Perception of skills of a theology librarian and attitudes toward librarianship among Thai theology library staff, faculty, and students of the Divinity College of Payap University

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the perceptions on the skills of a theology librarian and their attitudes toward librarianship among Thai Theology library staff, faculty and students of the Divinity College of Payap University. Specifically the study aimed to determine the personal profile of faculty/library staff and students; their perception about the skills of a theology librarian; to determine if the perceived skills of a theology librarian vary according to the personal characteristics of the respondents; if their attitude towards theological librarianship vary according to the personal characteristics of the respondents; and to determine the relationship between perceived skills of a theology librarian and their attitude toward the theological librarianship. The research involved 6 faculty members, 17 library staff and 46 students. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaires consisting of three parts: Part I Profile of the respondents, Part II- Perception of the skills of a librarian for the 21st century and Part III- Attitudes on Theological Librarianship. The findings of the study were as follows. More than half of faculty/ library staffs were below 50 years old, while a big majority of students were under 40 years old. Students were equally divided by gender, but there was a ratio of two females for every male. Nearly half of the faculty/ library staffs were bachelor degree holders. One in every three of the faculty members and library staff had a work experience between 21-30, years, while the faculty members and library staff had 11-20 years experience, with respect to their denomination affiliation of the students’ respondents were Presbyterian, while the library staff respondents were Buddhist. More than two third of the library staff and faculty members respondents had Librarianship specialization The rest had a specialization in Christian Education, Mission and Pastoral Care and Counselling. More than half of the student respondents were enrolled in Bachelor of Art in Christian Theology while less than half were enrolled in Master of Art in Christian Theology. Nearly two third of the student respondents were first year students, while one in every three were second year. All of the respondents, faculty members, library staff and students were Thai nationality. The data on the respondent’s perceptions on the skills of a librarian for the 21st century according to the different skills, revealed that the majority perceived the theology librarian as highly skilled in areas of; services skills, educator, trainer, guide skills, research skills, communication skills, team work collaborative skills, business savvy skills, enthusiastic and inspirational skills, technological skills, problem solving skills and ability to change the situation and sense of humor. The respondent’s attitudes towards Theological Librarianship were highly favorable in most of the fourteen items specified in survey questionnaires.