EXAMINING LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS’ METHODS OF SOFT SKILLS LEARNING: A CASE OF LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN PRIVATE SECTOR UNIVERSITIES OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to examine the methods of soft skill learning by library
professionals working in private sector universities in Pakistan.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The study used quantitative research design based on a
questionnaire. The target Population of the study included all 474 library professionals working in the
private sector universities in Pakistan. To get relevant data, non-probability convenience sampling
technique was used deployed to 340 library professionals out of which 270 useable questionnaires
were received back dully filled in. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data
analysis using SPSS-21.
Research limitations: The study is limited to the responses collected from library professionals
working in the private sector university libraries only.
Originality value: This is the first study in Pakistan that dealt with the preferred methods of soft
skills learning of library professionals by using a large group (N = 474) of university library
professionals.
Key findings: Findings of the study revealed that library professionals working in private sector
universities preferred to learn soft skills from experts and colleagues. Overall results indicated that
from library professionals’ perspective, soft skills should be taught to them using face-to-face
methods.
Practical implications: The study will encourage researchers in Pakistan and elsewhere to analyse
soft skills of library professionals of various type of libraries and to frame practical training modules
for librarians to inculcate in them the modern methods of soft skills to deal with a varied kind of
readers.
Contribution to knowledge: It is one of the first ever studies on the subject as only a few studies have
been conducted in Pakistan measuring the soft skills of library professionals of private sector
universities of Pakistan.