A STUDY OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The study of the challenges in the training and education of library and information science students is psychological. It is against this that the researcher sees the subject matter worthy of investigation to examine how the challenges pose a threat on the effective training of students of library and information science. This study used descriptive survey design. The data for this study were generated from two main sources; Primary sources and secondary sources. In this study the target population constitute of final year students of the department of library and information science, The total population of the study was put at 150. A total of one hundred and ten (110) questionnaires were distributed. A total of 73 copies of the questionnaires were duly completed and returned, representing a response rate of 66.4%. The result of the study showed that Cyber Security and Digital Archiving were ranked the least courses included in the departmental curricula. Most of the respondents agreed that Library and Information Science Education is very educative. There is low satisfaction among the respondents in the quality of faculty available in the Library Schools. Facsimiles and Scanners are least accessed and utilized ICTs in the Library Schools. There is a general low rate of ICTs access and utilization in the Library School by the students especially on a daily basis. Power Outage, inadequate computers and limited access and utilization of ICT in the computer Laboratories and departmental Libraries are the major challenges confronting the students in the Library Schools. Recommendations were made for all stakeholders of Library and Information Science Education in Nigeria.