Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Spring 8-19-2018
Abstract
The paper examined the ICT knowledge and skills required for recruitment of the librarians in academic and research libraries. Survey approach was adopted drew sample of 24 respondents from four academic and four research libraries in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The sample comprised of head of libraries, the deputy and one senior person. Data was gathered through interview. The results demonstrated that the basic ICT required for recruitment of librarian into the academic and research libraries at the digital age are the specific ICT skills useful and relevant to each unit of the library and the general skills such as word processing, spreadsheets/excel, power point presentations, knowledge of databases, files folders, email/internet, hardware/software, web design and management, mobile technology and social media skills. Similarly, it was unveiled that word process skills is the most ICT skill academic and research libraries usually target because the skill is relevant in every units and departments in the library. Major reasons crucial to the conduct of interview before recruitment into academic and research libraries is to determine the fit in terms of whether or not the recruited librarians will be able to cope with the integration of technologies into library practices and be able to use the technologies to render services to the satisfaction of the digital age library users. The prominent problems resulted from the poorly conducted recruitment exercise into the libraries at the digital age are poor library services that result to lack of satisfaction by the users and low productivity, lack of understanding of the refined routine activities in the library, low patronage by the library patrons, waste of resources and redundancy, poor conduct between staff and superior officers and eventually under-utilisation of ICTs procured by the libraries to render effective and efficient services to the users. It was recommended that recruitment into academic and research libraries should not be compromised and any candidate that does not possess the required ICT skills or not performing to expectation during recruitment should not be considered.