CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF 5TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND ROLES OF ACADEMIC LIBRARIANS IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION LIBRARIES IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated challenges and opportunities of 5th Industrial Revolution and the changing roles of academic librarians in Colleges of Education Libraries in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study was guided by descriptive research design. The study population consisted 45 of academic librarians in College of Education libraries in Gombe State, Nigeria. Since the total number of academic librarians was not large, census method was used to gather the data. This study integrated quantitative methods approaches which allow richer and better result for every unit of the population that was studied. The study also found that that challenges of poor skills and competencies, poor knowledge of handling digital technologies, financial constraints and lack of stable power supply to improve digital information service delivery were still pertinent among College of Education libraries in Gombe State. The findings of the study indicated that the librarians leverage on the opportunities of the 5 industrial revolution to connect cyber, virtual and physical space in advancing the information service delivery in libraries. The paper concluded that the opportunities brought by 5 industrial revolution have advance information service delivery in recent time. The paper recommended that knowledge of digital technology should be strengthened to enhance productivity in the delivery of information by librarians in college of education libraries.