REJUVENATING ACADEMIC LIBRARIES FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA

This study focused on rejuvenating academic libraries for effective service delivery in the post COVID 19 era. The offering of online services in academic libraries has received attention as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, with higher educational institutions all across the world adopting this development as the new normal. The pandemic has posed several difficulties for most universities and its academic libraries, particularly for those with weaker online presence. It however sparked transformation and a re-evaluation of priorities; providing a new purpose for academic libraries that provide information services 24 hours a day. This mission focuses on access and connectivity to resources. Hence academic libraries need to be rejuvenated and prepared if they must be able to cope with the demands of the users who are now more comfortable with online/virtual library services. This study therefore reviewed literature on overview of COVID 19, overview of academic library services in Nigeria, academic library service in the post COVID 19 era, strategies for rejuvenating academic libraries for effective service delivery in the post COVID 19 era, importance of rejuvenating academic libraries for service delivery in the post COVID 19 era, as well as factors inhibiting academic libraries rejuvenation. The researchers used Google and other search engines to access scholarly articles from databases that are open access and are relevant to the study which formed the basis for the literature that was reviewed and from where conclusions were drawn

Implementation of Mobile Technology in Academic Library of Siliguri Subdivision Govt. Aided General Degree Colleges: A Study

This paper highlights the present trends and developments for using mobile technology in academic libraries which has its grate impact on the libraries of the modern society. The library and information services are rapidly changing and it has developed in the 21st century more effectively in the digital era. Libraries have the well opportunity to extend new different types of library services to users. The digital technology has made it easy to store, use, share immediately and instantly by the users demands. The main purpose of this study is to implement mobile technology in academic library of siliguri subdivision in general degree colleges generally and particularly effective utilize in libraries and library services

Implementation of Mobile Technology in Academic Library of Siliguri Subdivision Govt. Aided General Degree Colleges: A Study

This paper highlights the present trends and developments for using mobile technology in academic libraries which has its grate impact on the libraries of the modern society. The library and information services are rapidly changing and it has developed in the 21st century more effectively in the digital era. Libraries have the well opportunity to extend new different types of library services to users. The digital technology has made it easy to store, use, share immediately and instantly by the users demands. The main purpose of this study is to implement mobile technology in academic library of siliguri subdivision in general degree colleges generally and particularly effective utilize in libraries and library services

The shape and form of the 21st century academic library in South Africa : the case of the University of Cape Town libraries

This study sought to ascertain the shape and form of the 21st century academic library in South Africa, using the case of UCT Libraries. The objective was supported by sub-objectives, namely: to ascertain, via a rigorous review of literature, how far along academic libraries worldwide are with incorporating technological advances in their services; to identify the progress of UCT Libraries in establishing itself as a 21st century academic library; to ascertain how readily staff adapt to changes and new technology in the library; and, to ascertain user expectations of a modern, digital era academic library. A qualitative design with a case study approach was employed by the study. The study was supported by organizational learning theory. Themes emanating from the literature include, inter alia, open access, MOOCs, digital humanities and research data management. Further data was collected via interviews and a questionnaire survey of purposively sampled library staff. Stratified random sampling was used to extract samples from the targeted user population (UCT undergraduates, postgraduates and, academics and researchers) for surveying by means of online questionnaires. The study concludes that academic libraries, the world over, are adapting their services according to user demands and users’ use of current technology; that UCT Libraries is currently in the process of establishing itself as a 21st century academic library and that the progress and procedures currently in place to encourage new developments, holds UCT Libraries in good stead towards establishing itself as a 21st century academic library service; that the prevailing culture of organizational learning in UCT Libraries bodes well for constantly adapting to new technologies; and, that users are generally satisfied with the services they are receiving from the Library. Although the case of UCT Libraries was used in this study, in many ways this case is typical of academic libraries in other parts of South Africa as well as in other parts of the world and hence this study of the shape and form of the 21st century academic library has relevance to other academic library contexts as well

Application and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Library Services Delivery in Academic Libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

The application and use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in library services delivery and operations has modernized traditional practices, enabling libraries to adapt to the evolving information needs of patrons in the digital era. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the application and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technologies for Library Services Delivery in Academic Libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study used a descriptive survey approach. The population was the 108 librarians in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria. A total enumeration technique was employed, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from the library staff. The study answered three research questions. The study revealed that AI cataloguing, AI classification, AI indexing, information retrieval tools, and robotics referencing, among others, are the purposes of AI applications for library service delivery. It was found out by the study that the use of AI makes it easy for library staff to do complex work without stress, and the use of AI prevents repetitive tasks, which is one of the benefits of AI applications and for library services delivery. The study also revealed that lack of technical skills by library staff and a limited number of AI experts among library automation vendors, among other challenges, are associated with the application and use of AI for library services delivery. The study concluded that the application and use of AI technology in academic libraries is setting a new level of accuracy and effectiveness in library services delivery. The study also concluded that the use of AI enhances the security of library resources and enables access to information from any geographical location. It is also concluded that lack of funding, among others, is a major challenge in the application and use of AI for library services delivery. The study recommends that the library should provide alternative and reliable power supplies and the train library staff how to stay relevant in this technology driven era

