EVALUATION OF STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The topic is on staff development programmes in academic libraries which deal with the management of staff in academic libraries on how they can be motivated, taking care of and being treated well in the programme conducted for them in order to render good services to the users of academic libraries. The objectives of the study include: to identify staff development programmes that are carried out in Imo state polytechnic library and also to state polytechnic is effective and consistent. A method was designed and followed on this job, the method which includes the research design, population of study, sample size and sample technique, instrument for data collection, the formal interview schedule, procedure for data collection and the method of data analysis. After the research, a findings came up on which o observed that if the staff of the Imo state polytechnic library should be taken care of, they will discharge their service very well on the library users. Based on the findings, I recommend that the management of academic libraries should endeavour to have proper auditing and analysis of the training.

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

The hallmark of every organization is its human factor. The effectiveness of academic libraries depends on the efficiency of their staff development programme. However, the term staff development covers a broad range of activities designed to provide staff with knowledge and skills that are directly related to their role and responsibilities in the library just as in state polytechnic, their staff undergo as a process of imparting the knowledge which they use, in carrying out the activities of the library effectively. In other words, the academic library requires competent staff that enable them to render services to the clientele. According to Corto (1986), training seeks to improve and develop the knowledge, skill and attribute of employees. More so, the aspect of the staff will also help in the development of the academic libraries for instance, in the case of Imo state polytechnic library it has been that the staff there are not active or have the knowledge on how to take care of the library or run the library, your will see that the students will be finding it boring to be making use of the library or if the staff running the library are not capable and they are the harsh type, you will see that the students in that school will be finding it difficult or not having the goal to make use of the library. In that case, you will see that the library will not develop up to the state it is now. In this, the staff development incorporate the skill development of the entire staff both the professional and non-professionals. Similarly, the now employee need some educational training that will help to implicate their power factor while the order staff required training to keep them alert to the demands of the clientele. Furthermore, it is necessary that the new employees that are employ in the library (i.e. the academic especially Imo state polytechnic library staff) should have intensive training on how to make use of the library and how to be police to the students so that it will be easy for them and the students to interact well and have a smooth work in the library. The essence of staff development in the academic libraries is to ensure that the maximum potentials are tapped from the employees. This yield specialization in a situation whereby the materials resources of the library are in abundance there is need to have capable staff to manage these resources effectively the achievement of the organizational goal of Imo state polytechnic library fundamentally depends on the effective development, training of staff and the proper use of its human resource. More so, human resources managers in Imo state polytechnic library must systematically identify the component required by library personnel in the information communication technology (ICT) age and plant according to it. Furthermore the introduction of information communication technologies becomes an indisputable tool in development of staff. It is indeed, an indisputable fact that libraries have metamorphosed from conventional libraries to electronic library (e-library). Therefore, all libraries are now embracing on how to apply information communication technology on daily basis. As well, balanced development programme formularize an employee with basic information and routines of the library operators, will prepare staff for the challenges of complex modern technology which requires an integration of activities, persons of diverse and specialized competence.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

The issue of staff development in academic libraries has been a major source of problem. Most academic libraries today have not recognized the importance of staff development. The inability of the academic library management of perceives the importance of staff development has led to low productivity among the staff. In other words staff from being competence. Inadequate funding seems to be a bane of staff development. This hamper management from conducting and organizing the programme and order staff from attending workshops, seminars and conferences.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1 To identify staff development programme that are carried out in Imo state polytechnic library

• To investigate if staff development programme in Imo state polytechnic library is effective and consistent.
• To find out the strategies adopted by the academic library under study in improving their staff development programme.
• To find out factors affecting staff development programmes in academic libraries.
• To make recommendations on how staff development in Imo state polytechnic library can be improved.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀:  there are no strategies adopted by the academic library under study in improving their staff development programme

H₁:  there are no strategies adopted by the academic library under study in improving their staff development programme

H₀²: there are no factors affecting staff development programmes in academic libraries

H₂: there are factors affecting staff development programmes in academic libraries

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study of staff development in academic libraries is important because the result of the research work till of immense benefit to the staff in academic libraries. It will enable the staff to understand the importance which tends to investigate the method of staff development in the academic library and suggesting ways to improve it. It will also be a guide to library administrators for proper management of human resource. In addition to the above, this work will go a long way to help other organizations like government parastatals in which development of their own staff hence staff development despite the area because there must be similarities between Imo state polytechnic staff and those working in the ministry. In concluding out significance, scholars, researchers will be in position to consult this project when they are writing on a topic that a related to this.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The emphasis in this study is staff development in academic libraries with Abia state polytechnic library as the case study. A research work will cover the name and problems militating against staff development programmes. It also focuses on the importance affects overall performance of staff in the library. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

 STAFF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: Staff development programme. Staff development refers to all training and education provided by an employee to improve the occupational and personal knowledge, skills and attitudes of vested employees.

ACADEMIC LIBRARY: An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution which serves two complementary purposes to support the school’s curriculum, and to support the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic libraries there are internationally.

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

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