Institutional policy and continuing professional development (CPD) in University libraries in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is vital for acquisition and sustenance of required staff skills and capacities in the digital era. The appropriateness and implementation of an institutional CPD policy however, determine its effectiveness. This study therefore, examined institutional policy and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in universities libraries in Ekiti state, Nigeria. The survey method was employed for the study. All library staff in the three universities in Ekiti State were enumerated, namely Federal University, Oye -Ekiti, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. 55 copies of a structured questionnaire were used for data collection, 47(85.5%) were found usable. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, table of frequencies and percentages and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Findings showed that the university libraries operated written and unwritten CPD policies which were neither clear nor accessible and could not efficiently enhance developing skills needed in today's librarianship (32; 68.1%), majority of the staff were dissatisfied. CPD programmes mostly attended were workshops, seminars, acquisition of higher degree in the profession, webinars, in-house training; sponsorship was majorly through scholarship and self-sponsorship, challenges of CPD include lack of funds, disapproval by boss. There was a positive correlation (r=0.41, P=0.004 <0.05) between institutional policy and CPD programmes attended. Recommendation was made that appropriate policies should be drawn, implemented, regularly reviewed by stakeholders; universities should sponsor all library staff to attend CPD programmes to enhance acquisition and sustenance of skills and capacities requires to be a modern library staff in the digital era.