Effective Motivation of Paraprofessional Staff in Academic Libraries In Nigeria

The paper examined the factors that affect paraprofessional staff motivation and performance in academic libraries. It underlines the importance of well-motivated staff in ensuring a continuously maximized performance. The literature review comprises relevant papers which discuss how motivation is used to modify behavior of staff to improve performance. It explores Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and its application to the category of staff under study. Training and development of paraprofessional staff were some of the benefits highlighted

Enhancing Information Access And Use For The Dyslexics Adopting New Strategies For Public Libraries In Nigeria

It is estimated that dyslexia affects 8 -10% of the world's population and between 5 to 10% of a given popufat1on .. The purpose of this paper ts to create awareness among librarians about dyslexia an(} to introduce some of the issues that dyslexic people ftice ·;n connection with using the public library. The paper identifies likely factors. that can discourage dyslexic people from visiting and using libraries including· difficulty w1th reading quietly in a library and problems with locating books and other resOU(Ces. The paper recommends some low cost measures for ; enhancing access and use of information by the Dyslexics and l suggests that librarians should go the extra ml!e by providing f access to information and resources in a yanety of media, along with providing pictograms, talking books, bold use of siqnage and selective dissemination of information. These will help in achieving one of the goals of the public library which is to provide equal access to all library users mcluding people with dyslexia ·their attendant problems notwithstanding.

Provision of Formal Education to Almajiris: The Role of Libraries

Provision of formal education to Almajiris has become a subject of national discourse in Nigeria today. This paper examines the concept and plight of the almajiris. It identifies parental influence, infrastructural decay of Qu‟ranic schools, religious fanatism and poverty as causes of lack of formal education of almajiris. The study advocates that public and school libraries must begin to play relevant roles and contribute to the provision of formal education to almajiris. It outlines the roles public and school libraries must play in order to enhance almajiri education. In order to effectively play their roles, the study suggests that libraries should source for funds from external agencies rather than depend only on their parent institutions/organizations

Price Analysis and Acquisition of Indigenous Books in Nigerian Libraries

Price analysis promotes transparency and professional objectivity. How it is done actually depends, to a large extent, on available benchmarks often provided by book publishers. This paper submits that there are no price check tools for most books published in Nigeria. Therefore, acquisition librarians are oftentimes shortchanged and frustrated. This paper further examines the challenges of acquiring indigenous books in Nigerian libraries. It is revealed that publishers in Nigeria tend to focus on local distribution to bookstores or booksellers whereas internet or online sales channels and other viable means of making indigenous books available to libraries have remained neglected. It is recommended that publishers in Nigeria take advantage of information and communication technology (ICT) to market and distribute indigenous books and that online book databases be developed for indigenous books. This study provides publishers with in-depth insight on the need to provide acquisition librarians with standard price checking tool

Use of Academic Library: A Case Study of Covenant University, Nigeria

This study examines the extent of use of library resources in Covenant University, Nigeria. Two separate questionnaires were used to gather data. 400 registered library users were selected using the stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that 88% of the students sampled visited the library to read for examination while most faculties visited the library to read journals, electronic or print. Also, students used OPAC more than faculty. It is recommended that faculty give reading assignments that will require students to consult journals and other resources in the library, not just for examination purposes. And the library should organize a “library week” each semester to showcase the various resources available in the librar

An Assessment of the Training and Retraining Needs of Nigerian Cataloguers

The study examined the capacity building efforts and training needs of Nigerian cataloguers. One hundred and thirty two respondents comprising cataloguers from various libraries in Nigeria were used for the study. A descriptive survey method using a self-constructed questionnaire was used. Four research questions were posed and analyzed using frequency counts and percentages. Most of the cataloguers in the study have left library schools for over eight years and this makes retraining highly imperative. Results showed that the cataloguers were depending more on onthe job training for capacity building and retraining. The study also revealed that the cataloguers did not depend on only cataloguing education received in library school. There was less dependence on some other means of capacity building like video conferencing, reading web based resources, electronic discussion list/weblog and mentoring. It was discovered that most of the cataloguers studied are becoming interested and willing to be involved in activities formerly the domain of systems librarian e.g. metadata creation, organization of web/digital resources . Interestingly, even cataloguers from purely traditional libraries desired training in recent ICT cataloguing feats. Some challenges identified facing cataloguers in the area of training and capacity building include the fact that conference/ workshop attendance is not affordable, insufficient cataloguing training outlets in Nigeria, inadequate ICT platform to practice what has been learnt as most libraries in Nigeria are not automated and a dearth of current cataloguing literatures. The study concluded that the cataloguers’ sampled need to take urgent steps to train and retrain regularly since knowledge is dynamic in natur

Capacity Building Initiatives in Preservation Techniques: A Case Study of Nigeria Universities

The librarians are often encouraged to maintain and keep their collections accessible through digitization as their stock in trade is their collection. This study examined capacity building initiatives in preservation techniques in selected libraries and assessed the level of training received by different library staff. Four university libraries were randomly selected and a descriptive survey method using a selfdeveloped questionnaire. The respondents comprised librarians and non-librarians. A total of one hundred and twenty copies of questionnaires were distributed, but a hundred and twelve was retrieved and used for the analysis. The study revealed that there were no professionals to manage the preservation section of the university library and as such, most institutions make do with Para-professionals like binders, technicians and library officers etc. Analysis from the respondent’s show that Universities in Nigeria are not exposed to capacity building in preservation. Finally, regular trainings are vital for the development of all staff and for any university to stand out amongst others; there must be provision for usual capacity building of both faculty and staf

Library And Information Science Education And Wealth Creation: .. A Paradigm Shift

The paper canvasses the idea of a paradigm shift from Librciry and Information Science (LIS) graduates relying ani yon paid employment to education with requisite skills capable of producing grndu ales who will be job and wealth creators. The paper contends that in a knowledge economy, information is a critical resource that must be packaged into products and services which have functional utility value to organizations, individuals and government agencies. It shows that the current LJS curriculum is deficient in marketing strategies and entrepreneurial education orientation necessary far raising professionals who will establish and sustain profitable information product and services firms. There must be conscious effort at creating infarmation needs in an economy through environmental scanning and generating innovative ways of meeting those needs. Consequently, it is recommended that LIS graduates be well equipped ·with the necessary academic training, skills, and mastery to package and repackage Information and data into consumable knowledge. Also good entrepreneurial skills and marketing strategies training should be integrated into the curriculum at all levels, and taught m; seasoned academics who will inculcate into them the practical capability of same

From Binding to Digitization: Issues in Newspaper Preservation in Nigerian Academic Libraries

This article examines the importance of newspapers to research, education, and economic development for Nigeria and advocates the need to preserve newspapers. The authors discuss critical preservation issues related to newspapers and emphasize the urgent need to address their deteriorating state in Nigerian academic libraries. The article also examines the binding preservation method practiced among academic libraries and observes that the method is not adequate. It recommends that academic libraries in Nigeria should adopt the digitization model for newspaper preservation. The article identifies the digital divide, poor technological infrastructure, inadequate funding, lack of expertise, and copyright prohibitions as challenges of digitization and makes recommendations