Quality management approaches in academic libraries: A case study of Nigeria

•Quality management models have been identified as the

management frameworks that give libraries the necessary

controls to address risks and monitor and measure

performance in their work procedures.

•In Nigeria, the changing role of academic libraries through

the development and introduction of information and

communication technology has necessitated the use of

management techniques to increase efficiency in libraries.

•Paucity of literature to demonstrate quality management

implementation in Nigerian academic libraries provides

rationale for this study .

1. Background

Halima Sadia Egberongbe, University of Sheffield, lip11hse@sheffield.ac.uk

• This study aims to assess the types of management

procedures in place in Nigerian academic libraries .

•It seeks to ascertain the extent to which quality management is

being practiced in order to explore the possibility of

recommending a systematised quality management system for

Nigerian academic libraries.

2. Research Aims

•The research seeks to generate an understanding of

quality management practices in Nigerian academic

libraries.

•A mixed methods approach is being employed to

understand and capture participants’ perspectives of

library practice relating to their work environment.

•The first phase of the study involved an online survey

conducted to explore management practices among the

30 university libraries in south-western Nigeria.

5. Future Research

The results so far have identified some emerging themes:

•Awareness of quality management practices and quality service delivery and their impact on institutional mission and vision;•Evidence of quality management application to some management procedures and services;•Non-conformance to quality management standards in managing customer services and teamwork ; •Strengths of respondent libraries identified in collection development , customer service and satisfaction; •Weaknesses identified mainly in Internet connectivity, budget allocation and staff training.

4. Preliminary findings•The next stage will be a qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews ,and focus groups to generate in-depth understanding of management practices in selected academic libraries with university librarians and other members of staff of participant academic libraries •This stage will enable wider implications to be drawn for a richer interpretation of the study

3. Research Methods

References•Srikanthan, G. &. (2003). Developing a holistic model for quality in Higher Education. Quality in Higher Education, 8 (3), 216-224.•Opara, N. (2010). Toward improving library and information services delivery in Nigeria through TQM. African Journal of Library, Archives and Information services, 4 , 1– 4.

Research Supervisors: Ms Barbara Sen, Prof. Peter Willett