Academic librarians' perceptions of the benefits and challenges of adopting e‐learning for continuing professional development in Lagos state, Nigeria. Issue 7 (2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stella Ngozi Anasi; Hussaini Ali
• Is Part Of: New library world. Volume 115:Issue 7/8(2014)
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 354
• Publication Date: 2014
• Subjects: Library science -- Periodicals; Libraries -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 020.5
• DOI: 10.1108/NLW-01-2014-0016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-4803

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve"> Abstract </x> </title> <p> <bold>Purpose</bold> – The aim of this paper is to examine and discuss academic librarians' perceptions of the benefits and challenges of adopting e‐learning for continuing professional development. <bold>Design/methodology/approach</bold> – To elicit the necessary information, this study adopted a descriptive survey design, using questionnaire as instrument for data collection. The study population consists of five tertiary institutions – two universities, two polytechnics and one college of education, selected as sample using the purposive sampling technique. The study also conducted a literature review on studies done on benefits and challenges of e‐learning for professional development. The literature review is built on resources from online and offline. <bold>Findings</bold> – Academic librarians in Lagos State were unanimous in their perception of benefits and challenges of adoption of e‐learning for continuing professional development. The major benefits of e‐learning were that e‐learning opens up new frontiers for professional learning, supports knowledge generation and management and gives librarians an opportunity to broaden their knowledge. However, the major challenges to adopting e‐learning for continuing professional development were inadequate power supply, inadequate knowledge of how to operate e‐learning tools and limited bandwidth. <bold>Practical implications</bold> – This paper establishes that the role of academic librarians in the provision of information for learning and study in academic institutions places them in an advantageous position to engage in e‐learning activities for professional development. It also extols the need for top library management to deploy all resources within their reach to develop technology‐enhanced learning system. This should also be complemented with the development and implementation of e‐learning curriculum in library schools in Nigeria to inculcate e‐learning culture. <bold>Originality/value</bold> – The paper contributes to empirical research on e‐learning for continuing professional development among librarians in Nigeria. Librarians who are interested in professional development will find this article useful.</p> </abstract>