Justification and curriculum requirements for new era librarians in *Department of Library and Information Science, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria
This study investigated the justification and curriculum requirements for the proposed undergraduate program in Department of Library and Information Science, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. The proposed undergraduate programme and curriculum is aimed at training and producing 21st century librarians capable of withstanding the challenges and complexities in executing library operations and the information service delivery of the 21st century. The objectives of the study are to determine the organizational structure of the Department, employers’ rating of the products of existing programme, the components of the existing and proposed department/ curriculum, available resources to support the implementation of the proposed program/curriculum. Documentary method was employed with the use of student handbook, employers’ rating of LIT products file; National Universities Commission (NUC) 2018 Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS), Self-study form for 2019 NUC programme accreditation, and proposed academic brief (Bachelor of Technology: Library and Information Science). Documentary analysis was carried out. Tables (tabulation) were used to contain data and information. The major findings include; the existing and the proposed curriculum contain ICT components; there was high level of performance on the part of LIT products. Other major findings include availability of adequate human resources, information and teaching facilities to support the establishment/implementation of the proposed undergraduate programme/curriculum. The conclusion was that the proposed curriculum will equip the 21st century librarians with ICT skills that would enable them compete with their counterparts in the other parts of the world and at the same time work in any establishment more so that LIS is one option undergraduate programme as proposed
