TRAINING AS A DETERMINANT OF ACQUISITION OF ICT LITERACY SKILLS BY LIBRARIANS IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN IMO STATE.

Purpose: The researchers examined training as a determinant of acquisition of ICT literacy skills by librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State. The study was guided by two objectives: to determine the extent at which training methods are used for the acquisition of ICT literacy skills by librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State; and to ascertain the factors that militate against the acquisition of ICT literacy skills by librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State. Research/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted survey research design. The population and sample of the study were eighty-one (81) librarians in the six tertiary institutions studied, in Imo State. The instrument that was used for data collection was a four-point rating scale based on the research questions. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses were tested using t-test difference between observed and expected mean scores at set probability value of 0.05. Findings: The major findings of the study are that: The training methods used by librarians for the acquisition of ICT literacy skills was at low; and the mean response score on the extent to which training methods are used for the acquisition of ICT literacy skills by librarians in the tertiary institutions in Imo State was not significant and among the factors that militate against the acquisition of ICT literacy skills of the librarians in tertiary institutions in Imo State are: insufficient infrastructure and ICT equipment; lack of proper support from the school authorities, poor internet connectivity/network, inadequate power supply; and lack of funds. Implication: These results implicate the need for library management of tertiary institutions to regularly organize ICT training programmes towards improving the ICT literacy skills of librarians using various training methods and also encourage the librarians to make personal efforts to acquire ICT skills Originality/Value: The study has drawn attention on the need for training if librarians will acquire the necessary ICT literacy skills.