Relationship between librarians information retrieval skills digital archiving skills and management of information resources in University libraries in North Central Nigeria

Background: This study investigated the relationship between librarians’ information retrieval skills, digital archiving skills, and the management of information resources in university libraries across North Central Nigeria.

Method: Using a correlational survey research design, the study addressed two research questions and tested two null hypotheses. The population comprised all 254 professional librarians in six Federal Universities within the region, with a census sampling approach adopted. Data were gathered through three validated instruments—the Questionnaire on Information Retrieval Skills (QIRS), Questionnaire on Digital Archiving Skills (QDAS), and Management of Information Resources Questionnaire (MIRQ)—all based on a 4-point Likert scale, with Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficients of 0.78, 0.81, and 0.71 respectively. The Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to analyze the research questions, while linear regression analysis tested the null hypotheses at 0.05 significance level.

Findings/Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.88) between information retrieval skills and information resources management, and a moderate positive relationship (r = 0.59) between digital archiving skills and resource management. Linear regression analysis showed that information retrieval skills accounted for 15% of the variance in resource management (R² = 0.150; β = 0.387; p < 0.001), while digital archiving skills explained a higher 34.5% of the variance (R² = 0.345; β = 0.588; p < 0.001).

Implications: These findings indicate the significance of information retrieval skills and digital archiving skill in enhancing the effective management of information resources.

Conclusion
The study concludes that information retrieval and digital archiving skills are essential to the successful management of information resources in university libraries.

Recommendations
The study recommends that university libraries in North Central Nigeria invest in continuous professional development programmes to enhance librarians’ information retrieval and digital archiving competencies.