Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices 9781668459652, 1668459655

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Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices Victoria Okojie University of Abuja, Nigeria Magnus Osahon Igbinovia Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria

A volume in the Advances in Library and Information Science (ALIS) Book Series

Published in the United States of America by IGI Global Information Science Reference (an imprint of IGI Global) 701 E. Chocolate Avenue Hershey PA, USA 17033 Tel: 717-533-8845 Fax: 717-533-8661 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: http://www.igi-global.com Copyright © 2023 by IGI Global. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without written permission from the publisher. Product or company names used in this set are for identification purposes only. Inclusion of the names of the products or companies does not indicate a claim of ownership by IGI Global of the trademark or registered trademark. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Okojie, Victoria, editor. | Igbinovia, Magnus Osahon, DATE- editor. Title: Global perspectives on sustainable library practices / Victoria Okojie and Magnus Osahon Igbinovia, editors. Description: Hershey, PA : Information Science Reference, [2023] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “The aim of this book is to provide a rich and robust knowledge resource that brings together diverse sustainable library practices that will revamp library operations towards optimally meeting the current objectives of libraries as a developmental institution, as well as sustaining value for future operations and service transactions”-- Provided by publisher. Identifiers: LCCN 2022027242 (print) | LCCN 2022027243 (ebook) | ISBN 9781668459645 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781668459683 (paperback) | ISBN 9781668459652 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Libraries--Information technology. | Libraries--Information technology--Africa. | Academic libraries--Information technology. | Sustainability. | Sustainable development. Classification: LCC Z678.9 .G573 2023 (print) | LCC Z678.9 (ebook) | DDC 025--dc23/eng/20220804 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022027242 LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022027243 This book is published in the IGI Global book series Advances in Library and Information Science (ALIS) (ISSN: 23264136; eISSN: 2326-4144)

British Cataloguing in Publication Data A Cataloguing in Publication record for this book is available from the British Library. All work contributed to this book is new, previously-unpublished material. The views expressed in this book are those of the authors, but not necessarily of the publisher. For electronic access to this publication, please contact: [email protected].

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The Advances in Library and Information Science (ALIS) Book Series is comprised of high quality, research-oriented publications on the continuing developments and trends affecting the public, school, and academic fields, as well as specialized libraries and librarians globally. These discussions on professional and organizational considerations in library and information resource development and management assist in showcasing the latest methodologies and tools in the field. The ALIS Book Series aims to expand the body of library science literature by covering a wide range of topics affecting the profession and field at large. The series also seeks to provide readers with an essential resource for uncovering the latest research in library and information science management, development, and technologies.

Coverage

• Patron-Driven Acquisitions (PDA) • Green Libraries • Librarianship and Human Rights • RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) • Library Performance and Service • Digital Libraries • Librarian Education • Return on Investment (ROI) in Libraries • Discovery Tools • Journal Collections

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Titles in this Series

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Handbook of Research on Academic Libraries as Partners in Data Science Ecosystems Nandita S. Mani (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA) and Michelle A. Cawley (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA) Information Science Reference • © 2022 • 415pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799897026) • US $270.00 Technological Advancements in Library Service Innovation Manika Lamba (University of Delhi, India) Information Science Reference • © 2022 • 300pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799889427) • US $215.00 Handbook of Research on Emerging Trends and Technologies in Librarianship Innocent Isa Ekoja (Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria) Esoswo Francisca Ogbomo (Delta State University, Nigeria) and Omorodion Okuonghae (Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Nigeria) Information Science Reference • © 2022 • 430pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799890942) • US $270.00 Handbook of Research on the Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities Mohamed Taher (Canadian Multifaith Federation, Canada) Information Science Reference • © 2022 • 565pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799883630) • US $325.00 Handbook of Research on Knowledge and Organization Systems in Library and Information Science Barbara Jane Holland (Brooklyn Public Library, USA (retired) & Independent Researcher, USA) Information Science Reference • © 2021 • 574pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799872580) • US $295.00 Handbook of Research on Information and Records Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Josiline Phiri Chigwada (Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe) and Godfrey Tsvuura (Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe) Information Science Reference • © 2021 • 407pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799877400) • US $270.00 Data Analysis and Methods of Qualitative Research Emerging Research and Opportunities Silas Memory Madondo (CeDRE International Africa, Zimbabwe) Information Science Reference • © 2021 • 249pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799885498) • US $185.00 Handbook of Research on Library Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Barbara Holland (Brooklyn Public Library, USA) Information Science Reference • © 2021 • 537pp • H/C (ISBN: 9781799864493) • US $305.00

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Table of Contents

Foreword.............................................................................................................................................. xvi Preface................................................................................................................................................. xvii Chapter 1 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria............ 1 Oluwabunmi Dorcas Bakare, Lead City University, Nigeria Chapter 2 Sustainable Information Technology Practice in Libraries.................................................................... 22 Bosede Adeyinka Ayinla, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria Kolawole Akinjide Aramide, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Chapter 3 Integrated Library System as a Panacea to Sustainable Library Services Delivery in an Era of Pandemic................................................................................................................................................ 43 Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Nigeria Chapter 4 Library Digitization: Values and Challenges......................................................................................... 57 Michael Chinweike Chigbundu, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria Bukunmi Wuraola Kehinde, Osun State University, Nigeria Oyeronke Oyetunji, Methodist Theological Institute, Nigeria Chapter 5 Modern Security Systems in Libraries.................................................................................................. 65 Sotonye Orji, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Juliet Chinedu Alex-Nmecha, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Chapter 6 Implementing Sustainability in Library Instruction: The Journey to Creating a Crowdsourced Mission Statement Informed by Positionalities and Core Values.......................................................... 75 Erin Renee Wahl, New Mexico State University, USA Kristin Kew, New Mexico State University, USA Jessica Theresa Zubia, New Mexico State University, USA 



Chapter 7 The Emergence of Web3 and Metaverse Technologies: Implications for Library and Information Services.................................................................................................................................................. 84 Joseph E. Longshak, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Chapter 8 The Role of Library Digitization in Access and Preservation of Library Resources.......................... 114 Michael Chinweike Chigbundu, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria Chapter 9 Green Libraries: Current Situation in Mexico..................................................................................... 130 Eugenia A. Ortega-Martinez, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA César Saavedra-Alamillas, Central Library, Mexico Humberto Martínez-Camacho, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico Chapter 10 Green Space Development in Academic Libraries: A Case Study in Hong Kong.............................. 142 Choi Yee Ho, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Dickson K. W. Chiu, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Kevin K. W. Ho, University of Tsukuba, Japan Chapter 11 The BIM Model as an Opportunity Area for Sustainable Processes in Green Library Buildings....... 157 Humberto Martínez-Camacho, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico César Saavedra-Alamillas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico Eugenia de los Ángeles Ortega-Martínez, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA Chapter 12 Sustainable Development Goals and Academic Libraries in Nigeria: An Approach to Realizing Environmental Sustainability............................................................................................................... 168 Ebubechukwu Arinze Okonkwo, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Godspower I. Chukwuma, Old Mutual, Nigeria Chapter 13 Towards Environmental Sustainability: Improving Waste Management Practices in Libraries.......... 175 Magnus Osahon Igbinovia, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria Vivien Oluchi Emmanuel, Rivers State University, Nigeria Smart Eromosele Ambrose, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria Chapter 14 Sustainable Reference Service Practices in the 21st Century.............................................................. 188 Ademola F. Omosekejimi, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria Angela Chiwendu Nweke, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, Nigeria Benjamin Kenechukwu Nwobu, Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Sylvester Israel Ebhonu, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Nigeria



Chapter 15 Towards Sustainability: Introducing Customer Care Representative Practices in Special Libraries of the 21st Century............................................................................................................................... 206 Sophia Vivian Adeyeye, Lead City University, Nigeria Chapter 16 Tinkering and Makerspaces for Sustainable Library Practices............................................................ 220 Priscilla Eghonghon Edobor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria Chapter 17 Role of Rural Librarians on the Provisions of Social Justice Education in South Africa.................... 227 Nkholedzeni Sidney Netshakhuma, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa Chapter 18 New Approaches to Rural Library Management in Nigeria: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development........................................................................................................................................ 243 Ebubechukwu Ezinwa Uba, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Nelly Nwamba Eni, Evangel University, Nigeria Chapter 19 Library Education in Africa: A Foundational Perspective.................................................................. 252 Peter Olubunmi Olubiyo, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria Chapter 20 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Blockchain Era.................................................................... 263 Joseph E. Longshak, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Samuel A. Oyeboade, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Mohammed S. Abdullahi, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Kayla Mayetaherhe Chanai, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Chapter 21 Academic Libraries in Africa and Funding......................................................................................... 297 Abu Ahmed Adamu, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya Yahaya Abdullahi Isah, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria Ajayi Stephen Adekunle, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Nigeria Chapter 22 Integrating the “Human Library” Concept in Academic Libraries to Facilitate Tacit Knowledge Transfer: Prospects and Anticipated Challenges.................................................................................. 307 Pearl Owusua Amanquah, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana Harriet Fosua Attafuah, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana Christopher M. Owusu-Ansah, Akenten Appiah-Menka University, Ghana Compilation of References................................................................................................................ 323 About the Contributors..................................................................................................................... 368 Index.................................................................................................................................................... 374

Detailed Table of Contents

Foreword.............................................................................................................................................. xvi Preface................................................................................................................................................. xvii Chapter 1 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria............ 1 Oluwabunmi Dorcas Bakare, Lead City University, Nigeria The sustainability of library services is the contemporary trend within the library global ecosystem in which emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, gamification, augmented reality, etc. are amply harnessed. These technologies have been adopted and are being used for the sustainable provision of library services in developed countries. But in a developing country like Nigeria, there are myriads challenges that are mitigating its adoption and use. The chapter discussed the sustainable library service delivery process driven by emerging technologies and situated the five laws of library science within the discourse to show its relevance in this era. The study revealed a lacuna that librarians are not evolving at the desirable pace of infusing emerging technologies into the nitty-gritty of service delivery. Therefore, the study recommends a change in disposition to these technologies, which are enablers and not a threat to librarians. Chapter 2 Sustainable Information Technology Practice in Libraries.................................................................... 22 Bosede Adeyinka Ayinla, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria Kolawole Akinjide Aramide, University of Ibadan, Nigeria Information technology is a crucial tool required for the growth of all sectors in any nation. Undoubtedly, its application in libraries contributes significantly to meeting people’s information needs since libraries are essential in providing information services to information seekers. Thus, a well-organized library should have sustained information technology to assist in providing correct and timely services to its patrons. This chapter used current and relevant research findings and papers to explain various economic and social sustainability issues and challenges confronting IT adoption and practices in libraries. Similarly, it used recent research in cloud computing to explain some environmental sustainability issues related to information technology in libraries.

 



Chapter 3 Integrated Library System as a Panacea to Sustainable Library Services Delivery in an Era of Pandemic................................................................................................................................................ 43 Emmanuel Chidiadi Onwubiko, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Nigeria The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that most organizations have adopted new ways of working with a view to satisfying their teeming customers with many employees now working remotely and interacting virtually with customers and coworkers. This has indeed redefined working trends since 2020, and librarians and libraries are no exceptions. This chapter therefore is an overview of the concept ‘pandemic’, the impact on library services, as well as the place of integrated library system (ILS) as a panacea to sustainable library services delivery in an era of pandemic and recommendations. Chapter 4 Library Digitization: Values and Challenges......................................................................................... 57 Michael Chinweike Chigbundu, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria Bukunmi Wuraola Kehinde, Osun State University, Nigeria Oyeronke Oyetunji, Methodist Theological Institute, Nigeria Digitization is the process of converting a non-digital document to a digital document that can be accessed, processed, and used on a computer. Digitization plays valuable roles in libraries. It helps with preserving library documents, enhancing wider access to library documents, helps with curbing plagiarism, helps with promoting global visibility of the parent’s institution, and helps with reducing cost of purchasing library books. Despite these benefits, there exist some universities that are yet to embark on library digitization. This chapter discusses the values of library digitization and some challenges that intending libraries might face when embarking on library digitization. The chapter in addition discusses digitization workflow and gave some recommendations on library digitization best practices. Chapter 5 Modern Security Systems in Libraries.................................................................................................. 65 Sotonye Orji, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Juliet Chinedu Alex-Nmecha, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria One of the most significant difficulties facing libraries and librarians is security. Theft, mutilation, as well as other maltreatment of information resources have posed a significant challenge to the library profession around the world. This study highlights the many physical, environmental, and digital data security systems that are used for library security purposes, as well as the various security measures used in modern libraries. The study looked at some electronic security systems, such as CCTV, RFID, 3M security systems, smart cards, biometrics, access control systems, electromagnetic systems, etc. that are deployed in libraries. The challenges facing library security systems were highlighted, and the study recommends that libraries should give priority to security in their budgets, purchase modern security devices, design and implement effective and efficient security policies, as well as sensitize users and personnel on security issues.



