Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
Summer 7-1-2019
Document Type
Article
Citation
Ihekwoaba, E.C. and Okwor, R.N. (2019) Competency Requirements and Acquisition among Catalogers for Effective Application of Conventional and Online Complementary Cataloging in Nigerian University Libraries
Abstract
The study investigated Competency Requirements and Acquisition among Catalogers for Effective Application of Conventional and Online Complementary Cataloging in Nigerian University Libraries. There were five research questions that guided the work. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised 168 librarians drawn from six university libraries, including the University of Ife, University of Ibadan, University of Benin, University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt and the University of Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire (CAACOCCQ) which was face validated by three experts. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test procedure was used to determine the degree of internal consistency of the questionnaire items. The result of the trial test showed that the overall internal consistency of the questionnaire was 0.93. On the overall, 98.8 percent of the distributed copies of the questionnaire were correctly filled and returned and were used for discussions. Data obtained in the work were presented in tables and analyzed using percentages, means, and Standard deviations. The findings indicate that the catalogers required information management competence, proficiency with computer applications associated with cataloging and competence in the use of cataloging databases. They possessed very high competence in browser and search engine use, Internet navigation/web competence and data mining competence. The methods they required for competence acquisition and application were self-training and development and mentoring by colleagues in the profession, while the methods employed were mentoring by colleagues, self-training and development and formal education in library schools. The study concluded that libraries should make the complementary acquisition and application of conventional and online cataloging competencies easy for catalogers.