The knowledge, skills and competency requirements for music librarians in academic music libraries in the Western Cape, South Africa
Master Thesis
2017
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University of Cape Town
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The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, skills and competencies required for music librarians in academic music libraries in the Western Cape of South Africa, in order for these libraries to effectively serve their scholarly communities. In addressing this objective, the following research questions were generated: What are user expectations of academic music library services in the Western Cape?; To what extent are these expectations currently being met?; and, What are the knowledge, skills and competency requirements for music librarians in academic libraries in the Western Cape of South Africa? The study was supported generally by Core competency theory and more specifically by the Music Library Association (MLA) core competencies for music librarians. The study's research approach was qualitative and exploratory, incorporating a multiple case study design. Empirical data were collected via semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with purposively sampled music librarians, academics and postgraduate students at the two higher education institutions in the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. Both these universities have music departments and music libraries. The data collected were analysed using thematic content analysis from recorded interviews and focus group discussions. The study's conclusions are centered on the main findings and discussion in the context of the reviewed literature and the theory supporting the study. It presents, based on the findings, knowledge, skills and competencies required to professionally and confidently serve the music library's scholarly community. While the study is empirically grounded in the music library and university environment in the Western Cape of South Africa, it has both practice and theoretical relevance to the broader world of music librarianship. The findings of this study to a large extent concur with the MLA core competency framework for music librarians but also updates it in terms of the modern digital information environment as well as a transformative society sensitive to cultural contextuality. It recommends to the music librarianship practice environment and contributes to the existing body of knowledge on competencies for music librarianship, an adjusted and extended MLA core competency framework (Hunter, 2002) which it hopes will be basis for further practice and research in the area of music librarianship.
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Adams, B. 2017. The knowledge, skills and competency requirements for music librarians in academic music libraries in the Western Cape, South Africa. University of Cape Town.