Assessment of interpersonal communication skills patterns among librarians for the delivery of reference and information services in Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was on the assessment of Interpersonal Communication Skills Patterns among Librarians for the Delivery of Reference and Information Services in Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. the objectives of the study was to find out the patterns of interpersonal communal skill among librarians and to identify the interpersonal communication skills utilise by librarians for reference and information services delivery in Kashim Ibrahim Library ABU. Quantitative research methodology was adopted using cross-sectional survey research design. The target population of the study consisted of all the 18 reference librarians in Kashim Ibrahim Library ABU Zaria. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. Data collected were descriptively analysed using frequency tables, simple percentages, mean and standard deviation. The findings of the study revealed that ability to speak fluently to users and ability to understand users queries are the major patterns of interpersonal communication skills among librarians in Kashim Ibrahim Library, ability to speak fluently to users and ability to understand users queries are major interpersonal communication skills Utilised by librarians for reference and information services, the librarians listening skills helps them in understanding users query in Kashim Ibrahim Library ABU Zaria. It could be concluded that interpersonal communication skills exists between reference librarians and library users in Kashim Ibrahim Library ABU Zaria for reference and Information Service delivery but it is not very effective and this could be one of the reasons for the decline in reference patronage in Kashim Ibrahim Library ABU Zaria. It was recommended that reference librarians should improve on their ability to speak fluently to users, ability to understand user queries, ability to ask users relevant questions concerning their needs, ability to guide users properly after listening to their queries and ability to serve users with the right information. Reference librarians should utilise the ability to send users answers to their query using appropriate channel, ability to receive and treat users query effectively and ability to provide good listening ears to users.