Digital Literacy and Skills of Information Professionals in the 21st Century

Abstract

In a time of rapid technological development and constantly growing digital environment,
information professionals are essential to the efficient management, organization and sharing of
knowledge. To understand and take advantage of the changing technology platforms, these
professionals need to possess strong digital literacy and technological abilities in addition to
their traditional competencies. This study examined expected digital literacy and skills required
of information professionals in the 21st Century. Survey research design was adopted for this
study. The population of the study consisted of 49 library personnel from Fatiu Ademola
Akesode Library, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Total enumeration was adopted
for the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection and data collected was analysed using
frequency counts, simple percentages, standard deviation. The results were presented in tables
and percentages. The findings revealed that the level of digital literacy skills of library
personnel in Fatiu Ademola Akesode Library was high. Attendance of trainings on digital
literacy exposed the respondents to the current skills and trends in ICT. Institutional support
and sponsorship to attend trainings motivates the respondent, making them to be more
productive. Digital literacy tools mostly used by information professionals include Facebook,
Youtube and Snapchat (social media tools), Google and yahoo (search engines), KOHA and
Libib (Library Management Software) and Google meet and zoom (web conferencing tools).
Challenges to digital literacy skills acquisition were inability of respondents to access the
central internet from their respective offices, uncooperative attitude of ICT personnel in the
institution to provide assistance when needed and biased selection of candidates for sponsored
trainings. Digital literacy and skills are requisite skills required of information professionals.
Therefore, library management should encourage information professionals to attend trainings,
workshops and conferences on digital literacy skills. Library management should also provide
internet connection and stable electricity supply within the library at all times.