Relationship between staff development and job performance of library staff in federal university libraries in South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between staff development and job performance of library staff in federal university libraries in South-East, Nigeria. Three research questions guided the study, and three hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. A correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 299 library staff, which included academic librarians and library officers from the five federal university libraries in the South-East, Nigeria. Two validated instruments titled “Library Staff Development Questionnaire (LSDQ) and Library Staff Job Performance Questionnaire (LSJPQ)” were used for data collection. The instruments were tested for reliability using Cronbach's alpha. Using Cronbach's alpha, a reliability coefficient of 0.91 was obtained for LSDQ, and a reliability coefficient of 0.86 was obtained for LSJPQ, respectively. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to answer research questions and test hypotheses. The findings of the study showed that there was a moderate positive relationship between staff development and the job performance of library staff. There was a moderate positive relationship between staff development and the job performance of male library staff, while a weak positive relationship exists between staff development and the job performance of female library staff. We also observed a moderate positive relationship between staff development and the job performance of academic librarians and library officers. Based on the findings, the implications of the study were pointed out, and it was recommended, among others, that the university library management should ensure that there is consistent and active development of library staff to be up to date with the change in the information environment and efficient in rendering effective services. The library management should develop a policy that will increase and sustain the development of the personnel by adopting and exposing the personnel to developmental strategies that will enhance their job performance.