1 Changing roles for the information professional: a study of Learning Resources Centres in Vietnam Myly Nguyen School of Information Technology 2005 – 2006

2 Vietnam Library

3 New Learning Resources Centre…..

4 RESEARCH STUDY Gap between current situation and desired change Gap between current situation and desired change Perceptions of library professionals graduated pre 1975 and present Perceptions of library professionals graduated pre 1975 and present Differences between Australian and Vietnamese information professionals in core competencies Differences between Australian and Vietnamese information professionals in core competencies

5 Existing roles/skills Transferable Non-transferable Training/Professional Development New skills/roles CONCEPTS

6 RESEARCH QUESTIONS How are the information services in Vietnamese university Learning Resource Centres changing How are the information services in Vietnamese university Learning Resource Centres changing Are there differences in perceptions and expectations between the Vietnamese and Australian cohorts in respect of changing roles, skills and capabilities for the profession? Are there differences in perceptions and expectations between the Vietnamese and Australian cohorts in respect of changing roles, skills and capabilities for the profession?

7 RESEARCH METHODS Questionnaire: online Purposive sampling Purposive sampling Matrix presentation of Likert-style questions Matrix presentation of Likert-style questions Rated responses Rated responses Focus Group: semi- structured interview Vietnam cohort Vietnam cohort Australia cohort Australia cohort Problems in constructing questionnaire: Differences in interpretation Differences in interpretation Questionnaire in second language research Questionnaire in second language research In development countries, a three- point scale (good/acceptable/bad) is often all a respondent can understand In development countries, a three- point scale (good/acceptable/bad) is often all a respondent can understand

8 METHODS OF ANALYSIS Determine level of measurement: 41 attitude type of question using assigned scale ( 4-point fully labeled) in 6 sections Comparison of means: mean values for each of the questions will cross compared between cells using a two- tailed difference of means t-test Background measures: cross comparisons will be also conducted for various demographic groups (gender, age, management or non-managerial, etc.)

9 RESEARCH OUTCOMES No significant development and training for new roles and skills for information professional in Vietnam yet. Results of this study may enable establish Core Competencies list for library professional development and training.

10 Thank you Myly Nguyen