Awareness and usage of catalogue metadata among staff of Benue State University Library and Information Services, Makurdi, Nigeria

This study adopted a descriptive survey research. It investigated the awareness and usage of catalogue metadata among staff of Benue State University Library and Information Services, Makurdi, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire with 3 clusters was distributed. The population for the study is 8 staff in the unit. A total of 8 questionnaires returned and were analyzed using frequency count, mean value and tables. Data analyzed found that KOHA/OPAC was rated high both in awareness and competency levels used by librarians as a means of catalogue meta-data. Challenges identified were inability to multi-skill with the changing pace and technophobia against digital information literacy background and the institutional readiness to adopt other method of catalogue metadata to conform with the 21st century global best practice. Recommendations were; to improve on skills acquisition on RDA through attendance of organized workshops or conferences and library management sponsorship of staff for training and re-training to acquire cognitive skills from experts in consultation with the international organizations.