The studies of graduates of the library area: from theory to practice

Abstract

The objective of this article is to provide technical, methodological, and practical means of creating uniformity among the studies of the graduates in librarianship in the institutions of higher learning, with emphasis on the importance of these studies and their usefulness in the library communityusing the same tool and the same methodology, which in turn should lead to sharing studies and thereby enriching educational quality in all the region. This study is based on Schultz's theory of human capital, in which the training of human resources is linked with the productivity of quality in the hiring institutions. Beginning with the technical aspects, a series of variables and indicators are considered in the development of studies of library school graduates in order to establish common parameters and points of analysis. The conclusions that stand out include the following: studies of graduates are important to those institutions concerned with the quality of their plans of study; following graduates makes it possible to learn both the characteristics of the employee and the employer, who in turn should be considered in order to determine the activities for which the professionals are contracted, as well as their performance levels; it is critical that the different institutions agree upon the methodology, objectives, and instruments to be used in the studies of graduate, as well as the creation of a common database; and finally, it is important to repeat the study from time to time.