Exploring the Practice of Infopreneurship among Librarians in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study explored the practice of Infopreneurship among librarians in Bauchi state Nigeria that are already working and earning their  living in libraries. The survey research design was employed to conduct the study. The questionnaire was the major instrument used to  collect data. The population of the study consisted of 92 librarians drawn from various libraries in Bauchi state, Nigeria. Data collected  were analyzed using descriptive statistic expressed in percentages and frequency counts. The objectives of the study are to identify types  of infopreneurship services, factors that motivate librarians into infopreneurship, types of skills librarians possessed, tools employed and  the factors hindering librarians from venturing into infopreneurship. Findings from the study revealed that book vending, information  brokerage, indexing services and digital publishing were found to be the major types of infopreneurial services provided by infopreneurs/librarians. Factors that motivate librarians into infopreneurship include the desire to earn extra income, provision for post- retirement and in response to identified demand. It was revealed that most of the respondents possess information literacy skills, communication skills, online marketing skills and record keeping skills. The tools employed to provide infopreneurial services to clients by  librarians include computers, books and documents. In conclusion, it is obvious that librarians have sample opportunities to engage  in infopreneurship to earn additional income to augment their salaries and to create jobs for the unemployed. Based on the findings  from this study it is being recommended that librarians should go into various types of business ventures in which they have comparative advantages in terms of knowledge, tools and skills. In addition, librarians going into infopreneurship should employ information and  communication devices to provide infopreneurial services to clients when, where and how they need it