DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS INDICATORS AND SERVICE DELIVERY OF LIBRARIANS IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

Library service delivery provides interaction between librarians and library users to satisfy their academic goals. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of digital literacy skills indicators on service delivery of librarians in public universities in North-Central Nigeria. The study adopted the survey research design. The population comprised 274 professional librarians in public universities in North-Central Nigeria. A sample size of 274 was determined using total enumeration to select the respondents. A validated, structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient for the variables ranged from 0.97 to 0.96. A return rate of 89.8% was achieved. Descriptive and inferential (linear and multiple regression) statistics were used to analyse
the data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that digital literacy skills indicators (Adj.R2 = 0.423, F (6, 245) = 30.921, p < 0.05) had a significant influence on librarians' service delivery. The finding of the study revealed that the librarians strongly agreed to the perceptions held in their service delivery. This implies that the librarians deliver library services with empathy, responsiveness, reliable, tangible and with assurance. The finding also revealed that the level of digital literacy skill of the librarians is very
high. This implies that to a very high extent, the librarians have the ability to access, locate, search, use, communicate and evaluate information. The result further reveals that the librarians have the ability to search, while ability to evaluate had the lowest. The study recommend services should be improved among librarians, and also librarians should improve on their digital literacy skills especially on how to search, access, use, and communicate information as these are necessary that librarians are not left behind. This could be achieved by giving adequate training and orientation, sensitization, attending seminars and workshop.