University Librarians’ Leadership Styles and Staff Productivity in Selected University Libraries in Imo State, Nigeria

It is not strange seeing most 21 st century librarians that lack the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the organizational growth and productivity of their university libraries till they retire from library service. If these librarians were to be from the onset of the profession, the profession would have long gone into extinction. Who is to be blamed, the head and the leadership style adopted or the subordinates? This is the thrust of this study, which investigated the University Librarians leadership styles and staff productivity in selected university libraries in Imo State, Nigeria made up of Imo State University and Federal University of Technology, Owerri Libraries. The study adopted the descriptive survey design using a sample of thirty-one (31) academic librarians, purposively selected. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. A total of thirty-one (31) copies of the questionnaire were distributed and all retrieved. Data collected was analysed using frequency counts, simple percentages, mean scores and standard deviation, as well as presented using frequency tables and charts. Findings of the study showed the adoption of autocratic, democratic and transformational leadership styles by the University librarians. Of all these, transformational leadership style was highly adopted followed by democratic style. The study also found out the rate of staff productivity, which include ability to work till closing hours, efficient interaction with users, and bringing new ideas into the library, among others. It was found out that leadership styles of librarians affect staff productivity in the areas of bringing high staff productivity, boosting staff morale, making staff receptive to change and innovation, and eliminating laziness among staff, among others. There are numerous factors militating against staff productivity. Based on the findings, the study concludes that University Librarians’ leadership styles affect the productivity of staff under them and recommends creation of good working environment, and adoption of good leadership styles that promote cordial relationship between heads of libraries and their subordinates.