Chapter 6 Implementing Sustainability in Library Instruction: The Journey to Creating a Crowdsourced Mission Statement Informed by Positionalities and Core Values.......................................................... 75 Erin Renee Wahl, New Mexico State University, USA Kristin Kew, New Mexico State University, USA Jessica Theresa Zubia, New Mexico State University, USA This chapter shares the process and rationale behind a library workshop with the Reference and Research Services Department and Archives and Special Collections Department at the New Mexico State University Library. The workshop was part of a grassroots social justice initiative aimed at forming a more equitable and sustainable library instruction program. The concepts of equity, economy, and environment taken from the 4th U.N. Sustainable Development Goal and the extant literature in the fields of library instruction and educational leadership were utilized to plan and implement this workshop and research. Holmes’s definition of positionality was used as the theoretical framework. This chapter unpacks the learning and reflection from an initial meeting with library staff to craft individual positionality statements that will be used to co-create a crowdsourced mission statement informed by positionality and core values. Chapter 7 The Emergence of Web3 and Metaverse Technologies: Implications for Library and Information Services.................................................................................................................................................. 84 Joseph E. Longshak, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria This chapter seeks to examine the concepts Web 3.0 and Metaverse, where and how it is being applied to enhance library services, and the potential application by libraries to improve their resources and enhance their services. The concept of the Web 3.0 encompasses nonfungible tokens (NFT), decentralised finance (DeFi), decentralised autonomous organisations (DAO), decentralised applications (DApps), decentralised exchanges (DEX), game finance (GameFi), finance (GameFi). The concept of Metaverse (which comprises connectivity technologies, human interface, experience) is broadly based on distributed ledger technology (DLT). The types and features of the technologies shall be discussed in detail. This shall be followed by an exploration of evidence that libraries are applying these technologies to improve their resources and enhance their services consequently. Chapter 8 The Role of Library Digitization in Access and Preservation of Library Resources.......................... 114 Michael Chinweike Chigbundu, Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria Digitization implies conversion of a paper document to a digital document. The main reasons for library digitization are to enhance access and preservation of library resources. Despite the benefits of library digitization, it is disheartening to know that while libraries in developed countries are putting in efforts digitizing their resources, little effort is being put by libraries in developing countries to digitize their resources. Hence, this chapter attempts to create awareness of the importance of library digitization in the preservation and enhancement of access of library resources. In addition to discussing the roles of library digitization in preservation and enhancement of access of library resources, the chapter also discussed some digitization tools, some misconceptions of library digitization, stages of library digitization, and some challenges of library digitization. Some recommendations were also given in the chapter.



Chapter 9 Green Libraries: Current Situation in Mexico..................................................................................... 130 Eugenia A. Ortega-Martinez, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA César Saavedra-Alamillas, Central Library, Mexico Humberto Martínez-Camacho, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico Universities and libraries are applying the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in their academic planning, but this study shows the current situation with the green libraries in the country. The aim of this study is to explore how sustainable 30 academic libraries are. Beyond an analysis of library spaces, this study explains the perspective of their librarians, management of resources, and care of the environment as a part of their day-by-day activities. A survey was submitted, and all the participants described their definitions and approach to the topic. As a result, this study found that the perception of sustainability in academic libraries has a significant connotation towards the issue of budgets and space design, not towards water use, recycling, and electricity use, among other aspects. Finally, this study suggests some good practices of sustainability for the academic library. Chapter 10 Green Space Development in Academic Libraries: A Case Study in Hong Kong.............................. 142 Choi Yee Ho, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Dickson K. W. Chiu, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Kevin K. W. Ho, University of Tsukuba, Japan This study investigates the recent green development in the main library of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the construction of the library’s new wing and the students’ opinions on its green development. This study adopted a qualitative research method to collect information from 10 users about the green features implemented and their influence. Another interview with the campus development office project manager responsible for the library facilities was also included to explore the current and potential future green practices. These methods aim to evaluate the green development in an academic library from three perspectives, including (1) the library’s role in green development in terms of library facilities, (2) users’ demand relating to greening the library, and (3) the influence caused by the greening activities of the library. Chapter 11 The BIM Model as an Opportunity Area for Sustainable Processes in Green Library Buildings....... 157 Humberto Martínez-Camacho, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico César Saavedra-Alamillas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico Eugenia de los Ángeles Ortega-Martínez, Kathryn A. Martin Library, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA The purpose of this chapter is to review the literature on green buildings and the BIM model to see in which aspects of the sustainable library this technology can be implemented in to identify areas of opportunity to introduce the BIM model in green libraries. It is important to note that a search in major databases such as Scopus and Web of Science has identified a considerable number of academic papers that talk about green libraries, green buildings, BIM model, and BIM model in green buildings; however, there is still no literature on green libraries using green BIM. In this sense, the chapter offers the current view on green buildings, green libraries, and BIM model and the possible future implications of the use of technology and BIM model in libraries to increase processes, reduce margins of error in construction, costs, and waste of resources. The present research opens a wide range of possibilities for information exchange and opportunities for green library construction and remodeling, especially in developing countries.



Chapter 12 Sustainable Development Goals and Academic Libraries in Nigeria: An Approach to Realizing Environmental Sustainability............................................................................................................... 168 Ebubechukwu Arinze Okonkwo, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Godspower I. Chukwuma, Old Mutual, Nigeria Besides the objectives of academic institutions involving research, learning, and teaching, the role of academic libraries taking the centre stage in Nigeria’s development is of paramount importance. The existence of academic libraries in developing nations like Nigeria is important to ensure the well-being of the people. It is established that there is a link between academic libraries and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. A survey around the Sustainable Development Goals set up by the United Nations was taken, and it was established how academic libraries can meet them through environmental sustainability approaches. It is imperative to note here that the concept of environmental sustainability is linked to the concept of green libraries and their practices in academic libraries. This work relies heavily on previous works of literature, policies and proposals that have earlier existed, and a critical analysis of the practices observed in academic libraries. Chapter 13 Towards Environmental Sustainability: Improving Waste Management Practices in Libraries.......... 175 Magnus Osahon Igbinovia, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria Vivien Oluchi Emmanuel, Rivers State University, Nigeria Smart Eromosele Ambrose, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria The chapter theoretically examines the improvement of waste management in academic libraries as a stride towards ensuring environmental sustainability in line with the United Nations’ agenda for sustainable development. The chapter in its introductory part established the place of waste management within the development framework. It exposes the concept and practices of waste management in libraries with particular reference to reusing, recycling, pulverization, repairing, and effective disposal. Thereafter, global best practices in waste management applicable to libraries were examined. The chapter also investigated the strategies and challenges to the implementation of waste management in libraries. Conclusion and recommendations were made accordingly. Chapter 14 Sustainable Reference Service Practices in the 21st Century.............................................................. 188 Ademola F. Omosekejimi, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria Angela Chiwendu Nweke, Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos, Nigeria Benjamin Kenechukwu Nwobu, Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria Sylvester Israel Ebhonu, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Nigeria This chapter focused on sustainable reference service practices in the 21st century. The chapter discussed issues relating to overview of reference service, traditional reference services, reference resources prior ICT proliferation, reference service practices in the 21st century. Also, issues relating to 21st century reference sources/resources, advantages of electronic/virtual reference service, sustaining reference service practices in the 21st century, as well as sustainability challenges of 21st century reference service practices were all discussed. The chapter reviewed significant literature on the topic of discussion, and the researcher used Google to obtain scholarly papers from open access databases that are relevant to the study, which provided the basis for the reviewed literature.



Chapter 15 Towards Sustainability: Introducing Customer Care Representative Practices in Special Libraries of the 21st Century............................................................................................................................... 206 Sophia Vivian Adeyeye, Lead City University, Nigeria Customer satisfaction is the central focus of typical library and information services and operations. The chapter examines the extent to which CC services assumed reliable strategies for proactive 21st-century librarians in making their services relevant and impactful towards the satisfaction of the information needs of their customers (clientele). It also made an effort to discover the significance of the customer care (CC) in the special library with respect to its application in boosting absolute customer satisfaction. Recommendations made at the end of the study emphasize the adoption of customer care practices and principles by 21st century librarians towards better customer service delivery among other benefits. Chapter 16 Tinkering and Makerspaces for Sustainable Library Practices............................................................ 220 Priscilla Eghonghon Edobor, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria Libraries all over the world have been tasked with the responsibility of not just providing knowledge but making users producers of knowledge. Tinkering and makerspaces provide users with serene and adequate environments for learning, innovation, tinkering ability, development, collaboration, knowledge creation, and sharing. These spaces are in two categories, which are the high-tech and the low-tech makerspaces. Both technologies offer adequate opportunities for innovation and productivity. This chapter examined tinkering and makerspaces for sustainable library practice, uses, makerspaces set up requirement in libraries, steps for development and benefit of makerspaces. The major benefit of creating makerspaces in libraries is that it fosters the development of users’ interpersonal communication, teamwork, leadership, and mentoring skills. The challenges facing the use of tinkering and makerspaces were also discussed and recommendations proffered. Libraries need to embrace and take advantage of this trend which will bring about positive development in sustainable library practices. Chapter 17 Role of Rural Librarians on the Provisions of Social Justice Education in South Africa.................... 227 Nkholedzeni Sidney Netshakhuma, University of Mpumalanga, South Africa This chapter assesses the state of rural South Africa on the availability of strategies, infrastructure, programs, information sharing, and skills. The conditions of rural community libraries were affected by limited budgets allocated by the South African government. The majority of rural community libraries are illiterate, impoverished, or marginalized because of the apartheid system. The study recommend rural librarians to provide education to rural communities because of the need to social justice education. This is important during the COVID-19 pandemic as disadvantaged communities need information. Chapter 18 New Approaches to Rural Library Management in Nigeria: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Development........................................................................................................................................ 243 Ebubechukwu Ezinwa Uba, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria Nelly Nwamba Eni, Evangel University, Nigeria This chapter explores new approaches to rural library management as a holistic approach to sustainable development in Nigeria. The aim is to search through existing works of literature and new approaches and opportunities for holistic sustainable development for rural libraries. This research depends on



secondary sources including existing literature and documentary research, featuring a critical analysis of relevant documents relating to rural librarianship and management in Nigeria. The central focus is the management of readers, resources, and staff. Chapter 19 Library Education in Africa: A Foundational Perspective.................................................................. 252 Peter Olubunmi Olubiyo, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria The concept of library developed when people started reading and writing, but the need of library education was felt in the late 19th century when the concept of library changed from store house to service institution. Globalization of education, complex nature of demands of the users, explosion of knowledge and literature, and innovation of information technology also had a role to play in the establishment of library schools which bring about library education all over the world. As a result, a large number of library and information science (LIS) schools were set up to produce competent professionals who could achieve the objectives of libraries and information centres effectively and efficiently for library sustainability. Librarianship in Africa owes its origin to colonialism. The history of library education was traced in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. The chapter concluded that the existing ICT laboratories in all library schools in Africa should be well equipped while the library schools without laboratories should be encouraged to establish one. Chapter 20 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Blockchain Era.................................................................... 263 Joseph E. Longshak, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Samuel A. Oyeboade, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Mohammed S. Abdullahi, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Kayla Mayetaherhe Chanai, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria The chapter examines the concept of intellectual property right protection in the emerging blockchain era. Libraries may not keep all forms of intellectual property in their custody, but keep information about them. It is therefore important to examine the implication of the emergence of DLT, blockchain, Web 3.0, the Metaverse, and other related technologies to the library and information industry. The progress and well-being of humanity depend on our capacity to come up with new ideas and creations. The importance of information and information technology in the global marketplace is so strong that companies that possess the appropriate knowledge are often more profitable than their competitors. Intellectual property is widely acknowledged today as a key component of economic development. Chapter 21 Academic Libraries in Africa and Funding......................................................................................... 297 Abu Ahmed Adamu, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya Yahaya Abdullahi Isah, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria Ajayi Stephen Adekunle, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Nigeria This chapter discusses academic libraries and how they’ve been funded. It shows that funding has been a major problem facing the development of academic libraries in Africa. However, the study found that inadequately skilled librarians, poor image of librarians, and inadequate infrastructure are some of the challenges facing the financing of academic libraries. Since the government is the major source of funding for academic libraries, and its funding is inadequate for the smooth operation of libraries, the need to



