English abstract
The current study aimed to investigate the reality of change and development in Omani academic libraries. It also focused on the methods and techniques used to achieve the desired change and development. The study, moreover, investigated the factors that affect achieving effective change and development.
A qualitative methodology has been used to achieve the research objectives. 17 interviews were conducted with a purposive sample that included directors, assistant directors, and department heads in Omani government academic libraries. The research, then, used thematic analysis to analyze the data. The process of coding included: transcribing data; generating initial codes; searching for themes, reviewing themes; defining and naming themes and producing the report.
According to the study results, factors related to technology are considered as the main supportive factors towards achieving desired change and development in Omani academic libraries. Most of the participants believe that the leadership method is the most effective technique to encourage and enhance awareness of library staff to work collaboratively towards change and development in their libraries. Results indicate also that the main factors affecting change and development in Omani academic libraries are human, technical and financial infrastructure. These factors pose challenges to libraries in implementing strategies and proposals related to change and development.
Finally, the study set a number of recommendations for improving the situation regarding change and development in Omani academic libraries. The most important recommendation is to initiate and improve partnership and collaboration among Omani academic libraries. This could increase their ability to overcome the challenges that face their efforts at change and development. It would also be a means of sharing experience relating to such change and development.
