RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CATALOGUERS’ SELF-EFFICACY AND THEIR USE OF ELECTRONIC RESOURCES FOR COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

In view of the observation of the researcher as a cataloguer in university library, some cataloguers tend to be fixated on the use of printed resources for collection development despite the urgent need of modern day library users to access digital information. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between cataloguers’ self-efficacy and their use of electronic resources for collection development in university libraries in South-East, Nigeria. Three research questions were raised for the study while three hypotheses were tested. Correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study comprised all the 157 catalogue librarians (professionals and paraprofessionals) who are either previously or currently in the cataloguing section, and employed in the 10 public university libraries in the South-East Nigeria. Disproportionate sampling technique was employed to obtain 83 young librarians and 74 old librarians. Cataloguers’ Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (CSEQ) and ‘Cataloguers’ Use of E-resources for Collection Development Questionnaire (CUECDQ) were used to collect data. The instruments for data collection were validated by three experts at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The reliabilities of CSEQ and CUECDQ were established using Cronbach alpha method to obtain indices of 0.80 and 0.81 respectively for CSEQ and CUECDQ. Pearson product moment correlation was used to answer the research questions while the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance by comparing the computed correlation index against the critical values for appropriate decision. The findings of the study revealed that a high positive and significant relationship existed between cataloguers’ self-efficacy and their use of electronic resources for collection development in university libraries. The finding of the study further revealed that the coefficients of correlation differed significantly in favour of the young cataloguers. In view of the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that university authorities should organize seminars and workshop for old cataloguers on the need to develop self-efficacy in the use of electronic resources for collection development. This will to all intents and purposes bridge the self-efficacy gap between young and old cataloguers in using electronic resources for collection development