University of Nigeria Virtual Library
Serial No.
Author 1
OKOYE, M. O.
Author 2
Author 3
Title
Non-Career Tenure for University Librarians: Merits and Demerits
Keywords
Description
Non-Career Tenure for University Librarians: Merits and Demerits
Category
Education
Publisher
Coal City Libraries: Journal of the Nigerian Library
Association, Enugu State Chapter
Publication
Date
2004
Signature
Journal M The Niqerian Library Association, Enuciu State Chapter
Con tents Editorial I %
Dbwn The Mqmory Lane -7 .
An Empirical Study of Professional Dovelopmcnf Factors and Strategies for Job Enrichment and Enhancement of Librarians in Wgtria 4 -. , . ! ' , L , . Achebe, Nancy -..'-.
. '\
Contemporary Formats and Types of I n f o ~ i o n RBBOUTCCS: Implications for Librarians and Informatiod Mafiqpq in the
6 .
Millennium. , . I .
Aweme, KO. \ . * . Information Technolo@ in Libraries: The Nigerian Case. U&~WC, C. U. a
. Serial t & i p in'the New Information Era ' * ' $$y t&eh&a&
15- . ~-.~amc~or~niversity ~ibrarians: Merits andDemerits.
isal ofAcademic Status for Librarians ofTwo
lie Relations: An Impera e for Public Services L i € m i i m r-.
# B&Ud#clv.
8. Marketing Library Services, Cunmt Pmcfices, Probttms and Pruspb~ts: Case of Nnamdi Azikim Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Nwegbu, M. U.
,9. Assessment ofR~40~16~es and Services of Ministries of Justic6Law Libraries - in Soup-Bast zone, Nigeria.
C(ML am UW!wlmw of the Nberian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter
Edited by Dr (Mrs) N. E. E. Achebe
M A I D E N E D I T I O N
COAL CITY LIBRARIES Journal of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor-In-Chief DR. (MRS.) N.E.E. ACHEBE
School Of General Studies ', UnkveWv Of Nkeh Gnrrga .Ccmrprcs
E-mail: n&[email protected] or nohemd@,skannet.com
Business Manager F.O. Anaeme Esq.
University of Nigeria Library, Enugu Campus E-mail: [email protected]
M R J.0 EZE MR. E.O. OMEJE College Libraiy Dept. OfLibraiy IMT Enugu & Information Science, Universi&
Of Nigeria, Nsukka . Consulting Editors
Prof. Sam lfidon Dr. M.W. Anyakoha Ambrose Alli University Nnamdi AziMw Universily Ekpoma - Edo State Awka - Anambm Stale
J.C. Anafulu, FNLA, Mni Mr. C.N. Okoli P.O. Box 6378 do Universily of Nigeria Libruiy Alodinma Post Office Enugu Campus. Owerri, Imo Stale Enugu Stale
C.C. Ude C/O Stafe Library Board, Enugu, Enugu State
Coal City Libraries is published two times in a year; in April and October by the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Communications about subscriptions and advertisements should be directed to the Editor-inChief or the Business Manager Coal City Libraries (See Editorial Board for address), or any member of the Ed~torial Board nearest to you. Annual Subscription Rates: Individuals (Nigerian) W300 Corporate bodies & Institutions (in Nigeria) WOO AU countries S.70 Other counties $30 Advertising Rates Back cover page N5,000 Inside cover N3.000
- Full page N2,OOO Half page N1,500
. Q Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter . .
11
Maiden Edition
NOTES FOR CONTRIBUTORS
Contributions to the Coal City Libraries should not be more than 5,000 words. They should be typed in triplicates, double-spaced on one side only of A4 papers. Footnotes should be avoided. The author's name, position and place of work should ,be indicated. Diagrams and tables should be drawn in Indian ink on smooth white paper in such proportions that they can be reduced t a a page measuring 7% x 4'12 or half that size. References and notes should be grouped at the end of each article in the following order: for periodicals; author(s), date, title, unabbreviated journal's name, volume number, issue number and pagination eg.
