A STUDY OF THE ORIENTATION TOWARDS THE GENERIC AND FIELD-SPECIFIC MODELS OF PROFESSIONALISM AMONG PUBLIC LIBRARY PERSONNEL IN QUEBEC

This study was designed to compare orientation towards the generic model of professionalism with orientation towards a specifically library oriented, that is, a field-specific model of professionalism. The former was operationally defined by Hall, using as dimensions the use of professional organizations as major referents, belief in public service, belief in self-regulation, sense of calling to the field, and autonomy. The second, a field-specific model, was defined by Finks using attitudes towards intellectual freedom, change and innovation, research, administration and management, and service as dimensions.

The population was chosen from among the personnel of Quebec public libraries serving populations over 20,000. Stratified and random sampling was done and a sample of 128 persons was drawn, the total population being 382. A high return rate of 88.3 percent was obtained.

Three hypotheses guided the investigation. First, that the respondents would be significantly oriented towards the field-specific model. Secondly, that respondents' orientation towards this model would be higher than towards Hall's generic model of profession- alism. Third, that there would be a difference in orientation towards field-specific professionalism and orientation towards generic professionalism, based on such demographic characteristics of the respondents as age, sex, education, experience, length of service at the same place, type of work done, language spoken, and size of the library.

The first and the second hypotheses were supported. Hypotheses IIIa was partially supported as orientation towards the field-specific model seemed to be affected by four of the demographic variables: age, education, experience, and type of work done. Hypotheses IIIb was also partially supported: orientation towards the generic model of professionalism seemed to be affected by the amount of experience as librarian, length of service at the same place, type of work done, and size of the library.