Library infrastructure as predictor of turnover intentions of librarians in university libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated library infrastructure as predictor of turnover intentions of academic librarians in South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria.The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Total enumeration method was used since the population comprising 400 academic librarians in the two geopolitical zones were considered appropriate for this study. A test-retest of the measuring instrument was done using Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient and face validity for the reliability. The result of the reliability test 0.85 at 0.05 level of significance. From a total of 400 questionnaires that were administered and retrieved, 334 were found usable given a return rate of 83.5 percent. Findings revealed library infrastructure in academic libraries, such as air conditioners, tables, Internet facilities, library building, power supply, fire extinguishers/smoke detector and fire alarm in Nigeria with particular reference to South-South and South-East geopolitical zones were at different level of dilapidation which affected services. The result revealed that library infrastructure is a predictor of turnover intentions of librarians (r = 0.647, p < 0.05) which indicates that an improvement in library infrastructure will reduce turnover intentions of librarians. The result showed that inadequate/unavailability of library infrastructure increase turnover intentions of academic librarians. It means that the higher the level of infrastructural deterioration in academic libraries, the higher the level of turnover intentions of academic librarians in the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This study exposed the precarious situation of academic libraries' infrastructure and its effect on librarians' turnover intentions in Nigeria.