Academic librarians in many countries have expanded their roles to be advocates and teachers of information literacy. The study examined information literacy practices, skills, level of involvement of librarians and inhibitors to information literacy programmes in universities in the Southeast Nigeria. Sample was 76 librarians working in Federal and State University Libraries in Southeast Nigerian. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Interview was also done to ascertain institutional practices of information literacy education. Results showed that majority of the libraries teach library use skills under the General Studies programme. Results also showed that librarians possess skills on traditional information literacy methods such as locating information physically to tackle users' queries but are least skilled in some information technology skills such as creating web pages, use of reference managers and Boolean search techniques. There is also low use of ICT tools for teaching of information literacy. Challenges faced include lack of institutional information literacy policy and support to drive information literacy, among others. The study concludes that academic librarians in Nigeria should plan and lobby for effective implementation of information literacy standalone credit bearing course in Nigerian Universities.
This chapter describes various readership promotion activities undertaken by a Nigerian State Public Library in partnership with schools, churches, and the state owned television house. Massive failures in O’ level national and regional examinations and the entrance examinations into the tertiary institutions have brought up the fact that the education sector in Nigeria is facing monumental challenges. This combined with a noticeable decline in user statistics, especially amongst school age children in Onitsha Public Library in South East Nigeria. This decline has long been associated with the school-boy drop-out syndrome. The State Public Library Board collaborated with agencies in its community to introduce intervention strategies to halt the trend. These were expected to increase usage of the public and school libraries, make reading attractive to children of school age, support school curriculum, and help students make better grades in examinations.
Technological advances, climate change, economic turbulence, and global demographics are bringing about rapid changes in every sphere of human existence. Multiculturalism and diversities are changing the makeup of many communities as migrations increase. Access to information is a click away on mobile devices. Leadership is critical especially in seasons of change. Libraries need to flow with the ebb or even better stay ahead of the crowd in the field of providing access to information. As the information provision sector continues to develop and evolve, libraries need visionary and focused leadership that would be courageous, fearless and strategic, committed, creative, and innovative to not only adapt to change but to lead change in providing access to information to their different user communities. Effective leadership is the core driver for growth and development in organizations including libraries. Self-development, disruptive thinking, global mindset, and ability to build social capital are highlighted among others as needful qualities for future ready library leaders.
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