Abstract:
This study was conducted to examine the training needs of librarians for the management of archives of university libraries in South East, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A total of seventy (70) librarians were sampled in the university libraries of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Enugu State University of Science and Technology and Ebonyi State University. To find out the training needs of librarians for the management of archives of university libraries in South East, Nigeria, questionnaire and interview schedule were used in collecting data. Seventy (70) copies of the questionnaire were distributed to librarians and the data retrieved were analyzed using means scores. The findings of the study reveal that the librarians need training in acquisition, organization, dissemination tools and preservation of archival materials. Also, it discloses the challenges and strategies involved in training librarians for proper management of archives of university libraries. These challenges include inadequate training resources and funds by the host universities, lack of sponsorship, limited resources persons for training programmes and administrative bottleneck. The strategies involved in training librarians for effective management of archives of university libraries were equally revealed by the study. They are on the job training method, provision of relevant training resources, improved funding for the training programmes, vestilute e.g. computer assisted programmes, postgraduates programmes in archives management, motivation of librarians for training in archives administration, mentoring, programme instruction, simulation, lecture/classroom method and extension/correspondence. The study recommended that the librarians need training in archival science, archival soft wares including ICT facilities and preservative measures. Also, the university library administrators should assess the training needs of their staff and initiate strategies of realizing them. Finally, archival science should be accommodated as a core course in the curricula of library schools in Nigeria.