* Ajidahun, C.O. (2004) Towards Improved Management of University Law Libraries in Nigeria. AJLican Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 14 (2), 177 - 1 83.
References for Books/Monographs should be in the order: author($), date, title, place of publication, publisher, pagiaation, series notes, eg:
Ikegbune, Emenike (2003). The Use of the Library for College and Univelsiiy Students. Nsukka: FIJAC Academic Press, 125.
Each article should include an information abstract of 100 wards or less. Opinions expressed in articles published in this journal are those of authors. Materials appearing in the journal must not be reprinted in whole or part without permission in writing.
AIMS AND SCOPE Coal. City Libraries provides a forum for librarians, atchivists, documentalists, information scientists and other information professionals in Nigeria, Africa and indeed other countries of the world to report their research findings. Emphasis is on Nigeria. We expect that distinguished scholars will find this journal useful.
MISSION To provide a regular and sustainable basis for diverse scholarly views on research in the areas of library, Archival, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Information Science. - VISION To remain a source of inspiration to other libraries.
Copyright (c) by Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter. . . . 111
PSEUDO-EDITORIAL
DOWN THE MEMORY LANE WITH COAL CITY LIBRARIANS
1 congratulate the Editorial Board of Coal City Libraries for the decision to create this column. Every Librarian h o w s the enduring value of archives and historical documents. They furnish basic information on various subjects of study for research and publication of articles and books.
THE SITING OF THE FIRST UNESCO PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT FOR AFRICA IN ENUGU CITY, 1957 Enugu city played an enviable role in the development of public libraries in Africa. Nwoye (1977) observes that with regard to the development of public libraries, the government of Eastern Nigeria in the 1950s seemed to have done everything right. First, the most experienced Nigerian public librarian, and at that time librarian of the Lagos Municipal Library, Kalu Okorie was asked to make a library survey of the region. Second, a Library Board Law was passed, following closely on the Gold Coast Library Board Ordinances of 1949, which had proved quite successful. Mr. Okorie carried out his survey in March and April 1955.
Mazi Okorie's report contained recommendations for a regional service that would consist of divisional libraries, mobile library service and book box service.
Meanwhile at international level, a UNESCO seminar on the development of public libraries in Africa, held in 1953, had projects in an African temtory. Okorie's sound proposal and government determination to implement it, impressed UNESCO which then decided that the first UNESCO public library project be sited in Enugu. So it was, in 1957, the project started and Enugu and Eastern Region enjoyed a very excellent public library service. - The foundation stone of a new library building (the present library headquarters) was laid by Hon. Basil Charles Okwu, then Minister of Information on the 9' day of July 1958. On March 9' 1959, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, opened the UNESCO sponsored library project. Between 1962
v
and 1966, Divisional Libraries were established in Port Harcourt, Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia and Onitsha. Mobile Librarjes operated from five centres: the central library at ~ n u ~ u and the four divisional libraries. A film on the activities of the Eastern Regpnpl Public service was jointly sponsored by UNESCO and the Regional Ministry of Information, titled: The Written Word, the film showed, among other things, the mobile library vans moving into all nooks and corners of Eastern Nigeria - a sure sign of viable public library service to the people.
The first UNESCO public library pilot project in Africa, sited in Enugu was indeed a significant event, in the history of library service in Africa.
Readers are invited to the State Central Library Enugu to read the golden plaque that furnishes basic information on the first UNESCO library project in Africa.
Mr. G. N. Okoli Enugu, Dec., 2004
Table of Contents
ARTICLES PAGES
An Empirical Study of Professional Development Factors and Strategies for Job Enrichment and Enhancement of Librarians in Nigeria Achebe, Nancy
Contemporary Formats and Types of Information Resources: Implications for Librarians and Information Managers in the Millennium. Anaeme, F.O.
Information Technologies in Libraries: The Nigerian Case. Uzoigwe, C. U.
