TY - CHAP
T1 - Automation of university library operations
T2 - an analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic experience in the United Kingdom and Nigeria
AU - Adetunla, Gbenga
AU - Rasmussen Pennington, Diane
AU - Chowdhury, Gobinda
PY - 2023/4/12
Y1 - 2023/4/12
N2 - This study examined how automation systems enhanced the operations of university libraries in Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reviewed literature on the extent of automation, effectiveness of the use of automation technology and ascertained the challenges of automation in the operations of university libraries during COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Findings revealed that most university libraries in the UK are fully automated while university libraries in Nigeria are either partially automated or not automated. During the COVID-19 lockdown, university libraries in the UK were able to provide services, while Nigerian libraries were unable to render services. UK and Nigeria were both faced with challenges during the lockdown. Some UK libraries could not optimally provide services due to insufficient licenses for digital content. In Nigeria, there were several socio-technical issues such as inadequate staff access to computers and the internet, poor power supply, and a lack of ICT skills. The study concluded that university libraries in Nigeria should embrace more technology if they want to be effective in their operations and be able to compete favourably in the global space.
AB - This study examined how automation systems enhanced the operations of university libraries in Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reviewed literature on the extent of automation, effectiveness of the use of automation technology and ascertained the challenges of automation in the operations of university libraries during COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Findings revealed that most university libraries in the UK are fully automated while university libraries in Nigeria are either partially automated or not automated. During the COVID-19 lockdown, university libraries in the UK were able to provide services, while Nigerian libraries were unable to render services. UK and Nigeria were both faced with challenges during the lockdown. Some UK libraries could not optimally provide services due to insufficient licenses for digital content. In Nigeria, there were several socio-technical issues such as inadequate staff access to computers and the internet, poor power supply, and a lack of ICT skills. The study concluded that university libraries in Nigeria should embrace more technology if they want to be effective in their operations and be able to compete favourably in the global space.
KW - Covid-19
KW - university libraries
KW - automation
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-28032-0_19
DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-28032-0_19
M3 - Chapter
SN - 9783031280313
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science
SP - 238
EP - 244
BT - Information for a Better World
A2 - Sserwanga, Isaac
A2 - Goulding, Anne
A2 - Moulaison-Sandy, Heather
A2 - Du, Jia Tina
A2 - Soares, António Lucas
A2 - Hessami, Viviane
A2 - Frank, Rebecca D.
PB - Springer
CY - Cham, Switzerland
ER -