Training of Library and Information Professionals for the 21st Century Job Market in Nigeria: Implications for Curricula Re-Design

Abstract

The paper examines the curricula of Library schools in Nigerian Universities in view of the realities of 21^st century job market.  The paper submits that curricula of these Schools are overdue for re-design if they are to train library and information professionals that will suit the job openings in the 21^st century and beyond. Notable shortcomings in the curricula of most of the Library Schools in Nigeria are in the areas of application of information and communication technology in library and information services, entrepreneurship,  as well as non realization of these schools that their products could also be employed in non library related organizations.

The paper among other things recommends collapse of most traditional courses in librarianship and introduction of new courses that are information technology driven that will enable products of these universities to fit into the 21^st century library and information science jobs. The paper concludes that there is the need for harmonization and standardization of curricula of Nigerian Universities and it calls on National Association of Library and Information Science Educators (NALISE), Nigerian Library Association and Nigerian Librarian Registration Council and other stake holders in ensuring that library and information professional could be able to compete favorably for the jobs of 21^st century anywhere in the World.