STAFFING IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

To ascertain to what extent academic librarians in Nigeria satisfy the bibliographical and information requirements of scholarship and research, and whether the institutional settings in which staff work are conducive to effective professional service, this study, based upon the six oldest Nigerian University libraries, was undertaken. Among major elements examined were the librarians' perceptions of their responsibilities; their academic and professional backgrounds; work environments; job satisfaction and opportunities for continuing education and professional development. It was found that effective professional library service has been hindered by such factors as the inability of the library administrators to conceptualize the proper role of a librarian; rigid bureaucratization in the libraries; failure to separate professional from non‐professional duties or to match job content with relevant knowledge and capability; and by limited incentives and opportunities for continuing education and professional growth.