E-portfolios Support Continuing Professional Development for Librarians

Abstract

The current professional requirements within the Australian health context for evidential mandatory professional development provided the impetus for a small health library to implement an e-portfolio platform for library staff. The primary objective of the project – to provide staff with a tool to record, store evidence of, and reflect on continuing professional development activities – has been achieved. The most challenging aspect of the project was the requirement for staff to engage in reflective practice. The e-portfolio will also be used for the performance review process with the aim of more closely aligning individual professional and career development with the library’s goals and the strategic direction of the parent organisation. While the context of this project was a health library, the findings and implications for practice are applicable to the wider library profession.