JOB KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCY AS PREREQUISITES FOR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE DELIVERY OF LIBRARIANS: A CASE STUDY OF THREE COLLEGES OF NURSING SCIENCES IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

Librarians are the professionally trained information providers as such they no longer play passive role, rather they assume an active role. This study discourses the necessary skills and competencies needed for librarians to discharge their services efficiently and effectively in health related institutions. The scope of study covers Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Niger State and the population comprised thirty (30) librarians from the three Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Niger State. Findings of the study revealed that librarians in these Nursing Colleges are following the trends in the profession. More so acquisition of knowledge based- skills and competences were adjudged as one of core areas that if well harnessed could go a long way to improve the performance of librarians. Librarians are trained information providers; as such they are expected to acquire those skills that could enhance their service delivery. The study suggests review of school curricula to reflect the current trends in the field of librarianship. Librarians should be exposed to modern technological tools or search engines to enable them perform and provide information fast and quick and lastly librarians should engage in resource sharing since no library is an island of itself. Through this platform skills acquired could be learnt and shared among themselves thereby breeding cross fertilization of skills and ideas which would invariably improve their service delivery.