GENDER INFLUENCE AND LIBRARIANS' INNOVATION IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-WEST, NIGERIA.

Innovation is a key driver for long-term success of organizations in today's competitive world. High demand is laid on academic libraries to create a range of services in this information age, which is characterized by rapid change. Gender has been identified to have a significant impact on many dimensions of the organizations including innovation. It is also an important driver for increasing competitive advantage and expansion, therefore developing and applying gendersensitive policies in organization like library can improve creating new services and developing new technology in libraries. This study examined gender influence on librarians' innovation in academic libraries in South-West, Nigeria. The study employed survey research design. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential (simple linear and multiple regression) statistics were used to analyzed data. Despite the fact that the number of female participants was higher than male participants, the result shows that male librarians score higher in innovation. The result further revealed that gender (R2 = 0.375, (β = 0.612; t= 10.639; p<0.05) had significant influence on librarians' innovation in academic libraries in South-West, Nigeria. The study recommended that University management should provide enough fund for the library to be able to create programs that can promote gender participation in area of innovation and technology. Similarly, university library management should be deliberate in embarking on policies that will enhance in bringing out innovative competence of each gender.