Reasons that necessitated the Federal University libraries in Nigeria to engage in Resources Sharing Activities

This study investigates the reasons why federal university libraries in Nigeria engage in resource sharing activities. Resource sharing is essential for meeting the diverse needs of library users particularly in academic settings and is influenced by various factors including staff qualifications and experience. A cross-sectional survey design was employed for the study conducted across 40 federal universities in Nigeria. The universities were divided into six geopolitical zones and a stratified sampling technique was used to select 50 from each zone resulting in a sample of 20 universities. The target population comprised 580 library staff to whom questionnaires were administered. Of the 580 distributed 433 usable responses were returned. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics percentage mean score and standard deviation through Microsoft Excel and SPSS software. The findings revealed that most academic librarians possess the necessary academic qualifications and that resource sharing is a significant activity in these libraries. Key reasons for engaging in resource sharing include promoting the free flow of resources fostering mutual understanding and facilitating the exchange of ideas techniques resources services and experiences among libraries. Resource sharing plays a crucial role in meeting the needs of library users. The qualifications and experience of library staff are integral to the effective implementation of resource-sharing activities. It is recommended that academic librarians undergo continuous training and retraining to enhance their resource sharing capabilities. Additionally libraries should implement reward systems and provide adequate budgetary support to foster sustainable resource sharing partnerships.