PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT; THE RESULT OF EFFECTIVE MENTORING FOR PARAPROFESSIONAL IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain how mentoring for paraprofessionals facilitates professional development in academic libraries in Nigeria. The research design used was descriptive survey. The area of the study was all the government and private universities in Anambra State of Nigeria. The population for this study was a total of 47 paraprofessionals working in the academic libraries in the five universities within the state. The whole population was studied. The data required for this study was collected through a structured questionnaire which was designed by the researcher and titled ‘‘Mentoring for Professional Development of Paraprofessionals Questionnaire” (MPDPQ). The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach Alpha Method. The data collected were analysed using arithmetic mean for all the research questions. The mean values were calculated with 2.50 as the benchmark. The study revealed that internship opportunities and in-service training are the only mentoring programs available for paraprofessionals in the libraries, mentoring helps the paraprofessional to aspire to become professional librarians, no incentives for mentors and poor interpersonal relationship between the mentor and the mentee. Based on the findings, recommendations include among others that academic library should organize orientation programme from time to time for paraprofessionals, on mentoring and its benefits. This will enable them appreciate mentoring.
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