Professional Competence, Institutional Support and Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge Resources in Libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated how professional competence and institutional support influence the documentation of existing indigenous knowledge in libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria. The research adopted a survey research design. A total of 245 librarians and paraprofessionals in academic,  National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and Lagos State Library Board (LSLB) libraries in Lagos State constituted the sample of the study. The population included the management staff and directors of public and academic libraries. Data were collected through questionnaire while descriptive and inferential statistics were employed respectively in analysis of the data obtained. Findings revealed that processes of documentation of IK are acquisition, codification, organization, storage and preservation. Professional competences for documentation of IK are educational qualification, understanding the source of IK, ability to locate IK resources, possession of knowledge of ICT skills. Major institutional support for documentation of IK in libraries in Lagos State is adequate funding, motivation, facilitative policy and staff training. From the result of the study, it was recommended, among others, that library management should make more provision for regular training and retraining of librarians.

Keywords: Documentation, Indigenous knowledge, Professional  competence, Institutional support, Nigeria