The Study on Motivational Factors Influencing the Career Development of University Library Professionals in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Library professionals play an important role in universities. This study aims to investigate whether motivational factors positively influence the attitude of the University Library Professionals and to identify the impact of the Library Professionals‟ attitude on career development. The data was collected through the structured questionnaire. The esearcher has successfully retrieved 120 questionnaires (83%). SPSS was used for statistical analysis. This study reveals that motivational factor has a mean value of 37.075 with the Standard Deviation of (SD) 4.43. The attitude of the professionals has a mean value of 68.075 and SD 4.54 which is a good signal of prediction that the positive attitude of the professionals is caused by the motivational factors. Motivational factors explain only 8.6% of the variance in the dependent variable, the attitude of the professionals. The attitude of the professionals has a mean value of 68.075 and SD 4.54 and the career development has a mean value of 34.85 and SD 2.58. The attitude of the professionals explains only 26.3% of the variance in dependent variable, the career development. The multiple correlations of all independent variables on the dependent variable the career development is 0.649. Therefore, positive relationship was observed between the motivational factors, the attitude of the professionals, and the career development. Whereas the coefficient of determination being 0.422 only 42.2% of the variance in the career development can be explained with those combined effect of the independent variables involved. Hence it can be concluded that motivational factors positively influence the attitude of the University Library Professionals and the attitude of University Library Professionals impact on Career Development. A system of continuing education should be provided for all university library professionals to increase their interest and involvement, so that they can render the best possible service.