source alternative sources of financing cannot be over-emphasized. Alternative sources of funding like funding raising through social media, provision of consultancy services, and endowment funds, among others were found to be important in ensuring proper financing of academic libraries in Africa. This study recommends that appointment to the Headship of the library should be based on how the librarian can provide a clear, detailed, and achievable blueprint on how to generate funds for the library. Chapter 22 Integrating the “Human Library” Concept in Academic Libraries to Facilitate Tacit Knowledge Transfer: Prospects and Anticipated Challenges.................................................................................. 307 Pearl Owusua Amanquah, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana Harriet Fosua Attafuah, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Ghana Christopher M. Owusu-Ansah, Akenten Appiah-Menka University, Ghana In recent times, academic libraries are expected to reposition themselves to maintain their value by introducing innovative services to meet the constant changes in user information needs. This chapter explores the concept of human library and how it may be exploited in the transfer of tacit knowledge in academic institutions and their libraries. Some benefits identified are the interactive nature of human libraries which brings back the natural mode of human communication, the opportunity to promote individual growth, and the collection of living books which serve as an educational resource. The study concludes that although adopting the human library concept has some anticipated challenges, it can help facilitate the transfer of tacit knowledge in academic institutions. Hence, there is a need for academic libraries to adopt this concept as part of their innovative and creative initiatives. Compilation of References................................................................................................................ 323 About the Contributors..................................................................................................................... 368 Index.................................................................................................................................................... 374

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Foreword

I am delighted to write the foreword to this book on Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices edited by Victoria Okojie and Magnus Osahon Igbinovia. The book with over 300 pages is a veritable knowledge resource which brought together diverse innovative and sustainable library practices that reflect the fundamental objectives of libraries as drivers of development at the local, national and global levels. Effective and efficient service delivery to users in sustainable ways is the raison d’etre that underpins the relevance of libraries to society. Therefore, the need for libraries to constantly re-invent themselves in order to remain the trusted source of information for users in an evolving and dynamic society is a sine qua non to their survival in the twenty first century. In view of these, the book critically examined and discussed topical issues on sustainable library practices in the information ecosystem. An in-depth examination was made on the exciting opportunities that the application of Emerging Technologies (EMTs) such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics and Data Visualization, Social Media Technologies (SMTs), Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), Gamification and Blockchain Technology (BCT) provide for libraries. It went further to discuss the impact of Information technology on economic, social and environmental sustainability of libraries, including Consortia Model, License Negotiation, Collaboration and Pay Per Use Initiatives (PPU), open access initiative, policy and legal issues, cloud computing, reduction in energy use, Decrease Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and virtualisation for sustainability. The value of digitization and modern security systems in enhancing sustainability through improved access to information and preservation of library resources were also examined. Other interesting practices that facilitate sustainability which were discussed included rural community library services, education and training of librarians, alternative funding models, the changing work practices and service models in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, tinkering and makerspaces, Intellectual Property Rights in the blockchain era, libraries and social justice. Examining the correlation between Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and libraries, the role of libraries in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as how tacit knowledge can be transferred through the ‘human library’ are a must read! In essence, the book provides great insights into how libraries can continue to change lives, change societies and change the world through sustainable practices. It is an excellent ready reference for all library and information professionals and students, as well as for those who want to learn more about how to enhance sustainable practices in libraries. It’s clear, lucid, and simple language makes it easy to read. I strongly recommend the book Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices to all. Gloria Perez-Salmeron Stichting IFLA Global Libraries Foundation, Spain

 

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Preface

Libraries have reinvented themselves for continuous relevance amidst alternative information sources and have shown capacity to contribute to the development of humanity. As such, libraries around the world are setting up structures to sustain relevance in the information ecosystem and providing services that are sustainable in nature, in line with the tenens of sustainable development. The book therefore examined sustainable library practices in a bid to optimally meet the ever-changing information needs of users, without compromising the chances of meeting the information needs of future users. The book is global in content as authors are drawn from different countries including China, Ghana, Nigeria, United States of America, Mexico and South Africa. The book harnesses subjects across a wide spectrum of librarianship. The subjects treated in the book include sustainable library buildings, emerging and sustainable technologies in libraries, innovative library services, alternative funding, environmental sustainability in libraries, digitization and modern security in libraries. Consequently, the book is a veritable information source for library practitioners/ librarians, library educators, students (at undergraduate and postgraduate levels), policy makers and library administrators. It will facilitate teaching, learning, research and decision making in the Library and Information Science (LIS) profession, especially as most areas treated in the book are contemporary issues in the library and information science profession. Chapter 1 discusses Emerging Technologies (EMTs) in contemporary libraries and how they drive sustainable library service delivery. The chapter particularly focused on EMTs like Artificial Intelligence (AI), big data analytics and data visualization, Social Media Technologies (SMTs), Internet of Thing (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), gamification and Blockchain Technology (BCT). The applications of these EMTs in libraries were situated in the context of the five laws of library science. The chapter therefore provided a basis for the application of EMTs in the provision of sustainable library services in Nigeria libraries and by extension in libraries across the globe. Chapter 2 provides a robust knowledge on sustainable information technology practices in libraries using the tripartite sustainability model. Consequently, the chapter addresses information technology practices impact on economic, social and environmental sustainabilities. Under economic sustainability, grants application alternative, Income Generation, Consortia Model, License Negotiation, Collaboration and Pay Per Use Initiatives (PPU) were treated. Under social sustainability, Human Information Behaviour (HIB), information and technology literacy, open access initiative, and policy and legal issues were treated. While under environmental sustainability, cloud computing, reduction in energy use, Decrease Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and virtualisation for sustainability were treated.



Preface

In Chapter 3, notable roles of libraries were examined in the era of pandemic. Also, Integrated Library System (ILS) as a panacea to sustainable library services delivery was also discussed. The chapter thereafter provided steps towards the implementation of ILS in providing sustainable information services in libraries. Chapter 4 examined the values and challenges of library digitization. The values treated in this chapter were easy access and preservation of documents, global visibility of parent institution, curbing plagiarism and cost reduction. Also, the chapter presents the digitization workflow which serves as a model for library digitization. Chapter 5 which was on modern security systems in libraries examined the various security gadgets in libraries and the challenges of library security system. Meanwhile, Chapter 6 considered the implementation of sustainability in library instruction. The chapter shares an experience from a workshop organized at the New Mexico State University Library. The workshop was part of a grassroots social justice initiative aimed at forming a more equitable and sustainable library instruction program, based on a crowdsourced mission statement informed by positionality and core values. Meanwhile Chapter 7 thoroughly examined the various Web3 and Metaverse technologies and their implication for library and information services. The meaning, history/evolution and characteristics of these concepts were discussed. The chapter also clarified the difference and similarities between these two concepts. The concepts were explained in the context of environmental sustainability and their application in libraries. Furthermore, Chapter 8 of the book treated the role of library digitization in the access and preservation of library resources, a stride towards sustainability in libraries. The chapter meticulously explained how digitization enhances access to library resources and provided a brief on the tools for library digitization. Then stages, misconceptions and challenges of library digitization were also exposed. In Chapter 9 of the book, there was an exposition on green libraries with particular reference to the Mexican green libraries. An analysis of the current situation was presented using 30 university libraries in Mexico. The chapter thereby provide practices and perspectives on green libraries in academic libraries which can serve as a guide for green library implementation in libraries. Chapter 10 of the book took a thorough view at the green library development at the main library of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). The chapter examined the influence of green features on the users as well as the green practices germane to library sustainability. The chapter therefore presents a model for the development of green library towards sustainable library practice. Meanwhile, Chapter 11 of the book introduces readers to Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its application to green buildings for sustainability in libraries. It also considered the environmental assessment of library buildings using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The chapter thus presents how technologies and BIM can provide environmental sustainability in libraries. Chapter 12 of the book gave an overview on realizing environmental sustainability in academic libraries as a stride towards sustainable development goals. The chapter unveils how academic libraries contribute to this global agenda through the environmental dimensions and the challenges they encounter in doing so. Moreover, Chapter 13 also discussed environmental sustainability with reference to how waste management practices can be improved in libraries. It exhaustively examined the concept and practices of waste management in libraries. The strategies and challenges to the implementation of waste management in libraries were also discussed. However, Chapter 14 of the book deliberated on reference service practices in the 21st Century. It examined the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to reference services, towards achieving sustainability in library practices. xviii

Preface

In Chapter 15 of the book, customer care representative practice was introduced to special libraries as an approach to sustainability. It exposed how customer care services can be handled in special libraries. It also examined how customer care experience can result to effective service delivery in special libraries. Also, Chapter 16 examined tinkering and makerspace as sustainable library practices. The chapter examined tinkering and makerspace technologies in libraries and the requirement for their setup. It also gave a cursory view at the benefits, challenges to establishing tinkering and makerspace in libraries. Chapter 17 of the book assessed the role of rural librarians on the provision of social justice education in South Africa. It examined the condition of rural community libraries and factors influencing the collection of marginalized records of rural community libraries. Chapter 18 of the book looked at the new approaches to rural library management towards sustainable development. The chapter x-rayed the challenges to rural library management and the current development of rural library management. It also examined the roles of capacity building and technology in enhancing rural library management for sustainable development. Chapter 19 examined library education in Africa and its implication for library sustainability. The historical development of library education was discussed in the context of Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. It also examined the challenges of library education and the changing nature of library education. Meanwhile, Chapter 20 examined the concept of intellectual property in the emerging blockchain era. It gave comparisons of intellectual property rights based on duration, subject and registration. The chapter also examined the correlation between Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and libraries, as well as discussed intellectual property issues and their implication to sustainable library and information services. Chapter 21 of the book scrutinized funding issues in Academic libraries with particular attention to those in Africa. It looked at the challenges to financing academic libraries and presents in detail the sustainable alternative sources of finance for these libraries. Lastly, Chapter 22 examined how tacit knowledge can be transferred in academic libraries through the ‘human library’ concept. It discussed the prospects of integrating ‘human library’ into academic library practices and the anticipated challenges. With the extensive deliberation of contemporary issues which are considered critical to sustainability of libraries in the 21st Century, this book entitled ‘Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices’ will provide gainful insights in transforming libraries and information centers to sustainable institutions capable of optimizing their resources and services for effective service delivery, now and in the future. Victoria Okojie University of Abuja, Nigeria Magnus Osahon Igbinovia Ambrose Alli University, Nigeria

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Chapter 1

Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria Oluwabunmi Dorcas Bakare https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4665-3969 Lead City University, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The sustainability of library services is the contemporary trend within the library global ecosystem in which emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, gamification, augmented reality, etc. are amply harnessed. These technologies have been adopted and are being used for the sustainable provision of library services in developed countries. But in a developing country like Nigeria, there are myriads challenges that are mitigating its adoption and use. The chapter discussed the sustainable library service delivery process driven by emerging technologies and situated the five laws of library science within the discourse to show its relevance in this era. The study revealed a lacuna that librarians are not evolving at the desirable pace of infusing emerging technologies into the nitty-gritty of service delivery. Therefore, the study recommends a change in disposition to these technologies, which are enablers and not a threat to librarians.

