Impact of Mentoring on Research Productivity of Young Librarians in Selected Academic Libraries

Abstract

The research productivity of young librarians in academic libraries is very germane to their academic status, promotion and contribution to knowledge among others. Nevertheless, earlier surveys have indicated that the research productivity of some young academics seems to be low. This might be ascribed to mentoring. Thus, the survey investigated the connection between mentoring and research productivity of young librarians in some selected academic libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria. The descriptive research pattern and the census technique were used. Also, 23 out of the 25 young librarians in six universities in the selected academic libraries took part in the study. Findings indicated that out of the four major factors promoting research productivity, research funding/grant (x = 3.78) and mentoring (x = 3.61) were the most prominent. Result also showed the presence of statistical significant relationship between mentoring and research productivity of Young Librarians (r=.488, n=23, p(.018)<.05). Therefore, in a bid to ease the research productivity of young librarians, mentoring programmes should be put in place.