Probing the effect of library staff' discussions at duty posts on graduate students' research activities: Evidence from a Nigerian university library

摘要

The study probed the various forms of discussions engaged in by library staff at duty posts, the frequency of such discussions and its effect on graduate students? research activities. The descriptive survey research design was employed in the study, with a population of 9035 graduate students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 180 graduate students who were more than a year in the university and have visited the sampled library for research purpose. A self-structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. In analyzing the collected data, the mean and standard deviation were used. The result of the study revealed that library staff engaged in both service-motivated and unrelated discussions at duty posts, and such discussions occurred often. Also, it was revealed that discussions at duty posts have a more negative effect than positive on the research activities undertaken by graduate students in the institution. Based on these findings, it was recommended, among others, that the library authority should map out feasible strategies for ensuring strict adherence to professional work ethics by library staff as this would assist in minimalizing casual discussions at duty posts.