Serial Librarianship in the New Information Era Chigbu, E.D.
Non-career Tenure for University Librarians: Merits and Demerits. Okoye, M. 0 .
A Comparative Appraisal of Academic Status for Librarians of Two Universities in Enugu State. Ohaji, I. K.
Good Public Relations: An Imperative for Public Services Librarians Ezeani, C.N.
Marketing Library Services, Current Practices, Problems and Prospects: Case of Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Nwegbu, M. U.
Assessment of Resources and Services of Ministries of Justice Law Libraries in South- East zone, Nigeria. Enem, F.N.
vii
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal ofthe Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chqpter
NON-CAREER TENURE FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIANS: MERITS AND DEMERITS
DR. M.O. OKOYE Principal Librarian
University OfNigeria, Nsukka.
ABSTRACT The paper chronicles the introduction of non-career tenure for the University Librarian in Nigeria. Result of the empirical research shows that respondents agreed with its merits and that the system has not been implemented in some university libraries. Recommendations on how to improve the system are made.
JNTRODUCTION Non-career tenure is a situation where the position of a university librarian is no longer permanent. He stays in that position for five years, subject to a renewal of another five years and no more. It makes the position rotational. The literature on library governance is replete with suggestions to make library governance reflect those of faculties. The closest resemblance to faculty governance is the election of heads of departments in very few university libraries, (Byerly, 1980).
In Nigeria, librarians had resented the permanence of the position of the university librarian. In a case study of the University of Lagos, (Salisu, 1980) lamented that there could be only one university librarian at the professorial grade at any given time. He said that efforts were made to change the situation because the limitations placed a barrier on the aspirations of the librarians.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Permanence of the position of the university librarian had militated againsts advancement of younger librarians, and unsuccessful efforts
. had been made to change the system. With the Federal Government's
OKOYE: Non-Career Tenure fir Universiw Librarians: Merits and Demerits
Decree on non-career tenure, this paper has investigated the disposition of all librarians towards the development. Purpose of the Study The study investigated merits and demerits of non-career tenure for the university librarians, with a view to determining acceptability of non- career tenure by both management and non-management librarians. Management librarians are the university librarians and their deputies, while librarians below the rank of a deputy university librarian constitute non-management. Compliance with institutionalizing non- career tenure in university libraries was also investigated.
Significance of the Study 1. To allay the fear of job insecurity of the incumbent university
librarians. 2. To appraise other academic librarians of the prospects under
the new dispensation i~
Scope of the Study The study was limited to merits, demerits and compliance with the decree on non-career tenure in Nigerian university libraries.
. Research Questions The following research questions guided the study: 1. How acceptable is the non-career tenure system to academic
librarians? 2. What are the merits of non-career tenure system? 3. What are the demerits of non-career tenure system?
Hypotheses The following null hypotheses which were tested at 0.5 level of significance guided the study:
I
HO1 There is no significant difference in the mean rating of scores between management and non-management librarians with respect to merits of non-career tenure system.
633& CtTY ES: Journal ofthe Nigetian Library association. EnnguState GhapIer
HOz . "Fhere is no significant diffkrence in the.mean rating nf scdwes between management and. non-management: librarians with respect to demerits of mn-careerdenure system. .: L -
hlTElUTURE, REVIEW W s m a n f l974);4~roached the subject of non-career tenure when he suggested a semblance between the government of academic depdrtments a d government of libraries in Britain with respect to rotational headship. Similarly, in Nigeria, (Bankole, 198 1) submitted that- the position and tenure of the university librarian should be specified as for other academic staff. Non-career tenure was also reported in Tanzania where the position is rotated .among senior librarians in the university library, (Aina, 1993).
In Nigeria, lengthy tenure for principal office16 of the university oontinued to have disturbing influence. In LP93, in a bid to sanitize the educational system, the Nigerian Federal Government published the University Miscellaneous Provisions Decree for the principal officers includhg the .University Bursar or Librarian with reference to tenure as follows: 4 (a) SM.1 hold oE1m for a peri0d.d five years
date of his appointment and on such terms and conditions as may be specified in his letter of appointment.
