IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ON THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF LIBRARY STAFF IN THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The influence of professional development programmes as a correlate to job performance in National Library of Nigeria is unverified. This study explored the influence of staff professional development on job performance in the National Library of Nigeria. The purpose of the study is to identify the types of professional development programmes provided to staff in the National Library of Nigeria (NLN); assess the criteria for selecting staff for professional development programmes in NLN; and determine the extent to which professional development influences the job performance of staff in the NLN. A descriptive survey design method was adopted. Six branches (Abuja, Rivers, Enugu, Bauchi, Kaduna and Lagos) of NLN were used. The sample size was 207, and a purposive stratified sampling technique was adopted. A questionnaire was used for data collection, while data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean and Standard deviation were used to analyse all research questions. Findings from the study indicated that staff participation in professional development programmes in the NLN is high. The overall level of staff performance in NLN is equally high, but their performance in relation to carrying out tasks towards achieving visibility of Nigerian authors through Wikidata showed greater variability, showing uneven skill levels in the digital platform.  Based on the findings, the recommendations include: the National Library of Nigeria management should endeavour to make participation in professional development a more regular exercise so as to sustain the existing momentum and bridge future performance gaps.