Training needs of paraprofessional library staff in university libraries in South-East Nigeria

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the training needs of paraprofessional library staff in university libraries in South-East Nigeria with the objective to find out their training needs, the training programmes available to them, their utilization of training opportunities, hindrances to their training and strategies for enhancing training for them.

The descriptive survey design and total enumeration technique were used for the study. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using frequency counts and percentages and are presented in tables for clarity. The population of the study was comprised of all the paraprofessional staff of the university libraries in South-East Nigeria.

Major findings showed that paraprofessional staff had a variety of training needs. The findings also showed that training opportunities available for them were very limited and that staff based their utilization on availability rather than need. Factors such as inadequate training facilities and lack of fund hindered training. Strategies that can enhance training were also indicated.

This study has practical implication as it is an empirical study conducted among paraprofessional library staff to identify their training needs, training opportunities available, utilization of training opportunities, hindrances to their training and strategies that can effectively enhance training for them.

Looking at the objectives of the study and the fact that most researches are focussed on librarians not the support staff (paraprofessionals), it will be useful to library administrators, the library professional field and planners of training programmes.