(b) May be re-appointed for a further periodaf five yeirs and no more. . .
1 b . ' . L
5 Where on the commencement of this Decree, a Bursar or Librarian has held office:
(a) For five years or less, he shall be deemed to be serving his first term of and may be, r&appint6d f6r another term of five yews. %..
7 7 .- I , , < . A
, . I -
' &) Fbr mote than1'fiw years but -less -than ten 'years,'he shall cdrhplete them&ximum period of ten years and
- , < , " theteafter ' rdl in~~ish his post and be assigne&:dher
duties ifi the university.. ; i . ? . I " ,
OKOYE: Non-Carer Tenure fw Univemitv Lihrians: Merit# and Demerits ' .
: - (6) ; for ten.years or more, the council may allow him serve I as Bulrsar or L i b k a n : h ~ a fiirther pmd of me year
only and thereafter he 3hall relinquish. his post a d be assigned other duties in the university, (Nigeria. Federd.Ministry of Education, 1993,W (1 1), A87).
I. ,&
This Decree was repealed. later in 1993 and ~e-enact&h1.~1996 as follows: -
... .,... similarly Decree No.55 of 199.3 has been amended to provide a fuced renewable term for certain principal oficers such as Registrars, Bursars and Librarians, (Abubakur, Adeniyi, Obayuwana, & Uwuleke, 1996, 1).
L ' i
There WE. reservations about the succees.of this system and whethei the library as service organization would benefit, (Ramoka, 1993, & Ene, 1999).
METHODOLOGY A descriptive survey method was used and proportional. stratified random sampling was employed to draw 18 of 36 (24 federal and 12 state) university libraries in Nigeria. Letters were sent to these 18 university librarians in 1998, requesting .hsm to send the statiistiicsaf& statuslof&heir.libmria.as to the researcher. tX qud'stionnaire Was used as the data.collection instrument. It had three sections. Section-A was MI
permail data. Section-,B enquired frorn-iach r&pondent whether he was in f~vour of non-career tenure system for the university librarian. It also qlicited information on whether non-career tenure system had been implemented in the university libraries involved in the research. Section C had two clusters. The first cluster was about merits, while the second cluster was on demerits of non-career tenure. Section G was developed on a four point Likert rating scale as fallows Strongly Agree , (SA) == 4 points -7 . , Agree. :* (A) a 3 points Disagree (D) = 2 paints I - ,
Strongly Disagree (SD) = 1 point
5 5
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter
Copies of the questionnaire were dispatched in February 1999 to all academic librarians in the 18 university libraries by registered mail which also contained a stamped self-addressed envelope in each case. Out of 189 copies of the questionnaire administered to academic librarians, 163 were received as at July 1999. These were used for analysis. Out of the 163, 31 were management and
I
132 were non-management librarians. The response rate was 86.24%.
Frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation were employed. Items with a mean score of 2.5 and above were accepted. Cite source analysis was used to establish whether there was any significant difference in the mean rating between management and non-management librarians with regard to merits and demerits of non-career tenure system.
ANALYSIS OF DATA AND RESULTS
Section B Research Question One How acceptable is the non-career tenure system to academic librarians?
Management and Non-Management Librarians' Disposition to Non-Career Tenure
Table I: Advocates and Opponents of Non-Career Tenure According to Categories of Librarians
Advocates of Non-Career Tenure
Management Librarians
Non-Managemen t Librarians
Total -
24 (77.42%)
11 1 (84.09%)
135 (82.82%)
Opponents of Non- Career Tenure
7 (22.58)
21 (15.91%)
28 (17.18%)
Total
3 1
132
163
YO
100
100
100
OKOYE: Non-Career Tenure /or University Librarians: Merits and Demerits
The table shows that 135 (82,82%) librarians supported non-career tenure system, while 28 (1 7.18%) opposed it.
