Mentoring of young librarians in South East Nigeria for improved research and scholarly publications
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-11-2016-0083 |
| Pages | 455-476 |
| Published date | 14 November 2017 |
| Date | 14 November 2017 |
| Author | Tochukwu Victor Nwankwo,Chika Patricia Ike,Chinedu Obinna Anozie |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,HR in libraries,Library strategy,Library promotion |
Mentoring of young librarians
in South East Nigeria for
improved research and
scholarly publications
Tochukwu Victor Nwankwo
Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Chika Patricia Ike
University of Nigeria Enugu Campus Library, University of Nigeria,
Enugu, Nigeria, and
Chinedu Obinna Anozie
Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to examine the concept of mentoring of young librarians in
South East Nigeria so as to improve their research and scholarly publications.
Design/methodology/approach –The studyconfined its scope to 135 librariansin the five different federal
universitiesin South East Nigeria.In all, 100 (80 percent)of the librarians were sampled.The instrument for data
collection was questionnaire which contained 30 items derived from the research questions. The descriptive
survey researchdesign was used as research method.Librarians were grouped into younglibrarians (assistant
librarianand librarian II) andhigher librarians (librarianI, senior librarian, principallibrarian, deputyuniversity
librarian and university librarian);for a comprehensive analysis of the study.
Findings –The findings of the study among others reveals that young librarians are a bit knowledgeable
and conversant about the term “mentoring”but not equitable when compared to that of other higher
librarians in matters of scholarly publication. Also there is evidence of mentoring in place in these libraries for
boosting the research prowess of librarians, but in an informal form. The librarians believed that most times
the mentee’s inability to open up during interaction, and unconstructive criticisms from mentors to their
mentees; are serious challenges to successful mentoring for improved scholarly publications.
Originality/value –Research studies focusing on mentoring young librarians on research and scholarly
publications in Nigeria, are rare. Furthermore, librarians are not conversant with the concept of mentoring
and which mentoring practices and programs are currently in place in their libraries to boost their research
prowess. Also, adopting a mentor and what to expect from both mentors and mentees concerning research
publications are salient areas explored in the work. This study will raise important issues that relate
to research publications of both librarians and other academic researchers especially in this research
impact-factor driven world of ours.
Keywords Mentoring, Mentor, Research publications, South East Nigeria, Mentee, Young librarians
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Scholarly publications have proved over the years to be a powerful transforming tool to
both its users and authors. Its pertinence reveled to a point that any academic organization
starving it, risks survival and posterity. As discussed by Adjei and Owusu-ansah (2016),
researchers strive to publish their research ideas, thoughts and innovations in journals and
other information sources to influence societal change and make positive contributions in
their fields of endeavor. These publications form the major basis for decision making among
appointment and promotion committees. Hadjinicola and Soteriou (2005) asserted that
research productivity evaluation has a significant impact on tenure decisions and
promotions in general, salary rises, and mobility, especially in research-oriented schools.
The importance of research and publication in the growth and development of academics
Library Management
Vol. 38 No. 8/9, 2017
pp. 455-476
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-11-2016-0083
Received 11 November 2016
Revised 7 April 2017
Accepted 13 April 2017
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
455
Mentoring of
young
librarians
cannot be overemphasized (Anunobi and Emerole, 2008). Research and scholarly
publications are needed to improve problem solving and decision making in the
workplace, to make professional practitioners critical consumers of the research literature,
and to better equip librarians to provide optimal information services to researchers in other
field (Powell and Mika, 2002; Anunobi and Emerole, 2008). Furthermore, research has
always been the main approach to problem solving by all categories of professionals right
from the ancient time (Boaduo and Babitseng, 2007). Consequently, Harzing (2010) and
Englebrecht et al. (2008), refer to the “publish or perish”phenomenon and commented on the
resulting behavioral adjustments researchers are forced to make because of these
importance of scholarly publications. As a result of the increased need and demand for
teaching, learning, research and entertainment activities; university libraries are
established, functioning as repositories of information and knowledge from all fields of
learning relevant to her academic community.
University libraries as opined by Nwabueze and Anike (2016) are made up of staff with
different qualifications. Some have doctor of philosophy (PhD) in library and information
science, master’s degree in library and information science (MLIS), bachelor’s degree in
library and information science (BLIS), Higher National Diploma, Ordinary National
Diploma or National Certificate in Education in librarianship. Others have degrees in subject
areas apart from librarianship. Only those with PhD and MLIS in librarianship are regarded
as academic librarians (Adeoye and Popoola, 2011). Members of staff with other
qualifications aspire to become academic librarians. However, with respect to this study,
“young librarians”will be regarded as librarians who are within the first five years of their
professional practice, bachelor’s degree inclusive, i.e. (BLIS, MLIS and PhD).
Librarians in university libraries have academic status just like their counterparts in the
faculty. Adeniji and Adeniji (2010) observe that librarians in Nigerian universities have
enjoyed academic status since the days of John Harris, when the University College
(now University of Ibadan) was set up in 1948. According to Edwards and Hinchliff (2009)
and, Adeniji and Adeniji (2010), librarians as academics have major responsibilities that
border on the following areas: organization of recorded knowledge and information,
research and publication, teaching and instructional duties, reference and user services and
information resources. As such, librarians are faced with the uphill task of fulfilling their
mandate in scholarly publishing.
As pertinent and essential, scholarly publishing portend; it is never easy coming by.
Young researchers and librarians find it cumbersome completing a research article due to
the rigorous, tedious and sometimes complicated processes it demands. As individuals
however, they may be less equipped through formal training for the scholarly demands of
their own research and publications needed for their promotion. The skills required to
satisfy these demands are often acquired on the job especially with the support of
experienced and versed librarians through mentoring.
The term mentoring according to Kaufmann (2009) dates back to ancient Greece and
Homer’sOdyssey. Mentor was an old friend of Odysseus, to whom the king entrusted his
householdand the safekeeping and developmentof his only son, Telemachus, when he left for
the Trojan Wars. Mentoring as described by Ekechukwu and Horsfall (2015) is a process for
the formal or informal transmissionof knowledge, social capitaland the psychosocial support
perceived by the recipient as relevant to work, careeror professional development; mentoring
entails informal communication, usually face-to-face and during a sustained period of time,
between a personwho is perceived to have greater relevantknowledge, wisdom or experience
(the mentor) and a person who is perceive to have less (the mentee). A mentor is often
described as an experienced adviser, supporter or a trainer. Such a person is usually older,
gives support to a younger person and is seen as helper of an inexperienced person
(Brewerton, 2010).Furthermore, due to his position, the mentortends to have greater access to
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