HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS AS A CORRELATE OF JOB PERFORMANCE IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined human resource development of academic librarians as a correlate of job performance in academic libraries in Benue State, Nigeria. Correlational research design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 110 academic librarians. Two research questions were generated and two null hypotheses formulated and tested. Census sampling technique adopted and all the 110 librarians were used. Questionnaire was used as instruments for data collection. The instruments were validated by three experts; two in Library and Information Science, one in Science and Mathematics Education, Rev. Fr. Moses OrshioAdasu University, Makurdi. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through a trial-test on 23 librarians in Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa. The test yielded Cronbach Alpha Coefficient as follows: The Human Resource Development Questionnaire (HRDQ) yielded 0.79while Job Performance Questionnaire (JPQ) yielded 0.90. Data were analyzed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) to answer research questions while linear regression analysis was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the study revealed that: staff training has significant positive relationship with job performance of academic librarians. It was also found that in-house training has significant positive relationship with job performance. It recommended among others that human Resource Department should organize regular, targeted staff training workshops and seminars that focus on current library practices, emerging technologies, and professional skills development to boost job performance.