الملخص الإنجليزي
The study aimed to measure the competencies of the Information Specialists working at university libraries in the Sultanate of Oman in accordance to the competency standards for Information Specialists in the 21st century issued by the Special Libraries Association, with a view to identify the training programs required for the information specialists in the light of the study results. The study tool was an electronic questionnaire that consisted of three types of competencies: professional competencies, basic competencies, and personal competencies. The questionnaire was sent to all the individuals of the study population (57 information specialists). The researcher received 40 responses (72%) from the study population. Through the statistical analysis conducted over the received responses, the study concluded with a number of results the most prominent of which are: 1. The competency levels for the Information Specialists working at university libraries
in the Sultanate of Oman depending on the three mentioned types of competencies are as follows: - Highest level for the personal competencies (arithmetical average = 4,5750 , standard deviation = 1,3973) Medium level for the professional competencies (arithmetical average = 4,30188, standard deviation = 1,07172) Lowest level for the basic competencies (arithmetical average = 4,0188, standard deviation = 1,27119) There are no statistically significant differences at the level 0,05 among the averages of the competency levels for the Information Specialists by the difference of the gender variable (male/female). 3. There are no statistically significant differences at the level 0,05 among the averages of the competency levels for the Information Specialists by the difference in the variable of specialization in Information & Library Science (specialist/ non-specialist). 4. There are statistically significant differences at the level 0,05 among the averages of the competency levels for the Information Specialists by the difference of the efficiently spoken language variable (Arabic/English). 5. There are statistically significant differences at the level 0,05 among the averages of the competency levels for the Information Specialists by the difference in the variable of the qualification level in Information & Library Science. 6. There are statistically significant differences at the level 0,05 among the averages of the competency levels for the Information Specialists by the difference of the experience years variable. 7. 57% of the Information Specialists possesses personal competencies,(48%) of them possesses professional competencies, and (29) of them possesses basic competencies. A training program was proposed according to the actual requirements of the study population which are identified based on the levels of Information Specialists competencies in the 21st century issued by the Special Libraries Association. The study also presented a number of recommendations and suggestions that can promote the training provided for the Information Specialists to equip them with the skills that improve their job performance