Table 2: Advocates and Opponents of Non-Career
The table shows that 24 (77.42%) management librarians favoured non-career tenure while seven opposed it.
Tenure According to Status of Management Librarians N = 31
Status of Management Librarians
University Librarians including Acting University Lihranans
Deputy Un~verscty Librarians
Total
Table 3: Advocates and Opponents of Non-Career Tenure According to Status of Non-Management Librarians
N = 132
Advocates of Non- Career Tenure
10 (62.5%)
14 (93.3%)
24 (77.42%)
Status of Non- Management Librarians
Principal Librarian
Senior Librarian
Librarian I
Librarian 11
Assistant Librarian
Total
Total
16
15
31
Opponents of Non- Career
Tenure
6 (37.5%)
1 (6 7%)
7 (22.58%)
57
Total
22
2 1
33
22
34
132
%
100
100
100
%
I00
100
100
100
100
100
Advocates of Non-Career Tenure
21 (95.45%)
16 (76.19%)
27 (8 1.82%)
18 (8 1.82%)
29 (85.29%)
11 I (84.09%)
Opponents of Non- Career
Tenure
1 (4.55%)
5 (23.81%)
6 (18.18%)
4 (18.18%)
5 (14.71%)
21 (15.91%)
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal ojthe Nigerian Libraty Association, Enugu State Chapter
Table 3 shows that principal librarians were the greatest supporters of non-career tenure system, while senior librarians were the least supporters.
Table 4: Implementation of Non-Career Tenure in University Libraries that Responded
Type of University Library
Federal Universities
State Universities
Libraries that have Implemented
Table 4 shows that eight federal university libraries had implemented, while no state university library had implemented non-career tenure as at the time of response in l999/2OOO.
Section C
Research Question Two What are the merits of non-career tenure system?
8 (72.73%)
None (0.00%)
Libraries that have not Implemented
3 (27.27%)
5 (100%)
Total %
11
5
100
100
OKOYE: Non-Career Tenure for Universitv Librarians: Merits and Demerits
Table 5: Item and Cluster Mean Scores and Standard Deviations of Management and Non-Management Librarians on Merits of Non-Career Tenure
-
Cluster A Merits of Noncareer Tenure
1 Job satisfaction
2 Discourages stagnation
3 Many competent academic librarians can become university librarians before retirement
4 Introduction of fresh ideas into library management
5 In consonance with the principles of academic governance
Management Librarians Non-Management Librarians
Both management and non-management librarians perceived items one to five as merits of non-career tenure. Each item SD is shown in the table. Cluster mean for management librarians is 3.15, while the cluster mean for non-management librarians is 3.45.
Research Question Three What are the demerits of non-career tenure?
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chopter
Table 6 shows that in the perception of management librarians, politicization of the post of the university librarian item 8, constitutes a demerit. For the non-management librarians, both item 8 and personality conflicts between the incumbent and his predecessor, constitute demerits of non-career tenure system.
Table 6: Item and Cluster Mean Scores and Standard Deviations of Management and Non-Management Librarians on Demerits of Non-Career Tenure
Hypothesis One The difference between the mean scores of management and non- management librarians was used to compute t-test analysis which is presented in Table 7.
I Management Librarians N = 31
Non-Management Librarians N = 132
OKOYE: Non-Career Tenure for Uniwrsirv Libmrians: Merits and Demerits
Table 7: T-test Analysis of the Dlflerence Between the Mean Scores of the Management and Non-Management Librarians with Regard to Merits of Non-
The null hypothesis is accepted. Therefore, there is no significant difference in the perceptions of management and non-management librarians with regard to merits of non-career tenure system.
Hypothesis Two The difference between the mean scores of management and non- management librarians in Table 6 was used to compute t-test analysis. A calculated t-value of 0.05 was obtained, while the critical t-value was 1.96. Hence, since the calculated t-value is less than the critical value, the null hypothesis is accepted. Therefore, there is no significant difference in the perceptions of management and non- management librarians with regard to demerits of non-career tenure system.
