Assessment of Innovative Skills and Librarians Services Delivery in University Libraries in South-South, Nigeria (Published)
The purpose of the study was to assess the influence of innovation skills on Librarians service delivery in the University Libraries in the South-South Nigeria. In particularly, the study seeks to determine the impact of innovative skills in the area of emerging technology in service delivery in academic library. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study to investigate the views of librarians on innovative skills on service delivery in the University libraries. The researchers used questionnaire as the main instrument for data collection from 218 librarians in the study area, and four academic libraries involved in the study. The data collected was analyses using mean and standard deviation to answer research questions and simple linear regression analysis to test the hypothesis at .05 level of significance. The findings reveals that innovative skill play a vital role in service delivery and also reveals that digital literacy skills significantly play a vital role in services delivery in the University libraries, as it account for 81.2% on service delivery. This underscores the important of innovative skills in service delivery in the contemporary age. Implication: The results of the study will help academic libraries and librarians to appreciate the critical role which innovation and digital skills play in effective and efficient service delivery in academic libraries to sustain good patronage.
Keywords: Academic Libraries, South-south Nigeria., innovative skills, services delivery
Advancement of Smart Academic Libraries in Northern Nigeria: Issues and Way Forward (Published)
The 21st century is known as the beginning of the knowledge age; a millennium characterized by leveraging on information to stay ahead using technology. The library occupies a critical place in the quality of information accessed and leveraged on by researchers and students. Academic libraries in Nigeria are not disconnected from this technology-based-information revolution. This study looked at advancement of smart academic libraries in Northern Nigeria: issues and way forward. Its objectives was to determine smart services available, investigate the extent of deployment, examine the underlying issues that hinder effective smart service delivery and proffer strategies for way forward in Northern university public academic libraries in Nigeria. The study adopted a review of documents and literature on smart academic libraries in Nigeria. Five public universities were purposively observed and sampled on their smart library perspective and capacity. Google-Forms-structured questionnaire was used through different online platforms. Simple percentage and frequencies were used in analyzing data collected. Findings showed that there are existing smart library services in the academic libraries of Northern Nigerian public universities but the extent of deployment of smart library services in their academic libraries is low. The research also revealed the numerous issues faced in providing smart services. The study recommended that the institution and library managements of academic libraries in Northern Nigerian public universities step up on ICT policy framework, practical deployment of smart library technologies and training of library staff for improved smart services
Keywords: Academic Libraries, Artificial Intelligence, Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Smart Library, Technology