Acquisition and Utilization of Digital Skills by Librarians for Effective Service Delivery in University Libraries in North-Central Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the acquisition and utilization of digital skills by librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in North-central Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to determine the mode of acquiring digital skills by librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in North-Central, Nigeria and also to find out digital skills used by librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in North-Central, Nigeria. A descriptive survey method was employed, with a population of 243 librarians from 15 public university libraries. No sample was done as a result of the manageable size of the population. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire and interview. The findings showed that, the acquisition and utilization of digital skills to high extent contributes to effective service delivery, regardless of librarians' years of experience, the also showed that using library management software and systems is the digital skill highly used and it has no significant difference in the mean responses of librarians for effective service delivery in university libraries in North-Central, Nigeria. based on highest educational qualification. Based on the findings, it was concluded that university libraries in North-Central Nigeria should invest in targeted training programmes focused on enhancing librarians' proficiency in essential digital skills, including library management software, emerging technologies, online resource evaluation, digital communication, and social media, to improve service delivery; university libraries in North-Central, Nigeria.