An investigation into levels of motivation among librarians in tertiary institutions of learning in Zambia
Date
2013-10-04
Authors
Siamuzwe, Fedias
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting motivation among librarians in tertiary and research institutions in Zambia. The study was intended to determine the extent to which librarians were motivated in tertiary and research institutions, factors that influenced motivation, the impact of communication, training and development on staff motivation and to recommend measures to be put in place to enhance motivation among librarians in Zambia. A survey method was used to collect data in tertiary and research institutions in Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia through self-administered questionnaire. A convenience sampling procedure was used to select the sample of 90 respondents. Data collected from the questionnaires were comprehensively analyzed and interpreted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
The findings of this study revealed that librarians were motivated in their current job positions owing to the favorable conditions of service obtaining in their places of work. The study findings further revealed that librarians were motivated by the responsibilities performed, good relationship with colleagues, work environment, financial incentives, good supervision, and the promotion prospects. However, the study findings also established that some librarians were de-motivated due to the factors that affected motivation in their current job positions. The major causes of de-motivation basically centered on poor working conditions, poor physical work conditions in some libraries, poor remunerations, un- fair staff training policies, accommodation problems, lack of promotion prospects, and poor funding to the libraries. The study concludes that librarians in tertiary and research institutions in Zambia are motivated.
In view of these findings, it is therefore recommended that policy makers in tertiary institutions of learning should improve on physical work conditions in the libraries such as ventilation, cleanness, and space. There is also need to have improved and uniform conditions of service for both permanent and contract library staff. Funding to the libraries in tertiary institutions should be improved. There is also need for the library management to improve on staffing levels and also to have clear channels of communication between management and the subordinate staff.
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Employee motivation -Zambia