Knowledge, attitude, and preparedness to practice resource description and access (RDA) among librarians in universities in Iloilo City

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and preparedness of 53 university librarians in Iloilo City to practice Resource Description and Access (RDA). The researcher used a self-made questionnaire using the standards of RDA, validated and reliability-tested. As a group, more of the respondents were staff librarians assigned in readers’ and technical services, majority were younger than 40 years old and had worked as librarians for more than 11 years. Most of the librarians had high level of knowledge and the study also showed that the respondents had favorable attitude towards RDA and were highly prepared to practice it. The study further revealed that levels of knowledge and attitude did not vary according to librarians’ age, highest educational attainment, position/designation, and area of specialization. Level of knowledge varies in number of years of work experience. Level of preparedness of the librarians varies according to age, educational attainment and area of specialization. There is no relationship between the librarians’ level of knowledge and attitude to practice RDA; and there is moderate inverse extent of relationship between the level of knowledge and preparedness of the librarians to practice RDA. However, there is high extent of relationship between attitude and level of preparedness of the librarians to practice RDA. Finally, when attitude is controlled, the relationship between the level of knowledge and level of preparedness remain negative. The study concludes that the university librarians are knowledgeable about the RDA, have highly favorable attitude on RDA and are prepared to practice the RDA.