ROLES OF LIBRARY PROFESSIONALS IN DEVELOPING SMART LIBRARIES FORSUSTAINABLE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETIES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIESIN OYOSTATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigates the roles of library professionals in developing smart libraries to support sustainable knowledge societies within academic institutions in Nigeria. The research examines critical gaps in technological adoption and professional involvement, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of smart libraries. The study adopted a descriptive survey and with a population of fifty three librarians and twenty eight library officers working in selected academic libraries in Oyo State. A structured questionnaire was employed as the primary instrument, assessing
librarians’ roles, technological skills, and the challenges they face. Total enumeration technique was employed, targeting all librarians and library officers within selected academic libraries. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts with mean scores and
standard deviations providing insights into consensus and variability among respondents. Findings revealed that library professionals play essential roles in managing digital resources (Mean = 3.08, SD = 0.793), training users (Mean = 2.90, SD = 0.538), and promoting equitable access to information (Mean = 3.00, SD = 0.418). Their advocacy for indigenous knowledge (Mean = 3.14, SD = 0.593) and support for lifelong learning (Mean = 2.92, SD = 0.345) were highly regarded. However, challenges included limited involvement in decision-making (Mean = 1.88, SD = 0.774) and inadequate updates to technological skills (Mean = 2.28, SD = 0.911).
The adoption of advanced technologies, such as AI tools (Mean = 2.19) was notably low, indicating barriers to innovation. It was recommended that there should be implementation of continuous professional development programmes, strengthening IT collaboration, and creating consistent frameworks for adopting advanced technologies.