Research article · 2026
CATALOGUERS’ COMPETENCIES FOR EFFECTIVE PROVISION OF ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN IMO STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
Purpose: The researcher explored cataloguers’ competencies for effective provision of Online Public Access Catalogue in tertiary institutions in Imo State. Two research questions were asked and answered while two corresponding hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance.
Methodology/Design: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprises 1,316 professional librarians and library staff in the 11 tertiary institutions in Imo State. A sample size of 132 respondents, representing approximately 10% of the total population, was adopted for the study using purposive sampling technique. A researcher-constructed rating scale titled “Cataloguers’ Competencies for Effective Provision of Online Public Access Catalogue Rating Scale” (CCEOPACRS) which contained 20 items was used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to face and content validation by three experts. A reliability coefficient of 0.79 was obtained using Cronbach alpha statistics. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while sample t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.
Findings: The result revealed that the level of cataloguers’ technical competency and information retrieval competency for the effective provision of Online Public Access Catalogue in tertiary institutions in Imo State is high and significant. It was concluded that that cataloguers’ competencies are fundamental to sustaining efficient and user-oriented OPAC services in tertiary institutions in Imo State.
Implications: Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that tertiary institution library management should organize regular practical training and professional development programmes on automated cataloguing, MARC21, integrated library management systems, and basic OPAC troubleshooting to strengthen cataloguers’ technical competencies.
Originality/Value: This paper has not been submitted elsewhere for publication.
Keywords: Cataloguers, Competencies, Online Public Access Catalogue, and Tertiary institutions.
Keywords
Cataloguers, Competencies, Online Public Access Catalogue, and Tertiary institutions.
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