INTRODUCTION The provision and delivery of services are focal responsibilities of the library right from pre-recorded history which has gone through different facets but the fact remains that users play a fundamental role in this discourse of service provision. Bakare (2022) affirmed that Librarianship as a discipline has gone through different developmental phases of ensuring that library services are provided for clienteles across generations without any constraint and this shows its indispensability in all aspects of human endeavDOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-5964-5.ch001

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

our. Thus, the user-centric principles on which the 21st-century library service delivery is hinged have redefined the library landscape to seek out ways of ensuring the sustainability of the services provided to library clientele. Whilst user-centrism is core in the value chain of library service delivery in this era of digital connectivity, librarians are left with no choice but to seek out ways and techniques through which library services are not hampered in any way. This is known as the sustainability of the library service delivery process as it is not inhibited by time, location, and space due to the ubiquitous nature of Emerging Technologies (EMTs) that drives these services. Mollenkamp (2022) defined sustainability as the capability to sustain or support a course unceasingly over time. The implication of this is that the traditional form of face-to-face (F2F) service delivery is not sustainable as library services end when the library hours are over; sustaining the services after closure is not feasible as users are mandated to leave the library building at the closure hour; room for support to students after the closing hour is equally not there as librarians have to close for the day too. Users are then left at their mercy amidst the information glut due to the incapacitated nature of the traditional form of library service delivery. Emerging technologies (EMTs) have thus come to the rescue as Baro and Godfree (2015) as cited in Bakare (2018) emphasised that EMTs like Social Media Technologies (SMTs) have provided a veritable opportunity for innovative service delivery which transcends the physical domain of the library and capture a broader audience. Innovativeness and dynamism to human interactions are core to EMTs such as Artificial intelligence (AI), Big data analytics, Social Media Technologies (SMTs), Blockchain technology (BTCT), Gamification, Augmented Reality, Data visualization, etc. which Moyer (2019) defined as breakthrough technologies that are likely to change our lives. Within the library domain, Decker (2015) averred these technologies as new technologies, or new uses of existing technologies, that will impact the library environment in all ramifications. And in the truest sense of it, it is having a meaningful impact that is unimaginable to library service delivery. Most of these technologies have been adopted and used for the provision of sustainable library service delivery in developed countries. Howbeit, libraries within the Nigerian ecosystem are good in mouthing adoption in addition to the usage of these technologies but its applicability to the sustainability of the library services is most times a mirage. It is high time librarians realise that if their attitude does not change to embrace these technologies, there is the reality of being bypassed, obsolete, and left behind to redundancy as the tide of contemporary trends in librarianship keeps evolving (Collins & Quan-Haase, 2012; Tella & Ajani, 2022). It is on this premise that this chapter examines EMTs as a panacea for sustainable provision of service delivery in Nigeria.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (EMTs) IN CONTEMPORARY LIBRARIES Contemporary times have witnessed an influx of EMTs that are redefining the social landscape of service delivery of which the library is not an exception. The 4th Industrial Revolution (4thIR) ushered in emerging technological trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Library Book Vending Machine (LBVM), Social Media Technologies (SMTs), Mobile Technologies, Big Data, Data Visualization, Blockchain Technology (BCT), Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), etc. for sustainable service delivery across the globe to a varying degree.

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining momentum within the library landscape globally as its significant role in the provision of sustainable service delivery cannot be described in unequivocal terms. Viselli (2021) opined that most individuals interact with AI on daily basis without knowing in the form of a “Virtual Assistant” that makes the browsing experience hitch-free. This is because people and even librarians have always viewed AI as a complex technology to relate with because they lack the proper understanding of the technology. However, Shanmugam (2017) affirmed its applicability within the Library and Information Science (LIS) discipline for optimum service delivery. Asemi and Asemi (2018) defined AI as the area of computer science focusing on creating machines that can engage in behavioural output that humans consider intelligent. This is the positive vibe that AI has brought to bear thus introducing competitive advantages such as chatbots and robotics to the library system. Kane (2019) asserted that chatbots are computer applications designed to imitate human personality. In the same vein, Nawaz and Saldeen (2020) opined it as a computer program designed to engage in human-like conversations through text, speech, or embedded representation. Literature has shown that chatbots are deployed for the provision of service delivery as digital assistants or virtual intelligent agents (Gujaral, Shivarama & Choukimath, 2019). This AI is an improvement on Instant Messaging (IM) applications which requires human presence. Tella and Ajani (2022) affirmed chatbots as being handy for users in their search queries on library websites, act as a pointer to relevant library resources, and are reference assistants. The lack of adoption and use of chatbots in Nigerian libraries can be hinged on the misconceptions that chatbots will replace librarians; chatbots are too complex to design and implement, and chatbots are expensive to maintain. To nullify these misconceptions, Allison (2012) has revealed that chatbots excel in specific areas of providing library services while human beings have the capabilities and professional competencies to perform maximally well with a far more superior level of adaptability than any robot in existence. This agrees with the findings of Tella (2020) which revealed that contrarily, the entrance of chatbots for library service delivery is meant to complement the formal duties of librarians and not for human replacement. Rodriguez and Mene (2021) also revealed little knowledge of programming skills is needed in developing chatbots as there are open source platforms like Dialog flow by Google which can be easily harnessed. This was corroborated by Yao, Zang, and Chen (2015) who disclosed open source software such as Dialogflow, AIML, and pandorabots as veritable tools for development and deployment. Robotics is another offshoot of AI as described by Talaviya, Shah, Patel, Yagnik, and Shah (2020) as cited in Owolabi, Okorie, Yemi-Peters, Oyetola, Bello, and Oladokun, (2022) as automated devices that mechanize tasks led through human supervision or a pre-defined programme, through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. Contemporary libraries are harnessing this technology rapidly but its adoption in Africa and most especially in Nigeria is not in any way impressive enough as it is only the University of Pretoria (UP) and University of Lagos Library (UNILAG) have powered Robotics called Libby & RoboScholar respectively. Its adoption and usage in both libraries have redefined library service delivery thus starting an innovative process of library service delivery in both universities.

Big Data Analytics and Data Visualization Data are massive in this era of digital connectivity due to the massive volume of both structured and unstructured formats. The enormity of such data is called “Big Data” which is part of the emerging 3

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

innovation brought to bear by the 4th IR as cited by Sengupta (2016). The Garther Group Inc. (2021) affirmed big data as a high volume, high velocity/or high variety of information assets that require new forms of processing to enable enhanced decision making, insight discovery, and process optimization. Chawla (2018) opined it as a substantial volume of information that could be structured or unstructured that is been analysed technologically in making an informed decision. The library as a social system is saddled with the responsibilities of making meaning out of the replete data at her doorstep both in content brought about by digitization and its interaction with clienteles necessitated by boundless technology in our contemporary world. This is leading to massive transformation as more and more data are being generated within a split second which can be so overwhelming. While the library has been known for bringing orderliness to the gargantuan chaos of information glut in this information age, big data analytics is sure a veritable technological process of ensuring that information that will meet the information needs of users irrespective of the age cohort is gotten from the voluminous and variety of data at high velocity. The 3Vs (voluminous, variety & velocity) indispensability are the main characteristics of big data which can bring innovativeness to the delivery of service delivery in libraries. Nicholsin (2016) asserted that big data-driven library innovations go a long way in providing personalised, remote, real-time, and visualized library services to users. Its exploration brings out the analytics and this implies big data analytics provides the library the enabling environment of ensuring that a variety of library data generated by different library tools are used innovatively in understanding interactions with users in the library environment. Furthermore, the library as a client-oriented establishment and what is expected from her in this era of digital connectedness in which information is gotten at the click of a button is the understanding of library clientele as focal for the provision of sustainable service delivery; and gaining a competitive edge in showcasing the significant roles of libraries in this era. Senguputa (2016) therefore asserted that librarians do not need to be programmers but should work towards having the basic knowledge of how various software tools can transform the huge amount of data that users are struggling with. This will go a long way in providing librarians the opportunity to play an important role in the big data universe because they have the professional competencies, skillset, knowledge, and service-oriented mentality to meet users’ information need without disparity. Providing the visualization of analysed data sets is equally a potent resource for decision-making across disciplines of which librarianship is not an exception. More reason Sadiku (2016) revealed that data visualization of the analytics must communicate complex ideas with clarity, accuracy, and efficiency as it forges many advantages through the presentation of data in pictorial or graphical format. As earlier said that the library is client-oriented in service delivery, and there is the need to employ data visualization elements such as charts, graphs, maps, etc. to provide an accessible way to see and identify directions, inclinations, and outliers in a large library data set. This is in tandem with the assertions of Sadiku (2016) who opined librarians a de facto experts in data visualization and this expertise is sacrosanct for sustainable library service delivery at this time.

Social Media Technologies (SMTs) The advent of Social Media Technologies (SMTs) in the information era has redefined all aspects of clienteles interactions, communication, usage, and delivery of information content beyond our wildest imaginations within the library ecosystem. Buettner (2016) as cited in Bakare (2018, p.1) defined “SMTs as computing-mediated technologies such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

that enable individuals or groups of people in creating, sharing, and exchanging information in real-time within an online community”. These technologies have been adopted and used both in developed and developing countries, though in varying degrees which has gone a long way in meeting users’ information needs without any hitch. Gone are the days that library services are stationed within the four-wall of the library structure as SMTs have affected all aspects of library routines and operations. These technologies can be used in-house for optimum library management and externally with library clienteles in providing seamless services which Bakare and Bakare (2021) opined as an inhibited service that is not constrained by time, means, and location due to its pervasive nature. Literature has shown that social media are useful for making library information products, outreach services, information literacy services, current awareness services, selective dissemination services, and document delivery services (Rabatseta, Maluleka & Onyancha, 2021). Farkas (2007) argued that academic librarians globally must ensure that they use SMT to improve the quality of their service delivery which in essence improves client interactiveness from being passive to being active determinants in the library ecosystem. This no doubt according to Bakare (2018, p.6) redefined the previous “top-bottom methodology to the provision of library services in which academic librarians provide information that they believe is relevant to clienteles without feedback will be irrelevant to these 21st-century clienteles”. This will justify the assertions of Bakare and Mutula (2017) who averred contemporary libraries as a goldmine that is user-centric than collection-specific. Tella and Akinboro (2015) affirmed that when user-centrism is core in service delivery, it promotes a two-way seamless and inhibited communication channel that forms the bedrock of SMTs.

Internet of Thing (IoT) The easiest way of human interaction and communication in this digital age has been through the Internet which has grown phenomenally. Leiner, Cerf, Clark, Kahn, Kleinrock, Lynch, and Wolff (2009) defined the internet as a worldwide broadcasting capability, a mechanism for information dissemination, and a medium for collaboration as well as the interaction between individuals and their computers without regard for geographic location. This affirmed its characteristics which are interactivity, speed, the interconnectedness of digital devices, network facility, global reach, and storage capacity; thus promoting internet-centrism in all aspects of human endeavour. The Internet centrism which encapsulates its qualities is the core of the Internet of Things (IoT) which Nag and Nikam (2016, p.1) opined as “intelligently connected devices and systems used in obtaining data gathered by embedded sensors, actuators in machines and other physical objects with minimal direct human intervention to deliver service that meet the needs of a wide range of academic libraries”. This alludes to a large number of smart devices linked to the Internet, with functions and services using the data from these objects to generate communications (Hoy, 2015). Therefore, there is a synergy between sustainable library service delivery and IoT as both are hinged on technology that fosters interaction without constraint. The importance of IoT in contemporary libraries cannot be overstated as this technology has repositioned the library to an unprecedented level of service delivery. Hoy (2015) affirmed that it is of essence to note that IoT can be integrated into the physical domain of the library and librarians have the requisite responsibilities to ensure library clienteles have a full grasp of the new devices in addition to integrating them into their lives. This is necessary as librarians are equipped with the certified aptitudes of meeting users’ information need right from the library school and teaching users to understand as well 5

