Obtaining Library Qualifications Via Workplace Certification: An Innovative Professional Development Program to Inform and Inspire Library Staff
The University of Wollongong Library introduced a formal Total Quality Management program in 1994. Since then, the understanding and application of TQM has developed and matured and as part of this commitment the Library has established systems and opportunities for staff to contribute to the fullest extent through their capacity to learn and innovate.
Through the Library’s comprehensive staff training and development program, and as part of this strong commitment to its skilled and knowledgeable staff, a range of training activities and development opportunities is provided including workshops, cadetships and job enhancement programs.
In 2004, the Library investigated the possibility of providing a workplace certification program to interested staff. Through this staff development initiative, Library staff with no formal library qualifications were offered the opportunity to participate in an innovative pilot program conducted by Docmatrix, a Registered Training Organisation certified in the ACT and NSW. The role of Docmatrix was to provide training, assess workplace competencies, and issue qualifications in Library/Information Services.
Working in the University of Wollongong Library for over eleven years, I developed a wealth of experience across functions and was keen to undertake the workplace certification program to gain formal qualifications and to have my knowledge and expertise recognized.
The main objective of this short talk is to share my experience and offer information and advice to supervisors, organizations and library studies training providers about obtaining library qualifications (in my case Certificate IV in Library and Information Services) via such a program.
This paper will look at how the process encourages already highly multi-skilled staff to have their ‘on the job’ skills, knowledge and experience formally recognized and acknowledged.
The successful completion of the program resulted in the achievement of qualifications which are recognized throughout the profession and as a result, I was the first in NSW to obtain the Certificate IV in Library and Information Services via this process. Two more staff members have now been inspired to undertake the program over the next two years.