Assessment of the Awareness, Adoption and Application of the Internet of Things in Enhancing Service Delivery in Selected University Libraries in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed awareness, adoption, and application of the Internet of Things to enhance service delivery in university libraries in North Central Nigeria. It examined the level of awareness, adoption and application of the Internet of Things in university libraries and how it can encourage improved service delivery within the libraries. The research adopted a descriptive research design, chosen for its ability to collect both qualitative and quantitative data from a defined population. This study postulated five research questions and formulated four hypotheses. The study population comprised one hundred and sixteen (116) respondents drawn from six university libraries in four states in the North Central zone of Nigeria. The study used a questionnaire to collect data. The findings indicated a high level of awareness of the Internet of Things in the university libraries. However, a major challenge to adoption and application was the high cost of deploying the technology. The research also showed a negative relationship between Internet of Things adoption and enhanced service delivery, suggesting that the technology has played a minimal role in improving service delivery and may be viewed as a burden rather than an essential tool for improved service delivery within the university library. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended that library management actively seek public-private partnerships (PPPs) and international grants aimed at digital transformation to offset the financial burden of acquiring this new technology.