DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND INNOVATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NORTH - WEST, NIGERIA

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Date
2024
Authors
MUSA, Shittu
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The benefits of innovative service delivery in the libraries include enhanced user experience, increased efficiency on information retrieval and access to resources by users. Studies have established that innovative service delivery in many university libraries in North-West, Nigeria is low. Digital literacy skills (photo-visual, reproduction, branching, socio-emotional, information literacies) and knowledge management practices (knowledge creation, knowledge sharing, and knowledge application) have been established as factors that enhance innovation. However, there is scarce empirical evidence on the combined influence of digital literacy skills and knowledge management practices on innovative service delivery in libraries in North-West, Nigeria. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of digital literacy skills and knowledge management practices on innovative service delivery in university libraries in North-West, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 452 academic librarians in federal, state and private universities in North-West, Nigeria. Krejcie and Morgan table was used to determine the sample size of 210. A structured and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach‟s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.77 to 0.85. Response rate of 93% was achieved. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential (simple linear and multiple regression) statistics at 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that digital literacy skills and knowledge management practices had a joint significant influence on innovative service delivery (Adj.R2 = 0.64, F (8, 195) = 172.62, p < 0.05) in university libraries in North-West, Nigeria. Digital literacy skills (Adj.R2 = 0.58, F (5, 195) = 272.42, p < 0.05), and knowledge management practices (Adj.R2 = 0.60, F (3, 195) = 292.98, p < 0.05) had a positive significant influence on innovative service delivery. Knowledge management indicators: knowledge creation (β = 3.03, t = 4.87, p < 0.05) and knowledge application (β = 0.86, t = 1.99, p < 0.05) had significant influence on innovative service delivery, while knowledge sharing (β = 0.89, t = 1.60, p > 0.05) had insignificant influence on innovative service. Also, digital literacy indicators: photo-visual literacy skill (β = 1.22, t = 2.56, p < 0.05), branching literacy skill (β = 1.52, t = 2.87, p < 0.05) and socioemotional literacy skill (β = 1.32, t = 3.77, p < 0.05) had significant influence on innovative service delivery. However, Information literacy skill (β = 0.04, t = 0.09, p > 0.05) and reproduction literacy skill (β = -0.51, t = -1.11, p > 0.05) had no significant influence on innovative service delivery. The study concluded that digital literacy skills and knowledge management practices enhanced innovative service delivery in university libraries in North-West, Nigeria. The study recommended that knowledge sharing should be encouraged by the library managements. Also, training in emerging technology should be prioritized to enhance the relevance of librarians. Keywords: Digital literacy skills, Innovation, Innovative service delivery, Knowledge management practices, Service delivery Word Count: 497
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THESIS SUBMITTED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BABCOCK UNIVERSITY, ILISHAN REMO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA