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Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) plays significant role in
librarianship as regards professional development without which transition from the class room to
the world of work will be inadequate and haphazard. Without this training students will graduate
as half baked. For instance a graduate of library and information science who is unable to
catalogue and classify is half-baked. Librarianship is a profession that is concerned with the
collection, storage, processing and dissemination of recorded knowledge in the library. According
to Aina (2004), ‘The information professional is engaged in the organization, storage, management
and distribution of information’. The students of Library and Information Science (LIS) need to
undergo proper training to back up their classroom experience so as to be effective and relevant in
their profession and be well developed professionally.
All activities involved before any book or other information material finally gets to the end
user require practical experience and skillfulness without which the objectives of establishing the
library will be defeated. The processing tools such as thesaurus, subject heading lists, the
classification schemes, the reference tools, the computers and other digital equipments need
practical training to be able to use them effectively. SIWES plays significant developmental role in
preparing library and information science (LIS) students for the world of work. It provides avenue
for them to acquire skills and experience in their course of study (librarianship). Skills in the
preparation of bibliography, indexes, abstracts and also bindery work to mention just a few could
be acquired during their participation in students’ industrial work experience scheme. SIWES
therefore prepares LIS students for work method and techniques in handling equipment and
machinery that are not available in their institution. Wodi and Dokubo (2009).
SIWES is an inevitable programme to professional development of LIS students. The
intellectual work of librarians is derived from the application of scientific principles in organizing,
storing, retrieving, and disseminating information. In recent years, the library profession has been
affected by developments in ICT. Igbinosa (2007), noted that advances in ICT have changed the
paradigm of librarians work from information storage to one of access to world literature resources
using electronic databases, the internet, and other digital resources. Omekwu (2005), opined that
digital technology has revolutionized the information acquisition, storage, and retrieval processes.
The application of ICT in libraries has widened the scope of librarianship, conferred new roles on
libraries, and has placed more demands on the ability of librarians. Karisddappa (2004), also
emphasis that society is in dear need to educate and train library employees for a lasting
professional competence, LIS programs are skill-oriented, and for any adequate skill to be
acquired, training has to occur in the appropriate environment.” LIS students therefore are
opportune to use various forms of ICT resource in industries where they are posted for SIWES.
Raimi (2015), quoting Nse (2012), averred that the quality of service rendered in the library
is a function of the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the library staff, and since Library
and Information Science students of today are the librarians of tomorrow, adequate opportunities
to acquire an all round skills should be given to them so that they can deliver effective services in
their future places of work. Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is geared
towards creating an opportunity for the industrial readiness of students through training in relevant