To read this content please select one of the options below:

Readiness of academic librarians towards the use of robotic technologies in Nigerian university libraries

Kehinde Abayomi Owolabi (Nimbe Adedipe Library, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria)
Nancy C. Okorie (University Library, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria)
Oladimeji Eyitayo Yemi-Peters (Department of Library and Information Studies, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria)
Solomon Olusegun Oyetola (University Library, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria)
Taofeek Olatunde Bello (University Library, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria)
Bolaji David Oladokun (Department of Library and Information Studies, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 14 March 2022

Issue publication date: 29 March 2022

838

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to investigate readiness of academic librarians toward the use of robotic technologies in Nigerian university libraries. The article provides further insights on the following areas: •What are the levels of readiness of university libraries in Nigeria towards robotic technologies in terms of digital infrastructure, policy framework and human development for the adoption and use of robotics in the libraries? •What services are available in the university libraries that can be handled by robotic technologies? •Are academic librarians aware of the potential benefits of robotics in library operations? •What are the potential challenges that university libraries may face in the adoption and use of robotic technologies?

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a survey research anchored on positivism paradigm. The questionnaire was used as data collection instrument. Furthermore, 100 academic librarians were selected from the ten purposively selected ten universities. Snowballing sample technique was used to select ten academic librarians from each of the university libraries.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that the readiness of university libraries in Nigeria towards the adoption and use of robotic technologies in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. It indicates that university libraries in the country are not ready to adopt the use of this technology despite the high benefits they have to offer in library operations.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of the study lay on the fact that very few librarians from each of the selected university libraries were selected; and at the same time, it covers only ten university libraries in the country.

Originality/value

The study is very important to university library management on the necessary steps that need to be taken for the effective adoption of robotic technologies. This research can be a guide to them. In addition, the empirical analysis of the study contributes to social informatics development in Nigeria.

Keywords

Citation

Owolabi, K.A., Okorie, N.C., Yemi-Peters, O.E., Oyetola, S.O., Bello, T.O. and Oladokun, B.D. (2022), "Readiness of academic librarians towards the use of robotic technologies in Nigerian university libraries", Library Management, Vol. 43 No. 3/4, pp. 296-305. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-11-2021-0104

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles