STAFF RECRUITMENT (PRE-ENGAGEMENT) VARIABLES AND EMPLOYMENT OF LIBRARY STAFF IN TERTIARY INSTITUTION LIBRARIES IN RIVERS STATE
Comfort N. Owate & Pauline Chinasa Iroeze
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba,
University Library, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.Email: comfort.owate@uniport.edu.ng & paulinechinasa1980@gmail.com.
ABSTRACT
The study examined staff recruitment (pre-engagement) variables and employment of library staff in tertiary institution libraries in Rivers State. The study was guided by four research questions and four objectives. In line with the objective, four null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. A non-linear correlation research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised all the number of applicants (employed and not employed) who applied for library job from 2015 to 2020 in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. The reliability index was established using Crombach Alpha and .81>.71 was obtained which showed that the instrument was reliable.. Data collected for the study were analyzed using Crammer’s Correlation Coefficient to answer the research questions posed for the study, while Chi-Square was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study are; that the coefficient of relationship between age and employment of library staff in tertiary institution libraries in Rivers State is positive and significant; that the coefficient of relationship between academic qualification and the employment of library staff in tertiary institution libraries in Rivers State is significant; that there is a positive and significant coefficient of relationship between work experience and the employment of library staff in tertiary institutions in Rivers State is significant. It was recommended that though there is the need for presentation of evidence of age before employment, job vacancies in university libraries should not be specified for applicants of a particular age bracket; that given the level of competition in the labour market, prospective applicants should endeavor to acquire the requisite qualifications in order to brighten their chances of securing a job in university libraries in Nigeria and beyond; that university library management should re-consider the idea of employing only those with certain level of work experience as applicants can still acquire the experience on the job when employed and that there should be no consideration for gender as a factor when employing workers in university libraries.
Keywords: Staff recruitment, Library staff, Tertiary institutions, Rivers State, Variables
