Die behoefte van professionele personeel in die biblioteek- en inligtingwese aan rekenaarmatige opleiding

English: The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a need for computer training of professional personnel in the South African library and information sciences. The target group also included persons involved in formal training and research. The extent to which libraries and information services have already made use of computer technology and the increased availability of information constituted the reasons for the study. An overall view of the current use of computers in libraries and information services was obtained. The job performance of professional personnel was subsequently analysed, particularly with regard to the tasks for which computer technology can be used, in order to determine the computer knowledge and skills that are required for the effective performance of these tasks. A knowledge of reading and writing was found to be the minimum requirement in this regard. Relevant literature on the subject was also studied with a view to determining the extent to which the Departments for Library and Information Sciences at overseas universities make provision for training in the use of the computer. Special attention was given to the objectives of such training and the method of presentation. It appeared that students of Library and Information Sciences, particularly in the United States of America and in Australia, received considerable computer training. Other countries that can be mentioned in this regard are Britain, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Japan. Computer training for students of Library and Information Sciences at South African universities was also investigated on the basis of the information contained in the yearbooks of the respective universities. It was found that although most universities in some way or other give some attention to this matter, a wide variety of methods are being used. A number of universities gave no indication in their yearbooks of the inclusion of computer training in these courses. The need for computer training as experienced in practice was determined with the aid of an empirical investigation. Only the professional members of the Northern Transvaal branch of SAILIS were approached in order to identify a general trend. Questionnaires were sent out to them of which 233 ( 51, 13 '\.) were eventually used. The sample response revealed that 78,76 '\. of the respondents regarded computer training as essential for their present job performance and 92, 04 '\. stated that computer training was essential for persons entering the profession for the first time. Various means were identified for offering computer training with special reference to the method of training, the required background knowledge and the problems that may be experienced. A general discussion of the content of courses or themes for computer training also took place. The study revealed that the professional personnel of the South African Library and Information Sciences admitted that there was a great need for computer training. Proposals were made for satisfying this need.