An Assessment of University - based Library Schools in Northern Nigeria: The Academia

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the availability of teaching staff in university-based Library Schools in former Northern Region of Nigeria. The study assesses the academia (i.e teaching staff) by classifying their gender, qualification and rank, length of service and areas of specialization. The population of the study consists of all library schools situated in the universities. Stratified sampling technique was used while four (4) Library Schools were sampled using the three (3)geopolitical zones as a criteria. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Bayero University, Kano are to represent the North-West; and University of Maiduguri is to represent the North-East zone while the Federal University of Technology, Minna Library School represents North-Central zone. Questionnaire was the only research instrument used in data collection. The findings revealed that 45 or 56% of the teaching staff in Library Schools under study were inadequate. It was also discovered that traditional disciplines of Library Service such as in the areas of national and school libraries, outreach and reference services and library history – are being neglected by most of the researchers or academic staff. As a way forward, the paper recommends that special incentives must be provided for library and information professionals in order to attract them to teaching. Research grant can also be made available for research into areas lagging behind.