DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES, ORGANISATIONAL SUPPORT AND JOB SATISFACTION AS PREDICTORS OF PERSONNEL COMMITMENT IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated demographic variables, organisational support and job satisfaction as predictors of personnel commitment in university libraries in South-west Nigeria. The study sought to determine the level of personnel commitment; extent of organisational support to library personnel; level of employees’ job satisfaction; and influence of demographic variables, organisational support and job satisfaction on personnel commitment in university libraries in South-west, Nigeria. The study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study’s population were personnel from public and private university libraries in South-west, Nigeria, out of which 643 personnel were sampled using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected through survey questionnaire and interview schedule. A total of 643 copies of the questionnaire were administered, out of which 541 copies representing 84.1% were retrieved and analysed. Validity of the instruments was properly done and Cronbach Alpha was used to test the reliability of the instruments. Data collected were presented and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with decision mean of 3.0. Results indicated that the level of personnel commitment was low (Mean= 2.74). Furthermore, the results revealed that demographic variables significantly influenced personnel commitment in university libraries (Mean= 3.04). In addition, the results indicated that level of organisational support to personnel in university libraries in South-west, Nigeria was low (Mean = 2.86). The finding also showed that the level of job satisfaction was high (Mean = 3.12). The result further revealed that organisational support significantly influenced personnel commitment (F (1,539) = 184.962; R = 0.505, R square = 0.255, Adjusted R square = 0.254, P<0.05); and job satisfaction significantly influenced personnel commitment (F (1,539)= 249.775; R = 0.563, R square = 0.317, Adjusted R square = 0.315, P<0.05). Also, the findings indicated joint significant influence of demographic variables, organisational support and job satisfaction on personnel commitment in university libraries in South- West, Nigeria (F (7,533) = 42.191; R = 0.597, R square = 0.357, Adjusted R square =0.348, P<0.05). Based on the findings, the study concluded that personnel commitment in university libraries is based on demographic variables, organisational support and job satisfaction of the employees. The study therefore, recommended that stakeholders in the management of university libraries should be more concerned in improving personnel commitment through the provision of befitting work environment, regular review of workers’ remuneration, ensure fair treatment among workers and adequate recognition of employees’ contributions