TITLE:
Effect of ICT Use on Library Service Delivery: A Comparative Approach from Two Universities
AUTHORS:
Frank Kofi Essien, Zhangping Lu, Pearl Abredu, Isidore Komla Zotoo
KEYWORDS:
ICT Use, Library Services, Digital Information, Librarians, University Library
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
16,
2022
ABSTRACT: The study is aimed at investigating the effect of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use on library service delivery in two universities namely, University of Ghana library (Ghana) and Jiangsu university library (China). The paper adopted quantitative method and used a structured questionnaire to gather the research data. A sample size of 62 staff from Jiangsu University Library and 80 staff from the University of Ghana Library were selected. In all, a sample size of 142 respondents was used. Mathematical statistics methods, such as mean scores, standard deviations, independent samples t-test and structural equation modelling were used in making meaning of the data gathered. Results revealed that Reference, Digital, and Circulation services but Social media, were effective in service delivery in both universities. It was also revealed that lack of trained library personnel, poor internet connection and erratic power supply were the major challenges faced by UG library in the use of ICT. Lastly, result on effect of ICT use on library services revealed that the level of ICT use in library operations significantly influenced the level of library services delivered by both Jiangsu University (JU) library and University of Ghana (UG) library. The study recommends that academic libraries capitalize on the prospects of social media, to promote their services to their patrons (the academic community). Recommendation is also made for libraries to focus on the use of social media as a viable avenue to promote library services.