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

as integrate these devices into the fabrics of their lives would be a seamless drive. This translates to the fact that librarians play a focal role in the discourse of IoT to create a technologically informed society. Cloud Computing Technology (CCT) works on the dictates of IoT as opined by Nag and Nikam (2016) who described it as the “software applications or other resources that exist online and are available to multiple users via the Internet, rather than being installed on a particular user’s local computer”. Irenoa, Tijani, and Bakare (2018, p. 3) asserted that CCT encompasses the transmitting of data, distribution of data storage, computing power, and network infrastructure by various users which make library services accessible to library patrons at any time, irrespective of locality, with the cost based only on the resources used. This can be in form of public, private, or community cloud which all have important roles in sustainable library services. IoT devices became the go-to solution for contact-reducing capabilities during the pandemic, giving organizations an effective way of service delivery. The library was not an exception in this clime as libraries across the world were shut down but library services were continuous. This was made possible due to the advantages of CCT to the provision of sustainable library services that Solomon and Bakare (2022) averred to be adaptableness and partnership; deletion of the impediments of time and location to service execution; exclusion of the massive budget of library operations; easy connexion and preservation; enlarged storage space; scalability; reduced hazard; flexibility; availability is certain One of the fundamental significances of EMTs is to afford librarians the enabling opportunity of providing library services outside the four-wall of the library as well as follow up on the service delivery without any inhibition; more reason this is called sustainable library services. Library book vending machine (LBVM) fits into the contemporary clime of providing sustainable library services as library patrons can have accessibility to library collections in their interactions with the machine. Massie (2016) averred this as a veritable avenue of showing that libraries are embracing technological trends in service delivery, which can be well harnessed by all library users or a cohort of users. This is upheld by the study of Hampshire and Sanford (2009) who asserted that the use of this technology is an avenue to bridge the gap in library service delivery to those who do not have access to the physical library. Accessibility to the internet is sacrosanct to the usage of this machine as Daniel (2019) revealed its interactivity with various sensors and machine-learned models that detect dispensed objects, count the number of dispensed objects, and/or identify the type of dispensed object. This portrays an interaction between the database in the library as well as LBVM to be able to identify the user as a registered user or gives the person the opportunity to register via the machine. Then the requested book is charged to the library user with a transaction receipt being provided which will stipulate the due date. It is worth noting that the books can equally be returned via the machine as well as the vending machine opens up for collection when the user’s library card has been swiped on the machine and the details of the user are identified. Hampshire and Sanford (2009, p.1) opined this as a means of promoting the mobility of library services, and “younger generations brought up on high-tech access to their library materials via an array of services outside the building itself is paramount to a public expecting its links to services anywhere, anytime”. This technology gained popularity amid the Covid-19 pandemic to help libraries deliver contactless lending, increased functionality such as charging, discharging as well as reservations of library materials, and laced with ecological friendliness which comes with a low carbon footprint.

Augmented Reality (AR) Emerging Technologies (EMTs) like Augmented Reality (AR) are bridging the gap between what is obtainable in reality and the virtual world. This it does seamlessly by ensuring that it selects, filters, and 6

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

then visualises the objectified information which can then be displayed together with the physical world. This was emphasised by the study of Schmalstieg and Hollerer (2016) as cited in Baumgartner-Kiradi, Haberler, and Zeiller (2018) which revealed that AR creates a synergy between the real world and the virtual world and at the same time presents information on mobile gadgets that straightforwardly communicates to the physical environment”. This technology is been utilised for the provision of sustainable service delivery in developed countries like the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam where LibrARy is being put to use for the provision of additional library information and the review of media resources; Miami University in Oxford called ShelvAR which helps in the identification of mis-shelved library material; Bavarian State Library Munich which is location specific and provides additional information to monuments and special location (Schmalstieg & Hollerer, 2016; Baumgartner-Kiradi, Haberler & Zeiller, 2018), and user information literacy in medical libraries (Saleh, Salami, Soheili & Ziaei, 2021), but there is the dearth of its adoption within a developing country like Nigeria. In as much as AR is laced with enormous benefits, the technology came with the challenge of the high cost of purchase and knowing fully well that most libraries are battling with a low-cut budget which is a fundamental bane of its adoption and usage in libraries. However, Pope (2018) asserted that with the availability of cheaper headsets in addition to portable mobile devices, the constraint of its usage within the library ecosystem has been erased as Massie (2015) revealed that there are free AR apps that can be downloaded by libraries for the provision of inhibited library service delivery. Therefore, Nigerian librarians have no excuse for adopting this technology to follow the trend of contemporary library services.

Gamification The library is known as an intellectual institution that is responsible for ensuring that the community it is domiciled as well as the society is sufficiently informed with the necessary information. So, one is apt to believe the library is more intellectually centred than fun-centred, though contemporary libraries are user-centric than collection-specific which goes further to be interested in the emotional wellbeing of users. Odas (2022, p.1) averred the emotional aspects of users as sacrosanct and this is where games come to play which is a subtle way of ensuring that the library is not seen as overly serious to attract the Gen Z who form a large cohort of library users and whose lives are immersed in technology. This she emphasized that “gamification which has been listed in the Gartner’s hype cycle for EMTs, has found its way into libraries as it is being used as the elements of games to engage people with libraries which entail changing behavior and creating emotional links that involve them with services and spaces” This translate to the fact that the library is not just interested in the intellectual welling of patrons but the emotional as well as their psychological stability. As it takes a physically, emotionally, and psychologically stable library user to patronise the library as well as make use of its resources. One fundamental way of bringing users back to the library is through gamification and it is gaining prominence within the library landscape as Reed and Miller (2020) affirmed it becoming a norm within academic libraries as EMTs are harnessed for gaming within an instructional setting. In the same vein, Haasio, Madge, and Harviainen (2021) revealed public and scientific libraries have started gamifying library functions that speak to the tenets of the library as well as fit into the contemporary use of emerging technology. Therefore, this creates an interaction between the educational prowess of the library environment as well as its social domain. This is in tandem with the assertions of Kim (2015) who opined that gamification is introducing an emerging face-lift for the library as the library plays both a scholastic and a 7

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

semi-business role. Thus, it is deemed to be enjoyable, and fulfilled in addition to being goal-oriented sustainable library services to make the user feel at home as his/her information needs are being met.

Blockchain Technology (BCT) Cyberspace is witnessing revolutions unprecedented in many ways. One such transformation is brought about by blockchain technology (BCT). Hasan (2020) defined BCT as an inventory of records called blocks that retains data openly and in sequential order and the information is encoded using cryptography to guarantee that the confidentiality of the user is not conceded and data cannot be distorted. One of the major responsibilities of the library is to ensure the library is a haven for users in having their information needs met with their confidentiality and privacy intact; the core attributes of BCT. This creates a fundamental synergy between blockchain technology and the library as the latter provides the technology to make the former perform maximally well. Meth (2019) opined the library is meant to gain a lot from BCT, however, its idea within the library ecosystem is still at the conceptual stage at the time of filing the report, though this technology has transcended from BCT 1.0 (digital currency)-BCT 2.0 (digital finance)-BCT 3.0 (digital society) and BCT 4.0 (incorporation of AI). Blockchain 3.0 hinged on the principle of the digital society will be a veritable source of providing sustainable service in its selection of information resources, acquisition, processing, storage, and preservation for users’ continuous usage. Hoy (2017) averred BCT as fitting to the bedrock of library operations as Omame and Alex-Nmecha (2021) asserted that essentially, library operations orbit around information collection (purchase), managing, conserving, and distribution or circulating of reliable and trustworthy information owing to its immutability or tamper-proof, reorganization, transparency, timely, and harmonious Procedures. In this 4th IR, the BCT can redefine the library ecosystem. Omame and Alex-Nmecha (2021, p. 388) asserted BCT can be used for library operations and services such as “charging and discharging of library materials, interlibrary loan, collection development processes (selection, ordering, acquisition, supply, payment of library resources); archiving and tracking of essential and vital library records; research data management; Cataloguing, classification, indexing and abstracting services”. Therefore, there is a need for librarians to embrace BCT into the fibre of library routines to fit into the contemporary clime of revolutionized technologies brought about by the 4th IR. The same can be equally said of all other EMTs and their applicability for a smooth sustainable library service delivery process driven by EMTs as shown in Fig 1.

SUSTAINABLE LIBRARY SERVICES The provision of library services is core to the discipline of librarianship as this form the basis of showing the significant roles the library plays as a social institution in all aspects of human endeavour. This was well enunciated by S.R. Ranganathan in the Five Laws of Library Science (LIS) which are books are for use; every person his/her book; every book its reader; saves the time of the library user, and the library is a growing organism. Pertinent to these rules which are the bedrock of library operations lies in being able to provide library services that can only be sustainable over time and across generations when EMTs are employed. This is in line with the findings of Bakare and Bakare (2021) who asserted that the use of EMTs has remodeled service delivery in academic libraries as it provides seamless service delivery which transcends time, means, and location due to its ubiquitous nature. 8

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

Figure 1. Sustainable Library Service Delivery Process Driven by EMTs

(Bakare, 2022)

The sustainability of library services embraces the principles of an ongoing process of meeting users’ information needs which can be upheld, maintained, and utilised without any constraint, in addition to users having the appropriate technological channel of feedback on the services provided. Hence, being sustainable is affirmed as a system that maintains its viability by using techniques that allow for continuous reuse (Dictionary.com, 2022). The traditional library service delivery system that is fixated within the four walls of the library has been flawed with myriads of challenges making it not fit into contemporary times. Howbeit, the inclusion of EMTs can salvage this process by redesigning the library service delivery system to be a sustainable one across different generational age cohorts when hinged

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

on technology. For more reason, Bakare and Bakare (2022, p. 2) affirmed that “sustainability of human knowledge has always been the core of the LIS profession as students in the discipline are taught the essence of the various ways and manner that knowledge economies are managed and kept for posterity”. Therefore, the fundamental principles of EMTs are thus a veritable basis for the Five Laws of LIS in the provision of sustainable library services that transcends generation. The first law of LIS affirmed, “Books are for use”. This is hinged on the principle of service which implies that every information resource in libraries is meant to be harnessed to provide the requisite services and used appropriately in answering users’ queries within the confine of the library. The implication of this is that books are meant to be consulted and not just stacked on the shelves or preserved without it being used to meet users’ information needs. These range of services are reference services, outreach services, marketing services, selective dissemination of information, and document delivery. The advent of EMTs has empowered library personnel most especially librarians to provide sustainable library services that are continuous across the globe at the click of a button without any constriction. Therefore, “Books are for use” has been operationalised within the discourse of sustainable library services as “Books (in different formats) are for all to be used irrespective of time, resources and place when EMTs are employed for the provision of sustainable library services” Every reader his book which is the second law is based on the principle that libraries are meant to acquire wide collections to meet various users’ needs. So at the centre of this law is a lack of discrimination against the chosen content of a user. Users were conditioned to only text in the most traditional library but with the infusion of EMTs, they are left with arrays of choices such as video, audio, animation, web, etc. which are sustainable over time. The second law is operationalised as “Every library user without any discrimination of content can access all books (in different formats) when EMTs are employed”. Every book its reader which is the third law is hinged on the fact that there is a place for every book or knowledge in the library. The implication of this is that knowledge does not die but becomes handy one way or the other at a certain time in history. Also, it connotes the edition, translation, or modification of such knowledge for continuous use which can be a smooth transition when EMTs are employed. Therefore, this is operationalized as “All books in different formats have an information need of a user to be met without any limitation when EMTs are employed for the provision of sustainable library services”. The fourth law, “save the time of the library user” is a signal of the fact that time is of the essence in meeting users’ information needs. This is amply catered for by the principles of cataloguing and classification in the library which brings orderliness to the chaos of library collections; thus translating to the easy and efficient accessibility to library materials. However, no matter how much we believe that traditional cataloguing has helped in saving the time of the library user, we cannot compare it to the timeliness of employing or deploying EMTs within the ecosystem of library service delivery which provides an absolute path to easily navigate library collections within users physical or virtual domain. The dual nature of this law is of the essence as users are saved the time of access to library collections in different formats while librarians’ retrievability of library collections to meeting users’ queries is within a split of a second. The fourth law is operationalised as “save the time of the library user by using EMTs for the provision of sustainable library services”. The library is a growing organism as the fifth law opines for expansion in space, content, and outlook of library collections and service delivery. This, therefore, signifies bringing dynamism and creativity to bear in library service delivery just like modern-day times demands which can amply and efficiently be done when EMTs are infused into the nitty-gritty of library routines. What makes this possible is the library management carrying out a community diagnosis or analysis to understand the dictates of what is 10

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

required of this social institution where it is domiciled. This is a systematic process whereby the library set out either quantitatively or qualitatively to understand the needs of library users as well as setting out appropriate strategies cum techniques in meeting such. This thus goes a long way in showing the paradigm shift that has ensued within the library ecosystem from being content-specific to user-centrism (Bakare & Mutula, 2017). Therefore, the fifth law is operationalised as “the library is boundless and unconstrained to growth when EMTs are employed for the provision of sustainable library services”. It will be a disservice to the five laws of Ranganathan if EMTs with their myriads of innovativeness that can make these laws sustainable are not embraced in all its entirety for the provision of modern-day library services. Just like Curty (2015) as cited in Lubanga and Mumba (2021) asserted that innovation has transcended from being an option under consideration to a necessity. Therefore, it is high time libraries in Nigeria come to terms with these technologies by working assiduously to ensure that librarians do not only pay lip service to embrace these technologies on paper but are deliberate, pragmatic, and strategic in actually implementing their usage for providing sustainable library services just like the management of the University of Lagos Library (UNILAG) has shown. All other libraries within the Nigerian state should take a cue from this and do the needful as soon as possible so that the library is truly seen as the heart of society in solving different societal problems. Emerging technologies (EMTs) have brought dynamism and innovativeness to the discourse of library service delivery in contemporary times. This has translated to the provision of sustainable library services that is not inhibited by the time factor, space, location, or means due to the ubiquity of these technologies. This form of service delivery is set out in meeting the information needs of users through the process of sustenance, maintenance, support, and continuity across generations. Therefore, the onus lies on librarians in the Nigerian landscape to build up their technological ante to be able to factor in truly the five laws of S.R Ranganathan for the provision of sustainable library services. This is brought to bear in Fig 2 which shows how EMTs can be used as a basis for actualising the sustainability of the Five Laws of Ranganathan.

PROVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN NIGERIA The importance of the library in every society is undisputable as it is the storehouse of knowledge right from pre-recorded history as well as the data and memory bank of any nation for the continuous learning process and optimum societal development. For more reason, the Nigerian government led by Nnamdi Azikwe in September 1964 passed the first library legislation which became the National Library decree in 1970. The birth of the National Library Association (NLA) was an indication that the Nigerian government understood the library as the bedrock for sustainable nation-building. Nnamdi Azikwe opined it as the knowledge centre where the material world was ruled by the power of the intellect and a veritable avenue to truly make Nigeria the continent of Africa. This led to the establishment of libraries across the nation right from the National Library, Academic libraries, Public libraries, School libraries, and Special libraries to render library service delivery to fulfil the principal tenets of its establishment- which is to lead to an informed Nigerian society. However, due to misplaced priority in governance from nation-building to personal selfish gratification through government funds, corruption became the order of the day and the Nigerian government no longer saw the essence of libraries. This has in no small way affected the library in providing the needed services to clientele right from the National Library to school libraries. 11

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

Figure 2. Re-defined Ranganathan Five Laws of Library Science to suit Sustainable Library Services using EMTs

(Bakare, 2022)

Library services within the Nigerian space have always been the traditional form of service delivery also known as F2F services which encompass reference services, current awareness services, selective dissemination of information, marketing services, outreach services, and user education services. With the traditional form of these library services, library users are required to visit the library to consult the library collections to meet their information needs. The important role of reference services is priceless in library service delivery as it gives users the enabling opportunity to physically interact with a user

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

within the four-wall of the library. This was corroborated by Bakare (2018, p. 96) who affirmed that “the traditional reference librarian ensures that users’ queries are answered as humanly as possible, but the bane of the traditional reference librarian is that he/she can only attend to a clientele at a time and always within the working hours of the library, which is usually between 8 am to 4 pm in most countries”. Marketing of library services is equally a form of outreach library services as both services are targeted in ensuring that library patrons are abreast of the library services being provided by the library. Dickson and Holley (2010) affirmed that outreach programs targeted at students keep them well-informed of activities in their field of scholarship and also aimed at faculty members who would be furnished with appropriate library resources to give students assignments that will make the latter visit the physical library. All said and done, despite the significance of these traditional library services in our society, the bane of it being able to be only provided within the physical structure of the library space has been a major source of concern and more reason libraries in Nigeria embraced Information Communications Technology (ICT) which has gone a long way in improving library digitalization, automation, promoting integrated library management system like KOHA, increasing the use of OPAC, promoting online cataloguing, etc. to be able to fit into the dictates of global landscape in library service delivery. However, despite the myriads of advantages of ICT to the world of library service delivery, most Nigerian libraries jumped on the wagon of ICT innovation and implementation to varying degrees. Nonetheless, this implementation which was supposed to improve library services was seen most especially on paper because there was a dichotomy of service delivery as to what has been read on the pages of Journal articles to what was obtainable in reality when the library/ies were visited. This has necessitated the ennui of library users to most Nigerian libraries which are seen as reading spaces instead of living beings that can meet their information needs (Omosebi & Bakare, 2021). This has been hinged on lack of funding, poor ICT infrastructures, lack of skilled manpower, interrupted power supply or lack of it, etc. (Amkpa & Abba, 2009). Hence, the traditional form of service delivery with a not too impressive usage of technology as is expected is still obtainable within the Nigerian clime when their counterparts in developed countries have embraced the era of the 4th IR of AI, machine learning, robotics, IoT, etc. in executing routine work of the libraries for patrons. Library service delivery in Nigeria was battling with the bane of physicalness then Covid-19 crept in unexpectedly which made Ladan, Haruna, and Madu (2020, p.125) assert that this global crisis “made a developing country like Nigeria see the pandemic as a herculean task to contend with due to poor advancement in technology and information management”. Therefore, this pandemic left librarians with no choice but to embrace technology in all its totality for the provision of library services since there were restrictions to physical movement, and the library was equally shut down. The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) was apt in organizing seminars and workshops virtually at this prevailing time on ways librarians within the Nigerian space can employ the power of technology truly in providing inhibited library services just like their counterparts abroad. This was in line with the International Federation of Library Association (IFLA, 2020) statement on Covid 19 and the Global Library Field website where reliable information resources, as well as updates on the pandemic, were adequately provided due to misinformation and disinformation that was ravaging at that time. Librarians within the Nigerian space were not left out in providing sensitization, user education services on the pandemic, current awareness services, selective dissemination of information, marketing of library products, etc to show their relevance in solving the societal problem of fake news amid the pandemic. Knowing fully well that domestic violence which was a form of bullying was rampant during the Covid-19 pandemic period (Barchielli, Baldi, Paoli, Roma, Ferracuti, Napoli and Lausi; 13

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

2021), the #LCMBV brand created by a Librarian in Nigeria, is a mnemonic for Librarian Curb Mobile Bully-Victim Behahaviour took it upon itself to solving the menace of bullying and mobile bullying behaviour in our society through current awareness services and advocacy services across social media platforms (https://web.facebook.com/LCMBVB). Also, ChecheSkyBoard on Telegram (https://t.me/ ChecheSkyBoard) by another technologically inclined librarian provided opportunities for training as well as upskilling and reskilling of librarians’ digital literacy skills which will go a long way in improving service delivery at this time. This ushered in a dramatic turn to most library websites whose social media handles were inactive or non-existence to be resuscitated and library services were provided for users seamlessly. This is corroborated by Johnson and Bakare (2021) whose study revealed that the pandemic has also triggered a pattern shift which has made it mandatory for librarians to acknowledge that the laissez-faire disposition must be encapsulated by innovative thinking in service delivery. One principal innovative way was through SMTs which were sufficiently exploited. However, the provision of service delivery was limited mostly to WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The study by Friday, Chidozie, and Chukwuma (2020) concluded that SMTs redefined the service delivery landscape during the pandemic as librarians’ effectiveness was visibly shown in meeting users’ information needs despite the restrictions. Bakare (2018, p.78) posited that “with the advent of SMTs, the role of the reference librarians have been enhanced due to their universal description which has strengthened the reference librarian to attend to clienteles’ query any time of the day as these technologies enable communication, networking, and sharing documents with many library clients regardless of location and at little or no expense”. The University of Lagos University Library took library service delivery within the Nigerian space to the required global standard post-Covid by embracing robotics which is being called “Roboscholar”. This robot is used in providing reference services as well as assisting with library circulation routines which are in tandem with the findings of Grant and Cam (2018) who asserted that many academic libraries most especially in developed countries have adopted AI for various library operations, such as circulation and reference services. With this, RoboScholar interacts with library users as they visit the library, attends to their queries, and leads users to where to locate the catalogue boxes for easy retrieval. This negates the findings of the recent study by Owolabi et al., (2022) which revealed that the readiness of university libraries in Nigeria towards the adoption and use of robotic technologies in Nigeria is nothing to write home about which is an indication that university libraries in the country are not ready to adopt the use of this technology despite the high benefits they have to offer in library operations.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (EMTs) AS A PANACEA FOR THE PROVISION OF SUSTAINABLE PROVISION OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN NIGERIA Libraries have gone through different pathways of providing service delivery for clienteles right from pre-recorded history. Right from when users did not have direct access to the library stacks, or a display narrow-minded outlook to service delivery by librarians and no uniformity of library collection accessibility to the public. Bakare (2017) affirmed that in all recorded cases, librarians were a go-between library collections and library users as the latter had to consult the former in an adjacent gallery or covered alley. By and large, the concept of service delivery based on the aforementioned periods entailed the library

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

as a social institution expecting users to visit its physical domain and consult its collections before there can be service delivery; this in essence is known as the traditional way of providing library services. It was not until the 21st century and due to the influx of EMTs into conventional Librarianship that there was a paradigm shift in service delivery which necessitated the transition from the traditional (confined to the four walls of a building) to digital (on the virtual space) form of service delivery. This was corroborated by Leigh, Douglas, Frank, and Salman (2017) who asserted that libraries have developed since the middle of the 20th century as a far-reaching body of information repositories and services that can be devoid of a physical building. More reason Bakare (2018) averred this is the provision of library services that are not inhibited by time, means, and location due to the ubiquity of EMTs. Hence, the provision of library services hinged on EMTs which Saibakumo (2021) defined as repositioning the library to fit into the contemporary social system as the surest way of promoting sustainable library services to users, to negate the present library dissatisfaction that is obvious in most academic communities (Pandita & Domnic, 2019). A fundamental transposition occurred within the Librarianship global ecosystem in the year 2022 brought about by the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic which restructured library service delivery from the F2F to purely virtual. This necessitated the embrace of EMTs as it was the only avenue for the provision of sustainable library services of which the Nigerian library domain was not an exception to this innovativeness. The Nigerian library landscape was laggard in fitting into the EMTs’ contemporary clime of service delivery, as the duo of SMTs and Cloud Computing Technology (CCT) among other EMTs are being harnessed to a certain extent as compared to others which are still alien or at the infancy stage to the service delivery process within the Nigerian domain. Private university libraries in the country leveraged EMTs since they are either privately owned or mission-based, funded by the private fund, and value needs to be gotten for the services they are providing to recoup their investment. More reason they have more visibility on social media platforms as compared to government-owned institutions (Johnson & Bakare, 2020) which left the former, late adopters of EMTs, for the provision of sustainable library services such as Digital Reference Services (DRS), Digital Marketing Services (DMS), Digital Literacy Services (DLS), Digital Document Delivery Services (D3s), Digital User Education Services (D-UES), Digital Outreach Services (DOS), Digital Selective Dissemination of Information (D-SDI), and Digital Current Awareness Services (D-CAS). Digital Reference Services (DRS) allow library users to communicate via SMTs with the reference librarians round the clock irrespective of age cohort which was handy for the provision of sustainable library services amid the pre and post-pandemic. Chatbots and Robots can also be useful but the misconception about the latter replacing librarians has been militating its usage (Owolabi et al., 2022); while there are ethical issues surrounding the former (Tella & Ajani, 2022). On the other hand, Digital Marketing Services (DMS) can be used to advertise born-digital library products and services which will allow users to know about new library digital compendiums or collections that have gone through the mills of digitization. Saura (2021) affirmed a synergy between data science and DMS which will provide insights for innovative ideas for data mining and data analytics; thus translating to improved knowledge discovery for sustainable library service delivery. Digital Literacy Services (DLS) was quite handy amid the pandemic as library users were faced with misinformation as well as disinformation which were killer agents than the pandemic and Baines, Ittefaq, and Abwao (2021) advocated for the correction of false narratives on SMT platforms. On the other hand, Digital Document Delivery Services (D3s) entails charged e-library products that are automatically displayed on users’ dashboard which gives the option of a small token for download or show 15

