Title: Influence of Information Literacy Skills on Research Productivity of Academic Librarians in Public Universities in North-East, Nigeria
Author(s): Yemisi T. Babalola; Dauda Adamu Bakum
Publication Year: 2022; Volume 17, Issue 1, pages 78-89

Research productivity is one of the requirements for career progression of academic librarians in Nigerian public universities. Despite its importance, studies have established low level of research productivity among librarians in Nigerian universities. Information literacy skills is crucial to enhancing research productivity of academics. However, there is a dearth of literature on ILS in relation to research productivity of librarians in North-East, Nigeria. Hence, this study examined the influence of information literacy skills on research productivity of librarians in public universities in North-East, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. The population of the study comprised 361 librarians in public universities in NorthEast, Nigeria. A sample size of 190 was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. Proportionate stratified sampling technique was used to select the respondents for the study. A structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the variables ranged between 0.85 to 0.95. One hundred and ninety (190) questionnaires were administered to the respondents, out of which, 165 (87%) were returned and used for the study. Data were analysed using descriptive (frequency count, tables, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential analysis (simple linear regression) statistics. Findings revealed that information literacy skills (R2 = 0.056, F(1,163) = 9.698, p < 0.05) had positive significant influence on research productivity of librarians in public universities in North-East, Nigeria. The result further shows that on a 4-point scale, the level of research productivity of librarians in public universities in North-East, Nigeria, was very low (mean = 1.93) while, the level of information literacy skills was high. The study concluded that information literacy skills had contributed to the research productivity of librarians in public universities in North-East. It was recommended that librarians in public university libraries in North-East should engage in collaborative research by co-authoring textbooks and other publications in order to enhance their research productivity. Librarians in public university libraries in North-East should enhance their information literacy skills through training and retraining in order to attain the highest level of information literacy skills that will lead to higher research productivity.