ATTITUDE OF UNDERGRADUATES TOWARDS A CAREER IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE: A CASE STUDY OF THE DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, ABRAKA

ABSTRACT

This research work examined the attitude of undergraduates towards a Career in Library and Information Science: A case study of Delta State University, Abraka.  Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The scope of the study is limited to 100-400 undergraduate regular students of library and information science Department, Delta State University, Abraka. The descriptive survey research was used for the study.  One hundred and fifty (150) undergraduates in the Department of Library and Information Science, Delta State University, Abraka were selected as the sample for the study. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. The method of analysis used for the study was frequency count and statistical mean. The findings revealed that majority of undergraduate students were aware of library and information science prior to admission, it was also revealed that undergraduates had a positive attitude towards library and information science profession. It was also discovered that undergraduates were satisfied with the profession of librarianship after admission into the university. The study also revealed that lack of computer and computer skills, inadequate financial backing by the government, lack of trained and skilled manpower, `amongst others are major challenges in the practice of librarianship. It was concluded that undergraduates depict a positive attitude towards a career in library and information science because of increasing awareness of the LIS profession. Therefore it was recommended that campaigns should be done by librarians and faculties in library and information schools by sponsoring job placement seminars or career orientation prior to admission in the university. It was also recommended that practicing librarians such as university librarians’, senior lecturers and LRCN directors who are high fliers in librarianship should act as mentors to secondary school students, educating them on the benefits of practicing librarianship.  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGEi

DECLARATION--------ii

CERTIFICATIONiii

DEDICATION iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSvii

LIST OF TABLESix

ABSTRACTx

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION1

1.1Background to the Study1

1.2Statement of the Study7

1.3Research Questions8

1.4Purpose of the Study9

1.5Significance of the Study10

1.6Scope and Delimitation of the Study10

1.7Operational Definition of Terms11

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE14

2.1Awareness of Library and Information Science by Undergraduate Prior to Admission into the University 14

2.2Attitude of Undergraduate towards a Career in Library and Information Science 18

2.3Level of Satisfaction with the profession after Admission into the University22

2.4Challenges in the Practices of Library and Information Science26

2.5Summary of the Reviewed Literature29

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES31

3.1Research Design31

3.2Population of the Study32

3.3Sample and Sample Techniques32

3.4Research instrument32

3.5Validity of the Instrument33

3.6Method of Data Collection 34

3.7Method of Data Analysis34

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION OF RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS35

4.1Analysis of the Questionnaire Response Rate35

4.3Answering of Research Questions37

4.4Discussion of Findings46

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS48

5.1Summary of the Study48

5.2Conclusion49

5.3Recommendation50

5.4Suggestions for further studies51

References52

Appendix (Questionnaire)58

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Questionnaire Response Rate35

Table 2: Distribution of the respondents by gender36

Table 3: Distribution of respondents by level of study36

Table 4:Level of awareness of LIS by undergraduates prior to admission into the university37

Table 5: Attitudes of undergraduates towards a career in LIS39

 Table 6: Level of satisfaction with the profession after admission into the university42

Table 7: Challenges in the practice of LIS44