Empowering Academic Librarians in Imo State Through Continuous Professional Development

Abstract

The study investigates the empowerment of academic librarians in Imo State, Nigeria, through Continuous Professional Development (CPD). The work adopted a mixed-methods design, the research assesses librarians' participation frequency in CPD, the impact of networking and CPD opportunities, and the role of knowledge-sharing culture in enhancing service quality. The study sampled 96 professional librarians from four academic libraries in Imo State, employing stratified random sampling. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and interviews, analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic methods. Findings reveals CPD participation: 2.69 (mean score) of librarians engage in CPD occasionally, 1.97 participate rarely, suggesting institutional or motivational barriers. Networking and Mentorship shows low engagement in mentorship programs (0.96 mean) and advanced certifications (1.71 mean) highlights gaps in structured professional growth. Digital Proficiency indicates a low mean score (0.63) in digital tool confidence underscores technophobia, impeding adaptation to modern library demands. The result also shows knowledge-sharing culture with a grand mean of 0.88 which reveals weak collaborative learning environments, linked to distrust and lack of institutional policies. The study concludes that there is the urgent need to institutionalize CPD, foster knowledge-sharing networks, and address technological skill gaps among librarians. Recommendations; universities and library management should sponsor CPD initiatives, including workshops, conferences, and advanced degree programs, implement mentorship frameworks and digital literacy training to bridge competency gaps, promote policy-driven knowledge-sharing practices to enhance service delivery and librarian expertise.