CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1              Background to the study

          Universities exist for the improvement of learning, teaching and research. University education is geared towards the production of intellectuals capable of independent learning and research. For independent learning and research to take place, University education should depend largely on information resources and services provided by the library as these are the driving force for making the society to be educated (Ifidon, 2007). In addition, academic libraries according to Mohammed(2012) should as a matter of fact assist the Universities in the discharge of their functions by acquiring all relevant resources necessary for sustaining the teaching, learning, research and service functions of the Universities. Amstrong (2006) posit that the primary role of the library is not only to fulfill the mission of the academic institution to which it belongs, but also to advance it aims and objectives for research work through ensuring job satisfaction by staff.

          Age is very important in the taking on of effective information dissemination. According toNur' Aini (2011)older librarians possess the skillsto enhance effective and efficient information dissemination to library users than younger librarians. The authorpoints out that while older librarians may have more experience, education and library resources which factors can be an incentive to disseminate information, young librarians tend to have fewer facilities to enhance the said information dissemination.In the library system,Siddique (2011) posits that  older librarian and other information scientists tends to disseminate needed information to library users based on the experience and years of work. According to the author, this implies that younger librarians may not have the necessary experience and skills to display needed facets of information to the teaming users.

          Gender according to Prabhavathi (2011) is a determinant of the needed satisfaction expected by staff in any organization. In addition, it allows the values in a woman or a man in a given context to be showcased. Gender comprises a range of differences between male and female counterparts extending from the biological to the social roles they plays in the acquisition, processing and dissemination of information to the needed users. According to Ikpahindi (2007) gender is one of the indices of librarian’s characteristics that facilitate effective information dissemination.The author points out that it is only when there is effective and efficient information accessibility and utilization that the purpose of the library is met.

          Work experience from the trainingoffered to the librarian enhancesquality information accessibility and utilisation in various formats.According to Tahira &Ameen K (2011),effective and efficient information dissemination by librarian is based on work experience which enhances the living standard of the users, educates and informs them. It helpsthe users to make quality and sound decisions, enhances their freedom of expression, empowers them to be conscious of their fundamental human rights and also serves as historical materials for references to the clientele (Uhegbu, 2007). According to the proliferation of information in various formats and the need to properly package these resources in the libraryfor theusers for effective and efficient informationcan only be sustained by the librarian work experience.

          Academic qualification of librarians influences the manner to which librarians acquire, store, process retrieve and disseminate information to their users. Librarian with greater academic qualification possesses the capability of creating, collecting, consolidating and communicating information in different formats for variety of purposes (Mairaj & El-Hadi, 2012). Academic qualification of librarian has facilitated the flow and effective means of communication through the application of their wealth of experiences in the field of librarianship. According toUhegbu (2007) academic qualification allows the provision of accurate computerized data collection as well as strategies for achieving service delivery.

          In conclusion, every institutions develops an organizational structure that supports it strategy and organizational strategies vary. However, no matter the strategy, the expected result is increased output and staff satisfaction which are also the facilitators. To this end, institutions that desire profitable output must make provision for the enhancement of librarian’s characteristics. The essence of librarian’s characteristicsis to allow for the creation of individual and teams that are at their convenient perform the expected duties for an expected output. It is in the light of the above that this study is conducted to examine librarian’s characteristics and effective information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

1.2     Statement of the problem                  

          Over the years, librarians have remained uncontested as the solitarycurator and gate keepers of information. With the introduction of further qualification on information services delivery, librarians began to showcase many excellent ways of service delivery .The information service dissemination in academic libraries is geared towards facilitating teaching, learning and research purposes. Sequel to the mission and goals of the parent institution, University libraries retrain personnel that has the characters needed to cope with rapid changes in the management and dissemination of information to the users. By observation, it is however not clear whether the characteristics of librarians impact in anyway on personnel way of dissemination of information in university of Uyo main library. Currently, users hold conflicting opinions about this notion and this becomes the backdrop upon which this study is conducted. It is therefore the researchers’ interest to examine the librarian’s characteristics in university of Uyo main libraryand their dissemination of information to clear the doubts about librarian characteristics and dissemination of information in the future

1.3     Objectives of the study

          The main purpose of this study was to examine librarian’s characteristics and effective information dissemination in the university of Uyo main library.

The specific objectives were:                                                     

1. To determine the influence of age on effective information dissemination in the University ofUyo main library
2. To examine the influence of gender on  effective information dissemination in the University ofUyo main library
3. To assess the influence of work experience on effective information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

1. To determine the influence of academic qualifications on effective information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

1.4     Research questions

          The following research questions were formulated to guide the study:

1. 1.     What is the influence of age on effective information dissemination

in the university ofUyo main library?

1. What is the influence of gender on effective information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library?

1. What is the influence of work experience on effective information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library?

1. 4.     What is the influence of academic qualifications on effective information dissemination in theuniversity ofUyo main library?

1.5     Hypotheses

          The following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

1.       There is no significantinfluence of age on effective information          dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

2.       There is no significant influence of gender oneffective information     dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

3.       There is no significant influence of work experience on effective        information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

4.       There is no significant influence of academic qualifications on effective       information dissemination in the university ofUyo main library

1.6     Significance of the study

          The findings of this study will be of benefit to the following group of persons: Librarians, Users, University Management and Researchers.

Librarians will benefit from this research through enlightenment in the aspect of information dissemination.

Users of the library will benefit from this study in the aspect of accessing and using needed information in the library.

University Management will benefit from this research by knowing the aspect of the provision for librarian to enhance effective and efficient information dissemination.

Researchers will also benefit from this research as the information in this work will help them in the aspect of conducting further research on librarian’s characteristics and information dissemination.