 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

date-due for return. This is in tandem with the study of Johnson and Bakare (2020) which affirmed the significant role of digital content and library digital infrastructure in the current library environment as indispensable in the provision of sustainable library services. Digital User Education Services (D-UES) real-time orientation of library users on the essentials of what the library does and maximal benefits attached. The study by Anene, Achebe, and Uzoechina (2020) recommended that SMTs be adopted into the mainstream of user education such as seminars, lectures, demonstrations, virtual tours, orientation, guides, etc. which will translate to D-UES for sustainable library services within the Nigerian domain. Digital Outreach Services (DOS) is a veritable way of taking library services to the cyber domain of students or academic staff to be abreast of happenings in their area of research. Students are expected not to have issues with EMTs being used to provide DOS as the majority of them are netizens while the same might not be said of scholars who are mostly digital immigrants. It is therefore the responsibility of librarians to ensure this cohort of users is not left behind in the EMT s innovative wagon in the provision of sustainable library services. Furthermore, Digital Selective Dissemination of Information (D-SDI) which are personalized real-time delivery of information content using different SMTs instant messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, etc. The same can also be said of Digital Current Awareness Services (D-CAS) which has been made seamless by library SMTs on Tiktok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. as news updates are uploaded in real-time on the library handles. The disservice of not adopting and using all EMTs for the provision of sustainable library service delivery within the Nigerian space is a source of concern. This calls for upskilling and relearning in addition to bracing up in negating the dearth of EMTs’ knowledge and awareness (Owolabi, et al., 2022) as this will go a long way in conquering the myriads of challenges inhibiting the inclusion of these emerging trends into the fabrics of library operations to be able to provide sustainable library services.

CONCLUSION The service delivery landscape is forcing librarians to perform more duties with a less budgetary allocation that users are not interested in knowing. Theirs is just to get their information needs to be met, sustained, and supported throughout the service delivery process without any hitch; this has been called sustainable library services that are operational in the contemporary library network. As any misnomer will bring back the cliché “libraries are laggards when it comes to following technological trends”. To a certain extent, this is not true, especially in developed countries where libraries are breaking grounds and have factored the usage of EMTs into the fiber of library service delivery which is making the society as a whole feel the significant roles of libraries in nation-building. The same cannot be said of the African continent and most especially the Nigerian library landscape as the usage of these EMTs is still not encouraging which is hindering the delivery of sustainable library services. Therefore, this shows the lacuna that librarians are not evolving at the desirable pace with contemporary trends of infusing EMTs into the nitty-gritty of service delivery which would have equiped them with the essential skillset to adapt quickly to the paradigm shift; meeting the information needs of clienteles efficiently and effortlessly without any constraint; making informed decisions and providing sustainable library services which will transcend generations.

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 Emerging Technologies as a Panacea for Sustainable Provision of Library Services in Nigeria

RECOMMENDATION The study, therefore, recommends the following: 1. The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) and Librarian Registration Council (LRCN) should present a position paper to the Presidency on the dilapidated state of libraries in Nigeria 2. These two bodies should continuously organise training and retraining of librarians in the usage of EMTs for the provision of sustainable library services 3. Librarians should have a positive disposition to the use of EMTs and nullify any misconception that is making them see EMTs as kicking them out of their jobs instead of being enablers for the provision of sustainable library services. 4. Libraries should interact well with private organizations to foster a partnership that will bring in funds for the smooth running of libraries instead of being overly dependent on the government

IMPACT OF THE STUDY The study is impactful to: 1. Practice: The practice of the provision of library services within the Nigerian landscape has been shown to need a total overhauling to adopt EMTs for the provision of sustainable library services. 2. Society: The Nigerian society will be a better-informed one when EMTs are harnessed 3. Policy: Stakeholders in the library ecosystem within the Nigerian space should formulate policies on the adoption and usage of EMTs to situate Nigerian libraries in the dictates of contemporary LIS trends as this is not negotiable but of utmost necessity. 4. A conceptual overview of the re-defined Ranganathan five laws of library science to suit sustainable library services using EMTs and the development of the sustainable library service delivery process driven by EMTs.

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Asemi, A., & Asemi, A. (2018). Artificial Intelligence (AI) application in Library Systems in Iran: A taxonomy study. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1840, 1–11. Baines, A., Ittefaq, M., & Abwao, M. (2021). # Scamdemic,# Plandemic, or# Scaredemic: What parler social media platform tells us about COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines, 9(5), 421. doi:10.3390/vaccines9050421 PMID:33922343 Bakare, O. D. (2018). The use of social media technologies (SMTs) in the provision of library and information services in academic libraries of South-West, Nigeria (Doctoral dissertation). University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Bakare, O. D. (2022). Pastoral Care in Librarianship: An Avenue for Bringing Sustainable Development to Nigerian Educational System. Book of Reading (BOR) in honour of Prof. Bidemi Odeleye. College Press. Bakare, O. D., & Bakare, B. M. (2022). Redesigning library and information science curriculum for sustainable environmental transformation among students of the Department of Library and Information Science, Lead City University. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, 20210016, 1–21. Bakare, O.D., & Mutula, S., (2017). Library as a Goldmine: Social Media Technologies (SMT) as the Way Forward. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1605. Bakare Dr, O. D., & Bakare Dr, B. M. (2021). Global Technological Trend in Academic Libraries. Information & Media Studies (FIMS), 1-24. Barchielli, B., Baldi, M., Paoli, E., Roma, P., Ferracuti, S., Napoli, C., Giannini, A. M., & Lausi, G. (2021). When “Stay at Home” Can Be Dangerous: Data on Domestic Violence in Italy during COVID-19 Lockdown. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(17), 8948. doi:10.3390/ijerph18178948 PMID:34501537 Baro, E. E., Seimode, F. D., & Godfrey, V. Z. (2013). Information literacy programmes in university libraries: A case study. Libri, 63(4), 282–294. doi:10.1515/libri-2013-0023 Baumgartner-Kiradi, B., Haberler, M., & Zeiller, M. (2018). Potential of Augmented Reality in the Library. FMT, 30-37. Decker, E. N. (2015). The role of robotic telepresence in the academic library. In Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology (3rd ed., pp. 6648–6655). IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-5888-2.ch653 Dickson, A., & Holley, R. P. (2010). Social networking in academic libraries: The possibilities and the concerns. New Library World, 111(11/12), 468–479. doi:10.1108/03074801011094840 Farkas, M. G. (2007). Social software in libraries: Building collaboration, communication, and community online. Information Today, Inc. Friday, J., Chidozie, O., & Chukwuma, L. N. (2020). Social media and library services: A case of COVID-19 pandemic era. International Journal of Research and Review, 7(10), 230–237. Godwin, P. (2009). Information literacy and Web 2.0: Is it just hype? Program, 43(3), 264–274. doi:10.1108/00330330910978563

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Haasio, A., Madge, O. L., & Harviainen, J. T. (2021). Games, Gamification and Libraries. In New Trends and Challenges in Information Science and Information Seeking Behaviour (pp. 127–137). Springer. Hampshire, M., & Sanford, C. E. (2009). Library‐a‐go‐go: Bringing the library to the people. New Library World, 110(11/12), 541–549. Hasan, N. (2020). Blockchain technology and its application in libraries. Library Herald, 58(4), 118–125. doi:10.5958/0976-2469.2020.00030.10 Hoy, M. B. (2015). The “Internet of Things”: What it is and what it means for libraries. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 34(3), 353–358. doi:10.1080/02763869.2015.1052699 PMID:26211795 Irenoa, K. O., Tijani, R. I., & Bakare, O. (2018). Enhancing library services delivery in the 21st century in Africa: The role of cloud technologies. International Journal of Library and Information Science Studies, 4(4), 1–9. Johnson, A. B., & Bakare, O. (2021). Covid-19 Effects on Libraries Goes Beyond Books: Lead City University in Perspective.Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 6610. Kane, D. (2019). Analyzing an interactive chatbot and its impact on academic reference services. Association and College Research Libraries Conference, Cleveland, OH. Kim, B. (2015). Gamification in education and libraries. Library Technology Reports, 51(2), 20–28. Ladan, A., Haruna, B., & Madu, A. U. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and social media news in Nigeria: The role of libraries and library associations in information dissemination. International Journal of Innovation and Research in Educational Sciences, 7(2), 2349–5219. Leiner, B. M., Cerf, V. G., Clark, D. D., Kahn, R. E., Kleinrock, L., Lynch, D. C., Postel, J., Roberts, L. G., & Wolff, S. (2009). A brief history of the Internet. Computer Communication Review, 39(5), 22–31. doi:10.1145/1629607.1629613 Lubanga, S., & Mumba, J. (2021). Research and Development (R&D), Creativity and Innovation in Academic Libraries in Malawi: A Way To Rethink Library Development in the 21st Century. Creativity and Innovation in Academic Libraries in Malawi: A Way To Rethink Library Development in the 21st Century. Meth, M. (2019). Blockchain in Libraries. American Library Association. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1513&context=faculty_rsca MollenkampD. T. (2022). Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sustainability.asp Moyer, H. (2019). What are emerging technologies? Retrieved from https://hnmsystems.com/what-areemerging-technologies/ Nag, A., & Nikam, K. (2016). Internet of things applications in academic libraries. International Journal of Information Technology and Library Science, 5(1), 1-7. Nawaz, N., & Saldeen, M. A. (2020). Artificial intelligence chatbots for library reference services. Journal of Management Information & Decision Sciences, 23.

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Omame, I. M., & Alex-Nmecha, J. C. (2021). Application of Blockchain in Libraries and Information Centers. In Handbook of Research on Knowledge and Organization Systems in Library and Information Science (pp. 384–397). IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7258-0.ch020 Omosebi, F. E., & Bakare, O. D. (2022). Makerspace: An Innovative Inclusion in Nigerian Libraries. In Handbook of Research on Emerging Trends and Technologies in Librarianship (pp. 143-158). IGI Global. Osagie, R., & Orheruata, M. (2013). Budgeting and funding of the library at the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Education, 134(2), 195–200. Owolabi, K. A., Okorie, N. C., Yemi-Peters, O. E., Oyetola, S. O., Bello, T. O., & Oladokun, B. D. (2022). Readiness of academic librarians towards the use of robotic technologies in Nigerian university libraries. Library Management, 43(3/4), 1–10. doi:10.1108/LM-11-2021-0104 Pandita, R., & Domnic, J. (2019). Overcoming workplace discrimination and job dissatisfaction in academic libraries: A Study. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1-24. Pope, H. (2018). Incorporating virtual and augmented reality in libraries. Library Technology Reports, 54(6), 8. Rabatseta, B., Maluleka, J. R., & Onyancha, O. B. (2021). Adoption and use of social media in academic libraries in South Africa. South African Journal of Library and Information Science, 87(1), 20–31. doi:10.7553/87-1-1926 Reed, K., & Miller, A. (2020). Applying gamification to the library orientation. Information Technology and Libraries, 39(3). Advance online publication. doi:10.6017/ital.v39i3.12209 Saleh, M. D., Salami, M., Soheili, F., & Ziaei, S. (2021). Augmented reality technology in the libraries of universities of medical sciences: Identifying the application, advantages and challenges and presenting a model. Library Hi Tech. Saura, J. R. (2021). Using data sciences in digital marketing: Framework, methods, and performance metrics. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 6(2), 92–102. doi:10.1016/j.jik.2020.08.001 Schmalstieg, D., & Hollerer, T. (2016). Augmented reality: principles and practice. Addison-Wesley Professional. Sengupta, S. (2016). Big Data: The Next Big Opportunity For Librarians. Retrieved from http://eprints. rclis.org/34349/1/final-proceeding-iicclist16-2s-view-50-51.pdf Solomon, A.O., & Bakare, O.D. (2022). Application of Cloud Computing To Library Processes: The Nigerian Perspective. Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Science, 10(7), 1-7. Talaviya, T., Shah, D., Patel, N., Yagnik, H., & Shah, M. (2020). Implementation of artificial intelligence in agriculture for optimisation of irrigation and application of pesticides and herbicides. Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture, 4, 58–73. doi:10.1016/j.aiia.2020.04.002

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Tella, A. (2020). Robots are coming to the libraries: Are librarians ready to accommodate them? Library Hi Tech News, 37(8), 13–17. doi:10.1108/LHTN-05-2020-0047 Tella, A., & Ajani, Y. A. (2022). Robots and public libraries. Library Hi Tech News, 7(7), 15–18. doi:10.1108/LHTN-05-2022-0072 Viselli, L. (2021). Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice: A new frontier for Law Librarians. Canadian. Law. Library Review, 46, 17.

