Leadership Styles and Job Productivity of University Library Staff: Interrogating the Nexus

The main objective of the study was to ascertain through existing literature the relationship between various existing leadership styles and the job productivity of university library staff. The library as an organisation in any institution is made up of different categories of individuals decked with diverse responsibilities which are all tailored towards providing the varying information needs of library clientele or users. This unique information providing organisation- the library, is headed by the University Librarian who makes use of preferable and suitable leadership skill(s) as the circumstances warrant, to drive the speedy achievement of laid down organisational goals and objective. It is however paramount that the appropriate leadership style be employed not just by the University Librarian who is placed at the topmost helm on the library’s hierarchical structure, but also the unit heads or heads of various departments in the library. Leadership revolves around affecting a group of people to act in a particular way in order to achieve an organizational goal; this is because humans are highly instrumental to the level of productivity in any organisation and productivity is hinged on efficiency and effectiveness. Various factors influence productivity in the 21st century work place such as motivation, regular training and re-trainings of employees, working infrastructure, etc and the most influential of these factors is the leadership style. Some vital steps that could affect productivity includes: employee ownership and accountability, project definition, employee satisfaction, communication, etc

Availability of Electronic Resources for Service Provision in University Libraries in Ogun State Nigeria

This study evaluates the availability of electronic resources for service provision in university libraries in Ogun State Nigeria and how they affect the effective provision of electronic information resources in selected University libraries South West Nigeria. The research design used for the study was the survey (descriptive) research design; the stratified random sampling was used to collect data from the study population which was a total of one thousand and thirty-eight (1038) academic staff and librarians from Federal University of Agriculture, Covenant, and Babcock universities. The instruments used to collect data were questionnaire and structured interview; the retrieved data was also analyzed through the use of frequency distribution and correlation analysis. Findings revealed that the university libraries have electronic databases; however, the most common of the databases was AGORA while IEE was the least common. The study also revealed that majority of the University libraries have adequate basic infrastructure for effective electronic information services. The major challenge involved in the provision of electronic resources among the university libraries was electricity power outage; Findings further showed that there was no significant relationship between the availability of databases and effective electronic resources provision (r = .071, N= 414, P > .05) and also it revealed that there is a significant relationship between the availability of basic infrastructures and effective electronic resources provision (r = .523**, N= 414, P < .01). The study recommended that the provision of basic infrastructure that support the effective use of electronic resources should therefore be made readily available, this will help to ensure that the electronic resources acquired by the library are put into maximal use by the library clientele, thereby ensuring the achievement of the library’s objective which is satisfying the users, information needs

Bibliometric Analysis of the Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal from 2004 to 2010

The purpose of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the LIBRES, Library and Information Science Research Electronic Journal between 2004 and 2010. Literature, both past and present, has established that bibliometric analysis plays a very important role in the field of Library and Information Science, especially in the areas of research evaluation and quality adjustment of published articles. Bibliographic analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The results of the study revealed that a total of 61 articles were published in the 7-year period with 12 articles as the highest number in 2008. Most of the articles were within the general subject area of Library and Information Science and were written by a single author. Hence, the degree of collaboration was 0.279, and the majority of the publications were contributed by authors in universities

Curtailing Harmful Widowhood Practices in Nigeria: The Librarian's Information Tool as a Veritable Strategy

This study examined the librarian and use of information as a tool in curtailing various harmful widowhood practices· in Nigeria. Prominent among these practices are sitting and sleeping on the floor, shaving of hair, drinking the water used in washing corpse, sleeping with corpse and jumping over corpse among others. Widows adhere to these practices to preserve tradition, as a proof of innocence and to attract love from dead husband and relations. Effects on widows range from psychological to health challenges, poverty and death. The paper further discusses information as a tool that the librarian can implore to bring such harm fit! practices to the fur, inform widows about their rights, including various non-governmental organizations interested in their affairs and to educate the perpetrators on the evil effects of such practices. It concludes by advising the Ministry of Women Affairs to encourage the formation of Widows' Association as a way of creating widows' visibility. The Government is also enjoined to use its position to protect Nigerian widows from molestation in the name oftraditional practice

Imperatives and Challenges of Resource Description and Access (RDA) Implementation in Libraries in a Developing Country

In recent times, information products are becoming more often packaged and repackaged in electronic formats. Cataloguing these resources is a core responsibility of libraries and librarians. A major emerging standardization tool for cataloguing electronic resources is the “resource description and access” (RDA). This article examined the imperatives of RDA implementation among libraries in a developing country—Nigeria. It reviewed global trends and observed the poor RDA implementation level among libraries in Nigeria. It also identified challenges of RDA implementation peculiar to a developing country like Nigeria. The article further outlined strategies that would help to deal with the identified challenges. It concluded that the implementation of RDA is not optional, but mandatory for Nigerian libraries if they must be and remain relevant in the competitive world of librarianship

Mobile Phones and Libraries/Information Centres

This chapter examines mobile phone use and behavior among users in library and information centres. It discusses both observed and perceived mobile phone behaviors among library users and advocates the control of identified negative trends in libraries. It recommends that user education should be intensified; law and legislations on mobile use in libraries should be enacted and guarded jealously. The chapter concludes that, though the use of mobile phones has revolutionized library and information services, it also redefined user behavior. Negative behaviors associated with the use of mobile phones among users will stop or at least reduce while libraries and librarians will continue to evolve ways and means to curb ugly trends

Investigating Occupational Burnout in Library Personnel

Background: This paper is an attempt to investigate occupational burnout among library personnel in University Libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion which is caused by prolonged stress. Objectives: find out if library personnel in academic libraries in Ogun State, do experience occupational burnout, Highlight the perceived causes of occupational burnout, identify the consequences of occupational burnout on the library personnel surveyed and strategies to mitigate burnout syndrome among library personnel. Methods: A descriptive survey method was adopted for the study Two hundred and thirty six copies of structured questionnaire were administered and Two hundred and twenty one (representing 93.6% response rate) were retrieved. One hypothesis was tested using Pearson correlation. Results: The causes of occupational burnout among library personnel sampled ranged from inadequate resources to work with, rigid working hours, unfavorable policies. Discussions: Drawing from the analysis carried out, there are some factors that affect the level of burnout experienced by the library personnel; these factors go a long way to affect the level of occupational burn out experienced. Conclusion: The paper concludes that the level of commitment of the library personnel could be determined by the nature of prevailing policies in the institutio