LIBRARIANS’ SKILLS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examined librarians’ skills and contributions to digital citizenship education in academic institutions in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It adopted a correlational research design, with a total population of 113 librarians from 4 university libraries in Akwa Ibom State. The total enumeration sampling technique was considered, while the researchers developed questionnaire instrument was used for data collection. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics was made up of percentage counts, mean scores and standard deviation, while the inferential statistics involved the Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The single null hypothesis was tested using linear regression statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that the components of digital citizenship education which the librarians are familiar with include: digital security, digital communication, digital etiquette, digital literacy, digital rights, etc. It showed that librarians’ skills such as sound social media skills, effective Internet searching skills, effective e-learning skills, etc., are paramount in contributing to students’ digital citizenship education. The study found that the librarians’ overall contributions to digital citizenship education in academic institutions is low, though they facilitate digital citizenship education by encouraging students on being responsible online citizens, mentoring students on safe Internet use habits, etc. The study attributed librarians’ low contributions to digital citizenship education to lack of clear understanding of what constitutes digital citizenship education, lack of digital citizenship education curriculum, lack of modern educational resources, inadequate training of librarians on the use of digital technologies, etc. It concluded that there is a weak but positive relationship between librarians’ skills and contributions to digital citizenship education in academic institutions in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study recommended that management of academic institutions should create an enabling environment for the training of librarians on emerging systems, technologies and advances, while librarians should develop more interest in exploring the digital world and collaborate with other professionals, especially from the IT sector to improve their professional and intellectual responsibilities in line with the changing digital environment.