Dearth Of Library Experts Hampering Academic Research – Varsity Don

A Library and Information Science expert at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof. Emem Paul Udofia, has, lamented over the dearth of quality academic research works and blamed the problem on absence of professional library intellectuals in the school system.

She noted that the absence of qualified library professionals in schools was a major factor undermining the effectiveness of school libraries and contributing to educational failure in Nigeria.

Udofia, made the submission while delivering the 142nd in the series of Inaugural Lectures of the University, entitled: “Beyond Information Abundance: Libraries, Invisible Clients and the Challenge of Inclusive Access,” held the 1,000 – capacity TETfund auditorium, Nwaniba, Uyo main campus.

According to the don, the systematic neglect of professional staffing in school libraries has reduced many of the facilities to underutilised spaces, despite the growing importance of information and digital literacy in modern education.

She said school libraries could not effectively support teaching and learning merely through the provision of books and other resources, stressing that trained librarians were needed to guide pupils in finding, evaluating and applying information.

Udofia observed that school administrators had largely failed to recognise the librarian as an essential component of the education system.

She particularly cited her lecture on “Individualized Learning in Universal Basic Education: Implications for the Librarian as Counsellor,” arguing that the demands of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) curriculum required librarians to move beyond their traditional role as custodians of books.

She said librarians should become active mentors, information counsellors and academic guides capable of helping pupils navigate the increasingly complex information environment.

The don explained that individualised learning required tailored instruction and professional guidance, adding that pupils must acquire essential competencies in information search, resource evaluation and data synthesis.

She maintained that such competencies could hardly be developed effectively where school libraries lacked qualified personnel.

Udofia therefore called on the Ministry of Education to urgently deploy professionally qualified librarians to primary and secondary schools across the country.

She also challenged practising librarians to improve their technological skills, curiosity and confidence to enable them function effectively as information guides and digital navigators for young learners.

The university don stressed that repositioning librarians as dynamic information professionals would help transform Nigerian students into independent and information-literate citizens capable of making informed decisions and contributing meaningfully to national development.

She advocated that the librarian must no longer be viewed merely as a keeper of books, but as an integral part of the teaching, learning and research processes in the academic system.