Use of Social Media for Enhanced Service Delivery by Libraries in Nigerian Universities: Challenges and Solutions

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to establish the exact social media tools in use in the university libraries and the services rendered with them with a view to finding solutions to the challenges associated with their use. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The study population was made up six (6) university libraries in three geo-political zones in Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in the study. Structured interview, observation of websites and documentary evidence were the instruments used for data collection. Findings from the study revealed that the social media tools are not effectively utilized by the libraries in their service delivery. The key factor identified as the challenge to effective use of social media platforms in service delivery to the users was ‘apathy on the side of the library management’. Others were; lack of time, unavailability of personnel with sufficient skills, Internet services’ disruption, etc. Suggestions were also made to mitigate these challenges.