Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
Librarians in federal universities in Nigeria have had academic status since 1993. They have a research and publication requirement for promotion, and are prominent in the professional literature. While the terminal degree remains the master's in library and information science, it is increasingly common for a doctorate to be required for librarian promotion in Nigerian universities. One problem with this requirement is the small number of doctoral programs in library science that are available. A survey of academic librarians was conducted. A questionnaire sought information on whether or not Nigerian university libraries have introduced the PhD as a requirement for the promotion of academic librarians and to discover reaction of academic librarians to the issue. Less than 30 percent of respondents said that a doctorate was required for promotion in their institution. Only one-third felt that it should be compulsory. Recommendations are made for helping librarians acquire a PhD if it becomes a requirement.