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS It is surprising that 62.5% of university librarians (including acting university librarians), Table 2, supported the system. This is because they are members of Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (CULNU) which appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to rescind the decision on non-career tenure. It could be that these university librarians had reached, or were about to reach retiring age and so, they felt that they had nothing to lose. The university
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter
librarians who opposed the system could have considered allowances and perquisites attached to that position. Deputy university librarians could have discerned a favourable opportunity being created for each of them to become a university librarian. This informed their massive support (93.3%) given to the system, Table 2.
In the same vein, principal librarians felt a propitious situation, conducive to their advancement to management positions. Hence, they unalloyedly supported the system with 95.45%, Table 3. Senior librarians were the least supporters, 76.19%. This is surprising. Since they would expectedly reach management positions before lower ranks, one would have expected their percentage to be second to those of principal librarians.
Table 4 shows that only Federal university libraries have implemented non-career tenure. They are first to third generation universities which university librarians were affected by the non-career tenure decree of 1996. It was observed that management and non- management librarians of the same library differed in their responses with regard to whether their library had implemented non-career tenure. Such differences were observed also among management librarians but were more pronounced among non-management librarians. In each case, the response of the university librarian held sway.
Research Questions 1 , 2 and 3 R.Q. 1 From tables 1, 2 and 3, non-career tenure system has been
overwhelmingly accepted by academic librarians in Nigeria.
R.Q. 2 Table 5 shows that all the items in cluster A have been accepted as merits of non-career tenure.
R.Q. 3 Table 6 shows that while management librarians accepted politicization of the post of the university librarian as a demerit, non-management librarians also accepted it, in addition to personality conflicts between the incumbent and his predecessor as demerits of non-career tenure.
62
OKOYE: Non-Career Tenure for University Libmrians: Merits and Demerits
Hypotheses Null hypotheses 1 and 2 were accepted, indicating that there was no significant difference in the mean rating of scores between management and non-management librarians with respect to either merits or demerits of non-career tenure.
RECOMMENDATION In the light of the findings of this study, the following recommendations have been made:
There should be a re-structuring of the library management positions, so that erstwhile university librarians should be accommodated within the library system. They should be accorded the rank of library consultants.
University librarians should maintain rapport and good channel of communication among management librarians and between management and non-management librarians, so that members of staff should be kept abreast of developments in their profession.
In the interest of equity and eradication of stagnation in library profession, non-career tenure system should be established in university libraries in all counties.
CONCLUSION Responses from respondents showed that many librarians in Nigeria are not yet aware of non-career tenure system. However, the greatest merit upheld by both management and non-management librarians is the fact that many competent academic librarians can become university librarians before retirement, item 3, Table 5. The results obtained from the study led to the acceptance of two null hypotheses.
COAL CITY LIBRARIES: Journal of the Nigerian Library Association, Enugu State Chapter
References
Abubakar, M., Adeniyi, 0. Obayuwana, O., & Uwaleke, I. (1996, August 24). Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and two others proscribed. The Guardian p. 1
Aim, L.O. (1993). Professional news and events. Afi-ican Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 3 (2), 194.
Bankole, E.B. (1981, October). Standards for personnel in university libraries. Paper presented at the seminar on Nigerian University Library Standards, Maiduguri.
Byerly, G. (1980). The faculty status of academic libraries in Ohio. College and Research Libraries, 41 (5) , 424 - 425.
Ene, N. (Personal communication, May 25, 1999).
Guttsman, W. (1974). The government of university libraries in Britain. Journal of Librarianship, 6 (3), 203 - 2 18.
Nigeria Federal Ministry of Education (1993). University Miscellaneous Provisions Decree, Lagos, Government Press, 80 (1 l), A87.
Raseroka, H.K. (1993). Personality interview. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 3 (2), 187 - 193.
Salisu, I.M. (1980). Status of academic librarians. A case study from Nigeria. College and Research Libraries, 41(4), 333 - 338.
