Taqwa

Evaluation of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in Library School: The Federal Polytechnic Nekede Experience

Judith Nse

B.Sc. (Chemistry/Education), MLS

Processing Unit

Federal University of Technology Library

Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Introduction

The Federal Polytechnic Nekede was established in 1978 by Edict No 16 of the than Imo State Government enacted by the Col. Sunday Adenihu government. The Imo State Government amended the Edict establishing the instruction in 1987 and renamed it, the Polytechnic Nekede. However, the ownership and management of the institution was taken over from the Imo State Government on the 7th April, 1993 by the Federal Government of Nigeria after which it became Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri.

The Department of Library and Information Science, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, was established in 1979. The first set of students was admitted in the year 1980/1981 academic session. In the academic session of 1985/1986, the maiden National Diploma and Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes in Library Science were accredited. As of date, the Library and Information Science department of Federal Polytechnic Nekede runs both HND and ND Programmes in regular, evening and week-end Programmes of the School.

Industrial training for Library and Information Science student is of paramount importance. The students are expected to acquire adequate and relevant skills that would enable them to perform effectively in their future place of work or assignment. In spite of the high level of quality and qualified Library Science educators in Nigeria library schools, there are still gaps in both the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired by the students. As noted by Ugwu (2010), there is a serious need to give effective education and training to Library and Information professionals for improved service delivery to the society.

The quality of service rendered in the library is in proportion to the level of knowledge and skills...