The Importance of Effective Interpersonal Communication in Reference Interview in Academic Libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

This study sets out to determine librarians’ possession of interpersonal communication skills, and the attendant challenges, as well as establish ways of improving interpersonal communication skills among librarians in academic libraries in Nigeria. It adopts the descriptive method, and covers all the 48 Librarians in three university libraries (Delta State University Library, Ambose Ali University Library and Federal University of Petroleum Resources Library). A questionnaire was used to elicit data for the study, with the analysis revealing that the Librarians possessed interpersonal communication skills. Findings further showed inadequate interpersonal communication skills, the use of English language as lingua franca, culture relate issues, among others, as challenges  hindering effective interpersonal communication in reference interview in among the Librarians. It also revealed the inclusion of interpersonal communication skills and public speaking courses respectively into library and information science programmes in library schools, developing of asking question skills, and using of the best channels of communication as ways of improving interpersonal communication skills among the Librarians. Arising from the findings some recommendations were made.