CAREER PROGRESSION IN LIBRARIANSHIP: AN EXAMINATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, CHALLENGES AND SELF-ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Previous studies on career progression have focused largely on employees in business and corporate organisations, with comparatively little attention given to library personnel. In Nigeria, there is a dearth of literature on the career progression of librarians. This study therefore examined career progression among library personnel in federal universities in South-West Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted, while the total enumeration technique was used to cover the entire population of 223 library personnel. The instruments used for data collection were the Career Progression (CP) (α = 0.77), Career Development Programmes (CDP) (α = 0.79), and Challenges to Career Progression (CCP) (α = 0.79) scales. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that the most highly rated aspect of career progression was its potential to earn library personnel recognition in society (88.7%), while the greatest challenge was the irregular conduct of promotion examinations (60.5%). The quality of career development programmes was rated high (Grand Mean = 3.09). The study concluded that career progression among library personnel in federal universities in South-West Nigeria was affected by identifiable structural and administrative challenges. Therefore, library management should address these challenges and consider staff perspectives to enhance career progression and improve productivity.

Keywords: Career development programmes; career progression; library personnel; federal university libraries; South-West Nigeria