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Policy implications of staff turnover at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Library


K Agyen-Gyasi

Abstract

This paper examines the staff turnover rates at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Library from January 2001 to December 2009 and how it has impacted on the output of the Library. Data for the study were obtained from official files, personal observation and interviews with selected officials directly involved in the training of new library personnel. It was observed that during the period under review, 70 members of staff left the library due to resignations, retirement and termination of appointment. The rate of turnover was found to be highest among Junior Library Assistants aged between 20 and 30 years as they tended to use the Library as a spring board to improve upon their grades in order to pursue different career paths outside librarianship. Major challenges facing the Library as a result of the high staff turnover include increased workload, poor shelving and institution of night duty schedules. It is necessary that the Library administration examines its employee performance trends to know which category of staff seem at risk of leaving and to institute human resource interventions such as training programmes, job enrichment and reward schemes to improve staff retention.

Keywords: Employee turnover, staff retention, motivation, recruitment, library


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eISSN: 3057-3629
print ISSN: 0855-0395