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This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/00242539710160956. When citing the article, please cite: E.E. Nkereuwem, (1997), “Accrediting knowledge”, Library Review, Vol. 46 Iss 2 pp. 99 - 104.

Argues that as the developed countries of the world that have embraced the electronic information revolution move ahead, most African countries, including Nigeria, are finding themselves increasingly isolated from the global Internet information system. Highlights the major factors inhibiting the utilization of scientific and technical information in the country and stresses that it is imperative to secure a means of keeping researchers abreast of developments in their fields for the purpose of advancing and diffusing knowledge. Recommends the establishment of a National Scientific and Technical Information Center to oversee the connection of Nigeria to the Internet. Describes the model for setting up such an institution.

Examines the role of employee gender in the performance attribution process. Seeks to determine whether library managers attribute a job performance by a woman to different causes then the job performance of a man; whether differences in attributions are attenuated as managers gain more extensive work experience with their supervisors; whether library supervisors performance attributions are related to judgements regarding subordinates career advancement prospects.

Describes how a representative sample of librarians was surveyed to carry out a comparative evaluation of selected journals in library and information science. Respondents were asked to rate each journal on a scale from poor to outstanding (0‐10), in terms of their visibility and the quality of articles they publish. Such evaluation should assist librarians in journal selection and in determining the quality of journals to which they send their research papers for publication. Reports the findings of the survey which discovered that some journals such as Library Waves, Assistant Librarian and Library Journal get low ratings because of low visibility and irregular publication. Others such as African Journal of Library Archives and Information Science and Journal of Information Science are rated highly because of familiarity and accessibility. Argues that the results of the study should help librarians determine the quality of journals and will subsequently enhance their utilization and subscription.

Intellectual access to recorded information has been a major preoccupation of librarians and various methods have been used to evaluate library programmes. Statistical methods have been used recently in library evaluation and management. Managing the physical availability of books can contribute to greater effectiveness in dealing with such matters as library space, book acquisition, cost effectiveness in budgeting, staffing assignments and other aspects of library service that would make the book readily available to the user. This study uses quantitative analysis to determine in‐library book use at the University of Calabar. It was found that many people use the library for various reasons, especially during examination periods, other than for reading library books. These range from reading recommended texts to leisure reading. More use is made of the library materials for research purposes where there are current journals.

Examines the causes of job immobility among librarians in Nigerian universities. The analysis of previous studies show that job immobility in the profession is a direct result of one or a combination of socio‐economic and political considerations and materialistic tendencies. It is also due to the level of professional competencies in the field. Recommends exchange of librarians among university libraries in order to alleviate job immobility in librarianship.

Aid agencies have played a major role as sources of funding in assisting developing countries to implement projects involving information technology. In many developing countries large human and capital resources are now being committed to the development of information technology. The aid agencies conceived the development of the information technology infrastructure as a necessary adjunct to the overall development of the economy. The aid organizations have also gone a step further to help developing countries build their own capacity in information technology. Reports on the efforts initiated by leading aid agencies in funding projects aimed at the development of information technology, with special emphasis on information technology development in libraries in Africa. Suggests means as to how aid organizations can assist developing economies to develop information technology.

Survey data were used to determine the influence of job satisfaction on the publication output of librarians in Nigerian universities. A stratified random sampling method was used to select 202 librarians working in 22 out of the 35 university libraries in Nigeria. A multiple regression statistical analysis was employed to examine the influence of job satisfaction on publication output of librarians. The results of the empirical analysis indicate that of the six dimensions of job satisfaction used in the study, only three (librarians’ levels of satisfaction with their achievement responsibility and recognition) had a significant influence on their publication output. Other dimensions including salary, university library policies and administration, and supervision, had no significant influence on their publication output. The study also reveals that the intrinsic job satisfaction dimensions were the greatest influence on the quantity of publications among the sample population. This should be given top priority. However, the extrinsic job satisfaction dimensions which do not influence publication output should not be neglected, rather they could be improved to enhance job satisfaction and raise publication productivity.

The management of library “pick‐up books” – a phrase that refers to books pulled off the shelves by readers, discarded in the library after use, and picked up by library assistants for reshelving – is an issue for many collection managers. This research attempts to use geographic information system (GIS) software as a tool to monitor the use of such books so that their distributions by book shelf‐ranges can be displayed visually. With GIS, library floor layouts are drawn as maps. This research produces some explanations of the habits of library patrons browsing shelved materials, and makes suggestions to librarians on the expansion of library collections and the rearrangement potential for library space.

This study aims to ascertain gender differences in librarians’ publication output in Nigerian university libraries; to spotlight the benefits librarians derive from publication, and to identify the problems encountered by librarians in their publication efforts.

The study employed a descriptive survey method supported by a questionnaire. The population of the study consisted of a focus group made up of a total number of 55 academic librarians from five university libraries in Edo and Delta States. The researchers also engaged both male and female academics in the various institutions using a semi‐structured interview.

It was revealed that male librarians publish more than their female counterparts. The interview responses also revealed that female academics noted family responsibilities as a major factor hindering them from publishing equally as their male counterparts. It was discovered that male and female librarians in the university libraries investigated publish their works mostly in the African continent, and enumerated promotion/career advancement, contribution to knowledge, personal and institutional prestige as the major benefits librarians derive from publication.

It is hoped that the study will help librarians to see the advantages in publishing in order to improve promotion prospects and advance in their careers. The findings of the study will also be useful in making library management and the university authorities aware of the need to enable improved conditions to support research and publication by librarians.