Abstract
Job commitment of librarians is intricately linked to organizational factors. Reports reveal that job commitment of librarians in Nigeria is low. Previous studies on job commitment of librarians focused largely on the influence of motivational factors like reward system. This study examined work environment as a determinant of job commitment of librarians in federal universities in southern Nigeria. Social exchange theory (SET) was used as the theoretical framework, while survey design of the correlational type was adopted for the study. 356 librarians in 18 federal universities in southern Nigeria served as the population and a total enumeration of the population was used for the study. The data collection instrument was questionnaire and data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the social work environment of the libraries was conducive ( , while the physical work environment was barely average ( = 2.52). There was a significant relationship between work environment and job commitment of librarians ( = 0.181). Specifically, physical work environment ( = 0.338) and social work environment ( = 0.487) had significant relationships with job commitment. Based on the findings, the study advocated for improvements on the physical work environment of librarians to enhance their job commitment levels and ultimately increase job productivity.
References
Abasilim, U., Gberevbie, D., and Osibanjo, O. (2019) Leadership styles and employees’ commitment: empirical evidence from Nigeria. Sage Open, July – September: 1 -15
Adadan E, Savasci F (2011) An analysis of 16-17-year-old students’ understanding of solution chemistry concepts using a two-tier diagnostic instrument. International Journal of Science Education 34(4): 513–544
Adeoye F. (2018). Impact of workplace environmental factors on employee commitment: evidence from North East Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, 6.7: 575 - 585
Ajibare,O., Fagbemiro, A. and Adewolojo, A. (2023) Challenges to librarians’ commitment in universities in South-West, Nigeria. Journal of Library Services and Technologies, 5(1), 48 – 55
Amadi,Ovunda Gideon and Ehule, Fortune Nsirim, (2023). Physical work environment
and employee work commitment in major multinational oil and gas companies in Rivers State, Nigeria. International Journal of Management Sciences, 11, 2: 14 – 32
Anasi, S.N. (2020), "Perceived influence of work relationship, work load and physical work environment on job satisfaction of librarians in South-West, Nigeria", Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 69 (6/7), 377-398. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-11-2019-0135
Arokiasamy, A. R. A. (2013). "A study on employee satisfaction perspectives in the hotel industry in Malaysia " International Journal of Management and Strategy, 4.6: 53 - 64
Blau, P. M. 1964. Exchange and power in social life. New York, USA: Wiley.
Homans, G. C. (1958). Social behaviour as exchange. American Journal of Sociology, 63.6: 597-606.
Ikechukwu, N., Ezeh, J., Ogochukwu, O., Nkechinyere, O. and Dumle, N. 2019. Work environment and employees’commitment in three selected institutions in Rivers State. International Journal of Engineering and Management Research,9 .4: 138 – 147.
Javed, A. (2019). Predicting the underlying factors of academic dishonesty by university students: a case study. Electronic Research Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 1.1: 86 – 100
Kalliath, T., and Kalliath, P. (2012). Changing work environments and employee wellbeing: an introduction. International Journal of Manpower, 33.7: 729-737.
Mayowa-Adebara, O. and Aina, F. (2016). Work Environment and Organisational Commitment of Staff in Academic Libraries in Lagos State, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Information Science, 9.1: 38 – 48
Omali, A. I. & A.U. Echedom. (2024). Work Environment as Correlates of Librarians’ Job Performance in Federal University Libraries in North-Central Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Education and Sustainable Development. 4(7), 94-104. Retrieved from DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13236557
Omotunde, O. and Alegbeleye,G. (2021) Talent management practices and job performance of librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 47 (2),102319. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0099133321000100
Salau, O. P. (2017). Work environment and retention outcomes of academic staff of state universities in Southern Nigeria. An unpublished PhD Thesis Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
Ushie, E. M., Agba, A.M., Ogaboh, O. and Chimaobi, O. 2015. Work environment and employees’ commitment in agro-based industries in Cross River State, Nigeria. Global Journal of Human-Social Science: C Sociology & Culture, 15.6: 9 – 15
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Librarianship