Employee Recognition as Correlates of Librarians’ Productivity in Public University Libraries in Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between employee recognition and librarians’ productivity in public university libraries in Kano State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought: to identify forms of employee recognition available; to describe the level of productivity of librarians’ productivity; to determine the relationship between employee recognition and librarians’ productivity. Two hypotheses were tested i.e. (Ho1) there is no significant relationship between financial recognition and librarians’ productivity, and (Ho2) there is no significant relationship between nonfinancial recognition and librarians’ productivity. A quantitative methodology of descriptive correlational research design was employed, using questionnaire to collect data from 144 librarians through total enumerative sampling technique. Findings from the study revealed that librarians enjoyed forms of recognition such as promotion, annual increments, staff training and conducive work environment, but received little with regard to skill-base pay, performance-based pay, mentorship awards and flexible work. Productivity was generally at high level (M= 3.87). The hypothesis found that financial recognition had a weak negative and non-significant relationship with librarians’ productivity (r= -.179, p=.051) confirming Ho1, while non-financial recognition had a weak negative but significant relationship with librarians’ productivity (r= -.326, p=.000), rejecting Ho2. The study concluded that employee recognition correlates well with librarians’ productivity in public university libraries in Kano state. This is because both financial and nonfinancial were available and this has contributed well to the productivity of the librarians The study therefore recommends that library management need to reevaluate their performance-based rewards, skills-based pay as well as bonuses. It also recommends improving current university payments policies and budgets to ensure they are competitive to compete favourably with what is obtainable in developed countries.