The Use of Impact Factor in the Appraisal of Academic Librarians in Nigeria

This study explores the degree to which academic librarians in Nigeria are committed to accepting the use of impact factor for assessing their academic performance. Fifty copies of a questionnaire were distributed and 41 returned. Descriptive statistics using means and percentages were used to generate data. A majority of the respondents disagreed that impact factor had wider acceptance than any alternative. More than half did not agree that many Nigerian scholars are reluctant to publish in international journals. Lapses in the provision of facilities which should facilitate high quality research are highlighted. It has become compelling on Nigerian universities to provide current state of the art facilities for research in their libraries. This is the first study to determine the degree of acceptance of impact factor as a parameter for appraising academic librarians in Nigeria. It also challenges librarians to publish in impact factor-ranked journals in order to acquire international recognition