Title: An Empirical Investigation into Acquisition Staffing and Training Issues in the Management of e-Resources: Evidence from State University Libraries in North-Western Nigeria
Author(s): Nazir Muhammad, Mohammed Bello Ahmed, Abdullahi Usman Gusau
Publication Year: 2020; Volume 15, Issue 2, pages 164-176

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the acquisition staffing and training issues for the management of Electronic Information Resources in State University Libraries in North-West Zone of Nigeria. A qualitative research methodology was used and narrative design was adopted while semi structured interview was used as data collection instrument which was used for the collection data from twelve 12 respondents which comprise University Librarians and Heads of ICT Units of 6 State University Libraries in the North-West Zone of Nigeria thematic data analysis was used to carry out the analysis of the data collected from the respondents. The findings revealed that relevance of the resources compatibility and costs were mostly considered when acquiring Electronic Information Resources. However the procurement ways by the libraries were through subscriptions gifts or donation licensing agreement and direct purchase from the vendors. It was also revealed that only ICT competent staffs are posted to serve as e-resources managers and there are adequate staffs in the ICT Units at the libraries studied. Furthermore all Electronic Information Resources managers ICT Unit staff are sent for training and retraining through attending seminars conferences and workshops within and outside the country. It was recommended that though it was clearly shows that there are many EIRs provided there is need for the provision of more EIRs in order to cater for the need of library users. The state university libraries should strive more to ensure competent staff are posted to work as EIRs managers. Moreover training and retraining of personnel should be in place in ICT unit of the libraries studied so that efficient and effective services will be provided.