MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES AND CONTEMPRORARY LIBRARY SERVICES DELIVERY IN DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, ABRAKA

Abstract

The study investigated the use of mobile technology in the delivery of contemporary library services in the Delta State University library. The study adopted a descriptive suivcy
design with a population of33 librarians in the Delta State University library. The total
enumeration sampling technique was used to select the respondents. A questionnaire was
used to gatherthe data, and they mere analysed using mean scores and simple percentages.
Thefindings ofthe study revealed that mobile technologies such as mobile phones, tablets,
and laptops were poorly usedforlibrary service delivery. The study also revealed that SMS
was the only service delivered by most ofthe respondents using mobile technologi/. Ou the
other hand, current awareness services, digital reference services, selective disseniiiialion
ofinfdrmntiori, information repackaging, and OPAC are poorly delivered using mobile
technologies. Tlte studyalso revealed that the respondents used mobile technology to access
social media platforms and interact zuith users, sent notification messages to users via
mobile phone, and used mobile technology to update library news and events. However,
lack ofpolicy on the use ofmobile technologyfor library services, iiiadequnte skills, and
nonchalant attitudes ofstafftowards the use ofmobile technologies in libraries were the
challengesfaced by the librarians in the use of mobile technologiesfor libnin/ services.
Thus, the study recommended, among others, that library tnanagenieiit should foniiiilute
policies to encourage the use of mobile technologies in library services.
Keywords: Mobile technologies; mobile devices; ICT skills, contemporary library services