PERCEPTIONS OF NON-LIBRARY USER POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS ON LIBRARIANS’ SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, LIBRARIES, ZARIA, NIGERIA
PERCEPTIONS OF NON-LIBRARY USER POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS ON LIBRARIANS’ SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES IN AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, LIBRARIES, ZARIA, NIGERIA
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Date
2016-07
Authors
JIBRIL, Abdurrahman
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Abstract
This research was carried out on Perceptions of Non-Library User Postgraduate students on Librarians’ Skills and Competencies in Ahmadu Bello University Libraries, Zaria, Nigeria. Four research questions were raised and answered with respect to the perception of postgraduate students on librarians’ status, perceptions of postgraduate students on librarians’ expertise, sources of information to the postgraduate students and how the theory of planned behaviour explains the perceptions of postgraduate students on librarians’ expertise. Theory of planned behaviour was adopted as theoretical framework to explain the perceptions of Postgraduate students of librarians from the perspective of two constructs: subjective norms and attitudes. The study adopted qualitative research methodology and specifically exploratory research design was used. A total number of 8,301 registered postgraduate students for 2013/2014 session were drawn as the population of the study, out of which 17 postgraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were purposely drawn as sample size. Interview was used as the instrument to gather data from the research participants. Inductive analytical process was used to analyze the data. Findings from the study revealed that, Postgraduate students in A.B.U. Zaria regard librarians as those that engaged in keeping books, administering office activities and support members of the university community. The finding of the study also revealed that postgraduate students do not regard librarians as their source of information when they are in need of information, at the same time postgraduate students in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria do not regard librarians as people with expertise to meet because they saw them as people that lack some skills (being analytical, flexible, personal skills when dealing with people etc) and as well the findings of the study conform to some of the constructs of the theory subjective norms and attitudes. It can be concluded that librarians in Ahmadu Bello University must try and correct the mis-conceptions about their roles and status in the University by the postgraduate students in particular and other categories of users in general. Recommendations were given among which librarians should engaged in sensitizing members of the University community through organizing librarians week and go round the campus and enlighten members of the university community on their roles and what they can offer to Postgraduate students and other members of the university community, as well library orientation to postgraduate students need to be given serious concern so that postgraduate students could know the value of librarians as library and information science professionals. Library management in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria should try and be organizing workshops and seminars for the librarians on the acquisition of necessary skills that could make them to be relevant in the 21st centuary
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
MASTER OF LIBRARY SCIENCE (MLS)
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE,
FACULTY OF EDUCATION,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
PERCEPTIONS,, NON-LIBRARY USER POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS,, LIBRARIANS’ SKILLS,, COMPETENCIES,, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,, LIBRARIES,, ZARIA,, NIGERIA