Readiness to Adopt Robotic Technology in Nigerian Public Libraries: Strategies for Improving Information Service Delivery

Abstract

The study investigated the readiness to adopt robotic technology in Nigerian public libraries as a strategy for improving information service delivery. The study employed a purely qualitative research approach. The population for the study comprised librarians who have been certified by the Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria. The participants chosen were the head librarian of each public libraries because they control the affairs of each library. One head librarian from each geopolitical zones in Nigeria was purposively selected; this gave total of six librarians who participated in the study. Thematic analysis  techniques were adopted for this study. The findings indicate that Nigerian public libraries are not fully ready for the adoption of robotic-technology in libraries. The findings also show that the Nigerian librarians unanimously agreed that robotics have the potential to greatly transform library services. The librarians identified several tasks that robots could handle, including collecting and organizing books, providing guidance and directions, and offering multilingual support. However, Librarians' perspectives on the adoption of robots in libraries revealed several key factors. These include the need for a strong technological infrastructure, sufficient funding, and resources for robotics technology. Librarians' knowledge and training in operating robots are crucial, as are user acceptance and engagement. As a result of these findings, the study recommends that Nigerian public libraries should focus on enhancing their technological infrastructure, providing training to librarians and staff members in robotics, and actively engaging library users in the process of incorporating robots into library services.