INFLUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON LIBRARIANS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS MENTORING IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Mentoring is a mechanism that drives every profession to the advancement and accomplishment in the 21st century, librarianship as a profession is not an exception. This study investigated influence of demographic factors on librarian's attitudes towards mentoring in Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria. The descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study. All librarians (104) in five Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria formed the population of the study. A total of 104 copies of questionnaire were administered across all the librarians, of which 99 copies, making the response rates of 95.2% was obtained. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate descriptive statistics (mean, percentages, frequencies and Standard Deviation) to compare and contrast as well as identify tendencies to actualize the objectives of the study. The findings of this study revealed that majority of the librarians in the Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria have a positive attitude towards mentoring. Also, the demographic factors (educational qualification, years of experience, etc.) greatly influenced librarians' attitudes towards mentoring in Federal University in South-west, Nigeria. This study affirmed that majority of the librarians in the Federal Universities in South West, Nigeria have a positive attitude towards mentoring, which is good for the progress and advancement of the profession (librarianship). This study is worthwhile in providing a platform for the library management to set libraries as a pacesetter of mentoring in the universities. This would greatly improve research and publication output of librarians as academic staff.