SELF-EFFICACY AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING PRACTICES OF LIBRARIANS IN UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

Self-efficacy of librarians and knowledge-sharing practices play a critical role in maximizing their potential, as organisational growth requires professional knowledge transfer. This study aims to determine whether the level of self-efficacy influences the knowledge sharing practices of librarians in federal universities in the South-west, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used to investigate 119 librarians which is the study population. Total enumeration was used to study the entire population 119 librarians. The 114 returned questionnaires from 119 distributed surveys resulted in a 96% response rate was used for data analysis. The finding revealed that self-efficacy of librarians, influenced by personal experiences, social persuasion, and vicarious experiences, was moderate in federal universities, while librarians are engaged in diverse knowledge sharing practices, including both written/explicit and personal/tacit, while Seminars/workshops, social media, and verbal discussions emerge as the primary modes of knowledge sharing among librarians. The researcher recommends that the University libraries need to keep the focus on the professional development opportunities to improve the skills and knowledge sharing abilities of the librarians. This may involve workshops, seminars, and effective knowledge dissemination strategy training programmes. In conclusion, self-efficacy positively influences knowledge sharing practices of librarians in federal universities in the South-West, Nigeria. The study underscores the importance of fostering a supportive and collaborative environment by promoting self-efficacy and knowledge sharing to enhance efficiency among librarians in academic settings.