.Jena et al.2015IndiaInternational Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management
  • Personal and professional competencies are positively correlated with managerial performance
17.Alawadhi2015KuwaitInternational Information and Library Review
  • Personal traits and professional competencies are positively correlated with each other and are productive in offering user-centered services
18.Agbo2015NigeriaInternational Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development
  • Participation in conferences, workshops, seminars, and on-the-job training
  • Visits to other libraries
  • Psychological ownership
  • Lack of sponsored programs
  • The traditional mindset of the library administration
19.Farooq et al.2016PakistanLibrary Management
  • Application of social media tools
  • Consistent presentations to improve communication skills
  • Rotation of staff duties
  • Brainstorming sessions
  • Personal skills are positively correlated with professional advancement
  • Individual competencies enhance organizational performance
  • The narrow scope of training
20.Narang and Kumar2016IndiaInternational Journal of Library Science
  • Behavioral changes
  • Openness, apathy, integrity, and awareness of recent development in the field
  • Creativity
  • Workload
  • Lack of dedication
  • Unavailability of magnanimity
21.Drummond2016AustraliaThe Australian Library Journal
  • Learning emerging skills
  • Organizations do not necessarily realize that an information management professional is what they need, nor even that an information management professional is what they already have
22.Keith2016USAThe Journal of Academic Librarianship
  • Lack of spiritual leadership
  • Planning issues
  • Lack of priority given to the development of competencies
23.Cherinet2017EthiopiaLibrary Management
  • Customer-oriented approach
  • The different roles of a librarian include information broker, change agent, facilitator, educator, business manager, and image maker
  • Leadership and management
  • Technological competencies
  • Information literacy sessions
  • Motivational talks
  • Professional and personal skills play a vital role in organizational survival
  • Personal and professional competencies are not only imperative for the success of individuals and libraries but also crucial for inclusive development
24.Oza and Mehta2018IndiaInternational Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews
  • Adoption of ICTs
  • The different roles of the librarian, such as information enabler, information architect, knowledge engineer, knowledge creator, database and network creator, Web designer, online publisher, decision-support specialist
25.Acheaw and Akussah2018GhanaJournal of Information Science, Systemsand Technology
  • Management commitment can lead to professional advancement through providing value-added services to users
  • Budget constraints
  • Absence of adequate planning
  • The rapidly changing landscape of academic library services
26.Bell et al.2019USAAgainst the Grain
  • Personal traits, including willpower and determination, have a close connection with professional competencies related to the provision of value-added services
27.Boamah2019ItalyInternational Information and Library Review
  • Information literacy
  • Cultural literacy
  • Media literacy
  • The personal trait of self-motivation leads to sustainable competence development related to the provision of innovative library services
28.Idhalama et al.2020NigeriaInternational Journal of Integrated Education
  • Personal traits and professional expertise can lead to a drastic change in the library profession
  • Personal traits and professional skills enhance the effects of relevant information service delivery in libraries
29.Edewor2020NigeriaJournal of Library Administration
  • The personal characteristics and professional abilities of librarians assist in the implementation of value-added services in libraries and, hence, are positively correlated
30.Decker2020USACollege and Undergraduate Libraries
  • Makerspaces, data visualization labs, gaming zones, and other technology hubs and services have popped up in academic libraries
  • Employees’ personal skills improve sustainable competence development
31.Samah et al.2021MalaysiaJournal of Librarianship and Information Science
  • Information literacy sessions
  • Self-directed learning has a positive influence on the development of professional skills
  • Lack of interest in keeping abreast of new resources, services, and technologies among librarians
32.Jamali2021IranSciences and Techniques of Information Management
  • Organizational planning
  • Training sessions
  • There is a significant relationship between personal management and professional skills related to the provision of innovative services in academic settings
33.Hamad et al.2021JordanJournal of Librarianship and Information Science
  • Personal skills are necessary to work with and manage electronic library infrastructures and services in the networked world
  • Financial issues
  • Old curricula in library schools
34.Alenzuela2021PhilippinesJournal of the Australian Library and InformationAssociation
  • Personal traits and sustainable competence development are mutually integrated
35.Keshavarz2022IranVINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems
  • The personality factors of librarians have a significant impact on the cultivation of the professional skills required to offer user-centric services
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Shahzad, K.; Khan, S.A.; Latif, M.; Iqbal, A. Relationship between Personal Traits and Sustainable Competence Development among Librarians in Relation to Value-Added Library Services in a Networked World: A Systematic Literature Review from 2002 to 2022. Sustainability 2023, 15, 2359. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032359

AMA Style

Shahzad K, Khan SA, Latif M, Iqbal A. Relationship between Personal Traits and Sustainable Competence Development among Librarians in Relation to Value-Added Library Services in a Networked World: A Systematic Literature Review from 2002 to 2022. Sustainability. 2023; 15(3):2359. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032359

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shahzad, Khurram, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, Mujahid Latif, and Abid Iqbal. 2023. "Relationship between Personal Traits and Sustainable Competence Development among Librarians in Relation to Value-Added Library Services in a Networked World: A Systematic Literature Review from 2002 to 2022" Sustainability 15, no. 3: 2359. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032359

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