Impact of external quality assurance on academic libraries

Abstract

Forty nine librarians from the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) were surveyed by employing a structured questionnaire seeking respondents’ opinion on quality assurance. The respondents indicated that they fully participated in accreditation exercises of the National Universities Commission (NUC) which is the main body responsible for ensuring quality in Nigerian universities. The importance of accreditation is to improve quality and to maintain standards and guidelines. As regards the impact of accreditation, all the librarians rated improved provision of library services and resources to be the highest impact. Most of the criteria for assuring quality received very high scores with leadership having a score of 100% in the three institutions. It is concluded that the highest impact of accreditation on libraries is the improved provision of library services and resources. The library is the hub of activities during accreditation because each accreditation team is obliged to visit the library to ascertain the quality of library holdings and services in relation to every programme being accredited.