A Study Of The Challenges In The Training And Education Of Library And Information Science Students In Nigeria

A Study Of The Challenges In The Training And Education Of Library And Information Science Students In Nigeria

Abstract

The study of the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students is psychological. It is against this that the researcher sees the subject matter worthy of investigation to examine how the challenges pose a threat on the effective training of students of library and information science.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Library and information science (LIS) training and education play a significant role in the production of high quality LIS students who occupy a unique position in national development. LIS students are gatekeepers and brokers of information which is essential for knowledge acquisition, decision-making and national development. The success of library, archives and information centre?s in effectively meeting their obligation of information provision is hinged, in part, on the development of skilled manpower.

Trained personnel, according to Korsah (1996) are a key requirement in library and information work. In this respect, LIS education plays a vital role (Edegbo, 2011). Although early LIS students, particularly librarians did not undergo any formal training (Wikipedia, nd.), the modern day challenges of library and information work require that personnel should be well-trained and educated to make for effectiveness.

Melvin Dewey, the famous proponent of the Dewey Decimal Classification System was said to have established the first library school in the United States in 1887 at Columbia University (Wikipedia, n.d.). In Europe, the library School established in Barcelona in 1915 is reputed to be the oldest library school in that continent. Many other library schools were said to have been established during the Second World War. In Africa, however, South Africa is credited with the longest history of LIS in the continent dating from 1938 (Ocholla, 2007).

In West Africa, the earliest formal training in librarianship consisted of short courses organized by practicing librarians and these were aimed solely at preparing the participants for the British Library Association examinations (Ojo-Igbinoba, 1995) which then constituted the only gateway for aspiring librarians (Aguolu and Aguolu, 2002). One of such courses took place in Achimota College, Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1944 and it drew participants from various West African countries including Nigeria. This appears to be the earliest evidence of the strong historical link between Ghana and Nigeria in the education and training of LIS students. Hence this study tends to study the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The study of the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students is psychological. It is against this that the researcher sees the subject matter worthy of investigation to examine how the challenges pose a threat on the effective training of students of library and information science.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To find out the challenges faced by students of library and information science?
2. To identify the attitude of students of LIS towards the training
3. To discover the perception of the profession by the general public
4. To identify problems militating against the effective education and training of students of library and information science.
5. To proffer solutions to the problems

1.4 Research Questions

1. What are the challenges faced by students of library and information science?
2. What are the attitudes of LIS students towards the training of their field?
3. What is the perception of the profession by the general public?
4. What are the problems militating against the effective education and training of students of library and information science?
5. What are the solutions to the problems?

1.5 Significance of the Study

A critical study of various literatures reveals that efforts have been made in the past to train and educate the library and information science students therefore, this research is thus an improvement on earlier ones as it focuses on the challenges in training and education of library and information science students.
However, this study will be of immense value to undergraduate students, librarians and researchers in their research on challenges in training and education of library and information science students.

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

The project covers the challenges of training and education of library and information science students using the department of library and information science, the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa as a comparative study.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings into the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students in Nigeria using Ibarapa polytechnic as case study”. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was to examine the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students in Nigeria using Ibarapa polytechnic as case study. The study specifically was aimed at finding out the challenges faced by students of library and information science; identifying the attitude of students of LIS towards the training; discovering the perception of the profession by the general public; identifying problems militating against the effective education and training of students of library and information science.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 50 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are students of Ibarapa Polytechnic from the department of library and information science.

The findings or the study revealed that there are series of challenges faced by students of library and information science which include; Crowding during lectures and exam period, Slow speed of the internet, Noise from students during lectures etc. As a result of these factors, the attitudes of LIS students towards the training of their field is found to be negative. It was also revealed that the general public has a positive perception towards the library and information science as a profession.

It was disclosed that; Dearth of professional IT librarians to teach the LIS students, Poor infrastructure, Poor funding, Poor policy implementation, ICT illiteracy etc are the problems militating the effective education and training of students of library and information science. Finally the study unleashed the solution the those problems and challenges among the solutions include; Provision of fund, Employment of qualified Staffs and staffs training. Provision of adequate infrastructure, Curriculum Review and effective implementation etc.

5.3 Conclusions

Library and Information Science students need professional education that willsustain their search skills abilities and facilitate the exploitation of the content of their library’scollection regardless of the medium in which that content is acquired and stored. Ever since the earlydays of their history, libraries have always consisted of a mix of media of communication which intoday’s world include print, sound, video, CD-ROM, and knowledge on how to use the traditionalskills to manipulate the new networks to generate electronic information become very necessary forlibraries of the 21st century. The Government as stake-holders in the Library and information science professionneed to understand that the technology-driven processes of today’s world would most likely lead to asituation in which those without technological skills are rendered unemployed and unemployable inthe future. This simply means that, Nigerian LIS schools must function completely within theirsphere of authority to ensure efficient flow, distribution and utilization of information materials toprospective users.

5.4 Recommendations

Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:

1. The following recommendations will enhance library education and the challenges of ICT in Nigeria.
2. There should be constant training of Library and Information Science Educators to meet up with the currents trends in the profession.
3. Adequate ICT facilities should be acquired in all library schools in Nigeria to enhance easy processing, storage, management and dissemination of information.
4. A comprehensive curriculum on library science education should be formulated in Nigeria and reviewed periodically to meet up with the constant changes in the information era.
5. The government and other well-meaning individuals should provide financial support for the development of Library science education in Nigeria through the establishment of library schools and provision of basic infrastructures.
6. There is the need for information networking among library schools to share their resources.

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