Social Networking Tools in Library Service Delivery: The Case of Academic Libraries in South-East Zone of Nigeria

Abstract

A lot of literature exists concerning acceptance and utilisation of ‘social networking’ (SN) tools in academic libraries from different parts of the world. However, only a handful of work has been done on librarians’ use of SN in academic libraries in South-East, Nigeria. Therefore, this study tends to investigate librarians’ use of SN in academic libraries in South-East, Nigeria. This study adopted a survey design using 173 librarians from the zone. Finding showed that some librarians used SN in libraries for delivery of library services. It also revealed that SN will be beneficial and cost effective for academic libraries to adopt. Some challenges identified in this study inhibiting use of SN in academic libraries are erratic power supply, inadequate skill to manipulate SN and other ICT tools, technophobia, lack of awareness, insufficient bandwidth, apathy in using modern technologies and lack of internet connection. The study suggested that SN can be adopted in academic libraries for library service delivery. It recommended that academic libraries should prioritise training and retraining of librarians in the use of emerging and current internet resources, provision of power supply, ICT facilities and internet connection to enhance delivery of library services.