PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES NEEDED BY LIBRARIANS IN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LIBRARIES FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper is an investigation into the professional skills/competencies needed by librarians in Colleges of Education libraries in seven Colleges of Education in the South East, Nigeria. It identifies ICT skills/competencies as the most essential competence areas needed by librarians in this category of libraries. It further sought to find out; the various ways librarians can improve their professional competencies, the factors that militate against librarians zeal to improve their competencies and the strategies by which librarians can surmount these obstacles. Data were collected through a self-designed questionnaire. Finally, the paper calls on the library administrators to place priority on improving the competencies of librarians under them.