Emerging Roles of Libraries in Creating Synergy between Service Delivery and Technology Integrationin Academic Libraries: An Overview

Abstract

Libraries are undergoing significant transformations to adapt to the changing needs of their
communities. Service delivery through emerging technology is a recent trend in library and
information science. On this note, this study is carried out to ascertain the roles of libraries in
creating synergy between library service delivery and technology integration in academic
libraries. Roles of libraries in service delivery were highlighted and emerging technologies that
can be adapted in libraries were also identified. It was discovered that in developing countries
like Nigeria, awareness about applications of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence,
Virtual and Augmented Reality, Black-chain Technology, Cloud computing, IoT are not
elaborating. Emerging technology and its development have given rise to the new roles of
libraries to navigate the future, such as shifting the role of libraries from controlling access to
information facilitating discovery; redefining the roles of libraries to inclusive services that
cater to diverse user needs which include accessibility and language support; shifting the role of
libraries from collection centered to user centered design and so on. These roles have greatly
improved the accessibility of information, enhanced user experience and facilitated the efficient
management of library services delivery. However, libraries also faced many challenges in
implementing these new technologies, such as cyber-security threats, changing in information
seeking behaviours, lack of technical expertise, lack of clear policies and lots more. To
overcome these challenges requires a proactive approach, such as investment in staff training,
collaboration with technology partners and development of active policies to ensure the effective
and responsible use of technologies. With these, libraries can navigate the future, stay relevant
and continue to provide vital services and support to their communities.