The managerial roles of academic library directors in Nigeria: Applying the Mintzberg model.

摘要

This research examined the internal and external managerial roles of academic library directors in Nigeria, applying the Henry Mintzberg/Moskowitz ten managerial role model to determine whether the directors devoted a greater proportion of their time and energy to the internal managerial roles or to external managerial roles. To accomplish this investigation, a survey instrument was developed and adapted from the Moskowitz questionnaires. One role, the educator role, was added to the Mintzberg/Moskowitz ten managerial roles, bringing the total to eleven. The sample included all 30 library directors managing university libraries in Nigeria.;Results showed that academic library directors in Nigeria like their counterparts in the U.S., devoted a greater proportion of their time and energy to the internal managerial roles than to the external ones. The educator role was identified as an important role, to which the library directors devoted a great proportion of their time and effort. Interestingly, in spite of the fact that the Nigeria library directors spent a great proportion of their time and effort on the internal roles, the external role of liaison was still identified as the number one role, that required the greater proportion of their time and effort. Additionally, the study identified and clarified roles, challenges and expectations for academic library directors in Nigeria; proposed a new role, that of the educator and identified the type of existing roles that could be emphasized to ensure survival in academia; and offered suggestions for academic library management training in Nigeria.