Competencies Required By Teacher Librarians For Stronger Primary School Libraries In Enugu State Of Nigeria
Loading...
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
School libraries are central to learner-centred and inquiry-based education. However, the library and its resources only come to life when mediated by a person—the teacher librarian. To perform this crucial role, teacher librarians require competencies in teaching, literacy promotion, librarianship, administration and advocacy. This paper explores competencies possessed and required by primary school teacher librarians in Enugu State of Nigeria. With a purposive sample of 16 teacher librarians from more developed school libraries, the researchers collected data through three instruments: an observation checklist assessing school libraries on accommodation, collections, personnel and services; a questionnaire with five structured clusters on competencies possessed, as well as open questions on factors inhibiting performance and strategies for improvement; and an interview guide. Data were analyzed using frequency and percentages, mean and standard deviation, and narrative description. Findings revealed that the personnel factor was crucial in effective library services; that while none of the teacher librarians had qualifications in both education and librarianship, they did possess some competencies, especially in the areas of literacy promotion and teaching, while lacking others such as library skills. Among recommended actions to increase competencies and strengthen the performance of teacher librarians were: establishment of positions for teacher librarians, continuing professional education leading to dual qualifications, inclusion of library periods on the timetable, development of a curriculum to guide teaching of library and information literacy skills, and advocacy to create a more supportive working environment for teacher librarians. Only such actions can improve performance for stronger school libraries, since only well qualified teacher librarians can deliver effective school library services.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Achebe, N. 2007. Human resources factors in the development of appropriate information literacy skills of the Nigerian school child: The role of the teacher-librarian. Nigerian School Library Journal, 6: 29-35.
American Library Association/American Association of School Librarians. 2010. Standards for initial preparation of school librarians. Retrieved on Apr. 15, 2015 from http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aasleducation/schoollibrary/ 2010_standards_with_rubrics_and_statements_1-31-11.pdf
Anambra State School Libraries Association. 1987. Minimum standards for school libraries. Anambra State School Libraries Bulletin, 14 (1): 23.
Dike, V. W. (1993). School libraries/media centers. In World encyclopedia of library and information services, 3rd ed., edited by Robert Wedgeworth,743-753. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
Dike, V. W. M.N. Ngwuchukwu and G.U. Onyebuchi. 2011. Delivering information literacy through primary school libraries. In Global perspectives on school libraries: Projects and practice, edited by L. Marquardt and D. Oberg, 108-117). The Hague, The Netherlands: IFLA (Pub. 148).
Elaturoti, D. F. 2011. Career in school librarianship: A necessity for provision of effective school library media programmes in Nigerian schools. Nigerian School Library Journal 10: 1-5.
Fayose, P.O.E. 2003. Children, teachers and librarians: developing information conscious children: An inaugural lecture. 2002/2003 Inaugural lecture series. Ibadan, Nigeria: University of Ibadan.
Greenwood, H., C. Creaser and S.Maynard. 2008. Successful primary school libraries: Case studies of good practice. Report to Booktrust. Loughborough, U.K.: Loughborough University.
Gregory, R. & P. Cunningham. 2006. Improving primary school libraries: The Better Libraries’ Project in Norfolk. School Librarian 54 (3), Autumn:, 116-119.
Hannisdottir, S. K. 1995. School librarians: Guidelines for competency requirements, 2nd rev. ed., International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, IFLA Professional Reports, no. 41. The Hague: IFLA Headquarters.
Ngwuchukwu, M. N. 2013. Involvement of government and non-government agencies in the development of primary school libraries in Southeast Nigeria, 1980-2010. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation. Department of Library and Information Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Nigeria. Federal Government (2004). National policy on education, 4th ed. Lagos, Nigeria: NERDC.
Nigeria. Federal Ministry of Education and Youth Development.1992.. Minimum Standards for School Libraries in Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Education.
UNESCO.1999. School library manifesto. Accessed on March 5, 2015 at http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/school_manifesto.htm1#0.
Williams D., L. Coles and C.Wavell. 2002. Impact of school library services on achievement and learning in primary schools : Critical literature review of the impact of school library provision on achievement and learning in primary level students. Aberdeen: Robert Gordon University. Retrieved at http://www.rgu.ac.uk/files/ACF1C8D.pdf. Added by: Laure Endrizzi (01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 Europe/Paris)