Students’ Perceived Areas of Difficulty during Library Practicum in Nigerian University Libraries

Abstract

Rationale of Study – The practicum scheme is a scheduled, run, and evaluated programme. The programme provides opportunity for students to incorporate and apply classroom learning in library and information science in the workplace environment thereby enabling them to learn from experts. The study investigated students’ perceived areas of difficulty during library practicum in Delta State and Prof. Aghagbo Nwako university libraries in Nigeria. It investigated students’ areas of learning difficulties during library practicum; teaching difficulties encountered by library supervisors during library practicum; and the relationship between the students’ and supervisors’ learning and teaching difficulties during library practicum.
Methodology – This was a descriptive research using a questionnaire for data gathering. The population of the study consisted of all 154 final year students (2017/2018 session) of the Department of Library and Information Science in the two universities studied. The population also included 30 supervisors of the practicum. Data was analysed through descriptive statistics.
Findings – The study revealed that the use of classification schemes, filing of catalogue cards, indexing and abstracting of materials, descriptive cataloguing and use of computers were the areas of learning and teaching difficulties experienced by the students and supervisors. Suggestions were made and it was concluded that library authorities should see to it that teaching materials are made available to the students on practicum because the exercise is undertaken just once in the students’ academic life time before proceeding to the world of work.
Implications – The findings of this study may be useful for identifying the different learning and teaching difficulties of students and industry-based supervisors with a view to proffering solutions to the identified lapses.
Originality – This is an original and empirical study on library practicum in two universities in Nigeria.