ACHIEVING EFFICIENT LIBRARY SERVICES THROUGH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstrak

This research aims to evaluate the attainment of efficient library services through innovative technologies in tertiary institutions. The study employed an ex post facto design. The research was carried out in the Akwa Ibom State. The study's population encompassed librarians and students of library science in tertiary institutions located in Akwa Ibom State. The study employed a stratified sampling technique to select a sample of 97 respondents from various educational institutions. Specifically, 10 librarians and 50 library science students were chosen from the University of Uyo; 2 librarians and 7 library science students were selected from the College of Education; 3 librarians and 10 library science students were included from Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic; and finally, 2 librarians and 15 library science students were chosen from Federal Polytechnic. The data collection process involved the use of a questionnaire known as the "Technology and Efficient Library Services Questionnaire (TLESQ). The process of face and content validation of the instrument was conducted by a single expert in the fields of test, measurement, and evaluation. This expert's involvement aimed to ascertain the accuracy and appropriateness of the instrument for the study. The Cronbach's alpha technique was employed to assess the instrument's reliability level. The obtained reliability coefficient was an average value of 0.84 and this was high enough to justify the use of the instrument. The researcher subjected the data generated for this study to appropriate statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics for answering the research questions while simple regression in testing the hypothesis. The test for significance was done at 0.05 alpha level. Based on the results obtained from the study, it can be inferred that the use of big data technology, library mobile apps, and virtual reality technology has a substantial impact on the distribution of library services within tertiary institutions located in Akwa Ibom State. One of the recommendations was that there is a pressing need to actively pursue the implementation of a contemporary library system that leverages new technical tools, which have the potential to demonstrate the transformative power of current technology in libraries and information centres.

Kata Kunci