Establishing Library Learning Commons in Universities of India: A Case Study of BHU Library System

Traditional libraries have recognition as a physical space, as a physical collection, and as a traditional scribe in the era of industrial society and before. At present, the paradigm shift due to the advent of computer technology, information technology (IT) and information communication technology (ICT) has changed the way of information seeking, reading habits, learning methods, and even social connectivity and interactions of the society. Furthermore, these changes can be seen in the reading habits, information search, learning and teaching methods of students and faculty members engaged in higher education and research works. These transformations in users laid academic libraries to adopt new collections, services, tools and techniques, and more skilled staffs. It has also forced academic libraries to redesign their existing services, resources, and physical spaces with the addition of digital services, digital resources, and virtual spaces. All these tend to transform service delivery models and to reshape the reading areas according to the learning and reading habits of the users, especially digital native and net generation users. The Learning Commons (LC) is one of the new services which came into existence due to these transformations. Library Learning Commons (LLCs) are collaborative learning spaces in libraries for both students and faculties which provide a convenient, comfortable, flexible and more productive environment for learning, reading and research work. The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on informal library learning commons developed in BHU Library System and to find the feasibilities to acquire new techniques and services to cope with the continuous paradigm shift towards the digital environment

An Overview of Application of E-Resources as Strategies for Enhancing Effective Library Services in Academic Libraries

Libraries of the present age cannot grow without proper application of e-resources (electronic resources) and ICT facilities to its services. The advent of new technology has drastically transformed the way and manner information professionals provide services to their clients. Digital libraries are the new developments in the ever-growing technological era. E-resources are conveniently accessible outside the four walls of the library. This paper focuses on the way e-resources can be applied as strategies for enhancing effective library services. It also considers the benefits and challenges of applying e-resources to library services. Literature review method was adopted in the study by randomly reviewing articles that were related to the study. The study showed that application of e-resources is very paramount to library services and as such every impediment to its effective use should be taken into considerations. Keywords: Application; e-resources; strategy; library services; academic library DOI: 10.7176/IKM/10-2-09 Publication date: March 31st 202

Current and future trends in information technologies for information units

With the increasing dominance of electronic content and digital collections in academic libraries, the capabilities lacking in the current slate of automation systems has increasingly become an obstacle to progress. A new generation of digital services platforms for libraries is emerging, designed to provide a more comprehensive approach to the management and access to all formats of library materials: print, electronic and digital. These new systems involve a modernization of technology, embracing service-oriented architectures, availability for APIs to facilitate interoperability with external systems, support for task workflows more aligned with current operational realities, and more tightly coupled discovery interfaces that deliver access to library collections and services in a more unified and comprehensive manner. These new products, emerging in this era of cloud computing, have been designed for deployment through software as a service and rely on highly shared data models

You can lead a horse to water… are clinical students getting the message about the library and information skills support that is available?

Cambridge University Library is the recipient of a grant from the Arcadia Trust to investigate issues and challenges in delivering academic library services in the digital era. One project under this auspice has been IRIS: Induction, Research and Information Skills, which attempted to map the information skills and needs of students at Cambridge University. The results of this study will be used to provide information in planning future services and facilities for students. Students were invited to complete an online survey asking about which online information resources they use most frequently, from whom they hear about new resources, and where they go for help with information-seeking. Librarians across the tripartite Cambridge system, in 60 college, department, and University libraries, were also surveyed with regard to what training, induction, and support they offered and to whom. This article will focus on the responses of 115 medical students who participated in the survey, accounting for 6.5% of the total survey responses. While acknowledging that student respondents were self-selecting, the results raise questions about how well the librarians’ message is getting across and how librarians can better serve students in the digital age

Facilitating the move to competency based staffing in academic and research libraries in the globalised era

Libraries are evolving rapidly from physical spaces providing on-site services and resources to providers of electronic resources and virtual services. Globalization has enable librarians moving into dramatically different roles as new services are implemented. This implies that the move to competency based staffing in both academic and research libraries are germane. It has become more important than ever to have flexible and motivated librarians who possess the skills, attitudes, and traits that enable them to meet multiple informational needs of global age information users and adapt as those needs change. Encouraging those librarians to continue growing as professionals over their careers is equally important. Competency-based hiring and evaluation can enable information organizations including academic and research libraries to: “recruit employees who can meet the organization’s current needs and who are willing to fulfill the required job duties; evaluate employees based on their current activities as well as their professional development efforts; and set benchmarks for employees’ continued professional development and learning that are beneficial to the organization. The fact that competency-based recruitment of personnel is essential in this age, culminated into the discussion in this paper. Therefore, the paper discussed competency as relate to the recruitment of librarians, what are involved in using competencies in the selection of library personnel, the process, and the creative approach/approaches to recruitment of personnel into libraries. The paper recommends based on the discussion that an empirical investigation version of this discussion should be considered. This could be focused on examining the intriguing question of how users in academic and research libraries in this global era cope with the absence of an endorsed competent librarian.Keywords: Library personnel, Hiring, Recruitment, Globalisation, Competency Based Staffin