Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
The study investigated employability skills of library and information science (LIS) graduates as determinant for employment in university libraries in some selected university libraries in Nigeria. This study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population of the study consists of 6 heads of university libraries in South- South and South East, Nigeria. A self constructed questionnaire was used for the study. A total of 6 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and retrieved using descriptive statistics mean and percentage mean score of 2.5 and above and percentage score of 50% were considered as acceptable. The study revealed that four employability skills required from LIS graduates for employment in the university libraries under study as critical thinking, creativity and imagination, communication and information management and willingness to learn. The study also shows the leaning methods students will find most helpful in facilitating relevant knowledge for employment as industrial training, campus debates, summer internship and part-time work. four (4) factors that affect employability skills of new LIS graduates includes the following as most of them unaware of the skills required by the labor market, inflate and underestimate their employability skills, lack of self development while in school, and inability to learn practical’s during industrial training. The study recommends that LIS students should ensure that they utilize the period of industrial training to develop the skills needed for employment, LIS students should develop themselves while in school and seek for part time jobs during summer holidays and LIS students should ensure they participate in campus activities such as debates and any other critical competitions in that would spur them to develop their employability skills respectively.