Influence of information literacy skills on research productivity of librarians in Nigerian University Libraries

The study investigated the influence of information literacy skills on the research productivity of librarians in Nigerian university libraries. The study was guided by four research objectives and adopted a descriptive survey design. The target respondents were sixty academic librarians from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The findings reveal a high level of research output among librarians, showcasing an increase in both the quality and quantity of scholarly publications by library professionals. The study also confirms the recognition of information literacy skills among librarians, who gained these skills through conferences, seminars, peer assistance, and instruction from library staff. Significantly, the research highlights a positive impact of information literacy skills on librarians’ research productivity. However, the study also identifies challenges faced by librarians in acquiring these skills, including a lack of awareness among library users, limited time for skill development, the absence of dedicated instructional spaces, and inadequate support from library management. To address these issues, the study recommends that library management actively support information literacy initiatives and that library institutions collaborate with educational institutions, professional associations, and other stakeholders to provide specialized training in information literacy.