Interpersonal skills as correlate of career development among librarians in academic libraries in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined interpersonal skills as correlate of career development of librarians in academic libraries in South - South, Nigeria. Correlational survey design was adopted to conduct the study. The population of the study is 301 comprising of librarians in south-south, Nigeria. There was no sampling. Questionnaire was used as the method of data collection Data collected were analyzed using inferential statistics. For the research questions, analysis was done using Pearson Product Moment correlational coefficient (PPMC) and point biserial correlation coefficient (r) while multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed among others that; There is a high positive relationship between interpersonal skills of librarians and their career development in academic libraries, and there exist a significant relationship between interpersonal skills of librarians and their career development in academic libraries and it revealed low negative relationship between work experience of librarians and their career development in academic libraries and there is a significant relationship between work experience of librarians and their career development in academic libraries. High possessions of interpersonal skills increase librarian’s career development significantly in academic libraries in South-South Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended among others; that library management should engage librarians in a lot of interpersonal skills and communication in the course of their job, the university management should train librarians while on the job, and their skills need to be updated through training and development program, orientation, induction, inventory, conferences, workshop and seminars in order to enhance their interpersonal skills and research.