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Chapter 2

Sustainable Information Technology Practice in Libraries Bosede Adeyinka Ayinla https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0045-4948 International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria Kolawole Akinjide Aramide University of Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Information technology is a crucial tool required for the growth of all sectors in any nation. Undoubtedly, its application in libraries contributes significantly to meeting people’s information needs since libraries are essential in providing information services to information seekers. Thus, a well-organized library should have sustained information technology to assist in providing correct and timely services to its patrons. This chapter used current and relevant research findings and papers to explain various economic and social sustainability issues and challenges confronting IT adoption and practices in libraries. Similarly, it used recent research in cloud computing to explain some environmental sustainability issues related to information technology in libraries.

INTRODUCTION The revolution brought by Information Technology (IT) into every sector of human endeavours has led to a paradigm shift in their operations and activities. Undeniably, its application in libraries contributes significantly to meeting people’s information needs. Advancements in IT have changed how information is retrieved since information is considered essential for any nation or individual’s socio-economic and cultural development (Sharma, 2016). According to Saleem et al. (2013), information is considered necessary for human existence, like the basic needs of life. The importance of information in all human activities cannot be overstretched; hence prompt and effortless access to all needed information is crucial, particularly for libraries and library users. Today, it is worth noting that the advent of information DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-5964-5.ch002

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technology has significantly influenced how information is acquired and delivered, particularly in libraries. Information Technology offers correct and real-time information to clients in all fields (Adebayo et al., 2018) The benefits of IT in the library cannot be overstated in the twenty-first century, as many traditional library procedures and operations are now being automated using IT solutions to provide better and quicker services to end-users. Therefore, libraries generally employ IT to computerise various administrative and technical processes, develop databases, networks, offer improved services to their clients and facilitate the proper operation of modern libraries. Thus, this chapter discusses issues relating to sustainable information technology practices in libraries. The components and application of IT in libraries, the tripartite sustainability model, challenges, and strategies for achieving sustainable information technology practices in libraries were all discussed. As a starting point, this chapter offered a critical review of Information technology application, appropriation and operation in libraries’ management over the past decades. It then investigated the sustainability processes as a leverage point for sustainable information technology practices in libraries. It examined evidence-based examples from the Knowledge Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Headquarters, Ibadan, Nigeria; formerly known as the IITA library. The chapter concluded by recommending priority issues for future research agendas.

BACKGROUND Concept of Information Technology Information technology refers to computer technologies that consist of hardware, software, network, infrastructure, and procedures to collect, process, store, protect, and present electronic data/ information in speech, written, graphic and multimedia forms (Igwe, 2011, Castagna & Bigelow, 2022). The essential components of information technology in library systems according to Library and Information Science Network (2022) include: Computer Systems which consist of input devices (keyboard, optical character reader, mouse, optical mark reader, bar-code reader, scanner, voice data entry), processing devices (Central Processing Unit (CPU)), output devices (monitor, printer, speaker, headphone and projector) and storage(memory) devices (hard disk drive, CD/DVD drive, USB flash drive and so on). The components of IT also include network systems (Modem, local area network, metropolitan area network, wide area network and cables), software (Koha, SOUL, GreenStone, Dspace, etc.) and databases (Author database, Bibliographic database, and full-text database). For example, IITA Knowledge Center subscribed to bibliographic and full-text databases.

Information Technology (IT) Practices in Libraries Janakiraman and Subramaniah (2015) postulated that the earth is experiencing a digital landscape revolution that has changed the possibilities for library work advancements and modified the required library performances. Information Technology operation in the libraries refers to the use of computer technologies in such a way that the activities of the libraries, such as ordering, cataloguing, classification, reference and information services, can be done quickly with the help of IT. Areas of information technology practices in libraries include: 23

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Digitisation of Library Collections It involves converting print documents into digital formats. This retrospective conversion of print resources into digital formats can take a long time, depending on the size of the library’s collection. Information resources are either in electronic form (born-digital) or digitised and are made accessible via library portals or the Internet. According to Aramide (2015), the primary purposes of digitising library collections are ease of access and preservation. Digitisation also considers the storage of library collections which involves storing the digitised or born-digital documents in the database or institution repository (IR). International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Knowledge Centre started the digitalisation project in 2006 to 2012. All the print texts published by IITA were digitised and stored with other born-digital publications into the institutional repository (IR) tagged “IITA Bibliography,” which operates on aigaion software and a new platform (DSpace). It has also become the culture of IITA researchers to submit electronic copies of their publications to be stored in the repository. Also, digitisation processes include providing online access to the digitised or born-digital collections on the library portal, which clients can easily access irrespective of location. For example, IITA Knowledge Center provides access to information resources to all its staff in all its stations across subShara Africa through the institution’s website.

Automation of Library Daily Routines The other area of library IT practices is the automation of daily activities. Libraries use IT applications and techniques to acquire, process, store, communicate and disseminate information resources (Sharma, 2016). Information Technology is widely employed in library operations and significantly influences library and information centre administration. It is used to automate a variety of library tasks such as:

Collection Development The collection development process includes analysing the users’ needs and ensuring that it is served adequately towards meeting their needs. This includes the selection/acquisition of information resources. Information Technology offers the latest tools for the effective and efficient collection of library holdings. These include online publisher catalogues, book finders, online inventory lists, CD-ROM databases, online book reviews, readers’ suggestions through emails and many more (LISBD Network, 2022).

Cataloguing A catalogue is a list of books held in the library; it is a key to opening the library’s treasure. The catalogue presents different entries (Such as title, author, and subject) to satisfy the various approach to documents searched by the users. With the advancement in information technology, all the data filled in the catalogue cards are transferred into the digital database designed in the software so that users can access data easily online. This is known as Online Public Access Catalouge (OPAC). Clients can get the information from their locations through their computer network via OPAC. The users can know whether a particular publication exists or not by using robust search and keyword search with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT,*). 24

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Classification A library classification refers to the method of organising knowledge in which resources are assembled and ordered systematically. Classifications in libraries are a notational system representing the order of topics in the classification and allowing items to be kept in that order. It is a system that organises related materials into groups, typically organised as a hierarchical tree structure. Through the help of IT, the traditional library classification schemes have transformed into electronic schemes. The most popular web-based Library Classification schemes are Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Universal Decimal Classification (UDC). Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), AGROVOC Multilingual Agricultural Thesaurus, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) Controlled Vocabularies and many more are all web-based tools for subject classification. They offer a variety of online services to simplify the librarian’s work.

Circulation Services Through information technology, circulation librarians utilise less time for the issue of the books. The overdue charges and statistics are calculated automatically; reminders are easily generated using computer technology. The issue status of a particular book is checked automatically. Charging and discharging are now moving toward self-charging and discharging with information technology. This process is done by putting bar codes on books or pasting electromagnetic strips such as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID). Radio Frequency Identification Device helps check theft, stock verification and trace the misplaced books in the library.

Reference Services The development in IT has resulted in a paradigm shift in rendering library services, bringing along the advancement of digital reference services. Digital reference services (DRSs), also called online or virtual reference services, are instant reference services in which library clienteles use information technologies to communicate online with reference librarians. According to Abubakar (2021), technologies such as electronic mailing, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Instant Messaging (IM), Social Media platforms, etc., are employed by libraries to provide reference services to their clients. Also, DRSs can be asynchronous or synchronous. Asynchronous reference services are not real-time services; these include email, online forms, and Ask a librarian. Synchronous references occur in real-time and provide a nearly instant answer to a query or request. Chat reference, video-conferencing, virtual reference robots, collaborative e-reference services, and so forth are all synchronous reference services (Uutoni, 2018).

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MAIN FOCUS OF THE CHAPTER Tripartite Sustainability Model for Information Technology (IT) Practice in Library Information Technology (IT) Sustainability in Library Information Technology is an indispensable tool needed for providing value-added information in libraries. The advancement in information technology has given the provision of digital information services within libraries a new face. Information technology is the convergence of computer, communications, information, and multimedia technologies that have aided in developing digital information services (Shah & Waghchoure, 2019). Electronic information services provide various services to library users by making publications more readily accessible (Mwiinga et al., 2020). Although, libraries confront different challenges in incorporating IT into their operations. Nonetheless, accurate, real-time and valueadded information provision is of utmost importance to any library’s relevance and growth, whether academic, public or special. Therefore, conscious efforts must be made to ensure the sustainability of ITs operations in the library. The concept of sustainability implies different things to different fields and organisations. Abdullahi (2017) described sustainability as the capacity to meet present demands without jeopardising future generations’ prospects. So, the actual test of sustainability is whether our ideas, plans and projects remain relevant even when conditions change (Mensah, 2019). In all aspects of development, sustainability in organisational management has been impactful, helpful, and useful (Ochoa & Pinto 2014). The foundation must be well structured for any organisation to have a sustainable project. As a result, libraries must adopt methods to maintain information technology in their operations. For the feasibility of IT sustainability in libraries, the project must be well planned from the beginning. From the library perspective, sustainability refers to the strategic initiatives and processes implemented to deploy adequate information technology to improve library operations and ensure library clients’ satisfaction now and in the future. This means having a strategic plan to ensure sustainable IT operations in the libraries that consider the tripartite economic, social and environmental sustainability model. Strategy is an organisation’s basic structure of decisions that showcases its aims and objectives and the central policies and plans for accomplishment. It describes the company’s performance, the economic and human organisation it aspires to be, and the contributions it intends to make to its shareholders, clients, and society. Strategy is a plan of action for an organisation and its departments to achieve a desired status or objectives in the future. Strategic sustainability planning is a professional method for ensuring that a task, process, regulation, communications system, or other similar projects of an institution is improved, deployed, and maximally sustained (Bringezu & Bleischwitz, 2017; Lin et al., 2017). These professional procedures are impossible to implement without proper strategic planning and policy. Tatiana (2018) defines sustainability strategies as “different facets established by the library to address the identified information needs, both internal and external.” Strategic planning is essential for libraries because it promotes innovative thinking and adaptability. It aligns with the library’s goals, purpose, dreams, and long-term and short-term targets (Ojukwe, 2020). Thus, an absence of a strategic blueprint outlining the libraries’ vision, objective, short and long-term goals, and IT procurement and preservation would result in a lack of sustainability and agility in library IT systems.

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According to Juneja (2022), strategic planning relies on a thorough knowledge of the economic, social and environmental forces that drive change. lt involves taking a strategic initiative to sustain IT operations in the libraries; thus, it is an investment in IT to run library operations efficiently. These operations include electronic cataloguing and classification, DRSs, and electronic information resources (EIRs) services, which consider the library’s economic, social, and environmental initiatives (Abdulahi, 2017). It also encourages innovative thinking to generate and evaluate strategic options, which leads to the configuration of different possibilities and the identification of the best option. Every strategic planning believes that what is done in the present can influence what happens in the future (Ezomo & Adedigba, 1995). Figure 1. Sustainable Digital Information Services Model

Source: Abdulahi (2017:18)

The diagram in figure1 is used to comprehend and investigate how different sustainability elements are related to and influence one another. It presents a general model that illustrates numerous issues concerning various types of information technology sustainability (cheap, ease of and better access to information; equity of access, ease of use and relevant information then cloud solutions). As illustrated

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in Fig. 1, new funding and business models are required to ensure the economic sustainability of information technology. But even so, it should also support other forms of sustainability. Libraries should invest more resources to enhance their design and functionality to meet their users’ information needs. However, such new business models should encourage the economic and social sustainability of information technology in libraries, which can only be accomplished by providing proper legal and policy frameworks that support such activities. Choosing appropriate cloud computing solutions can make information technology practices in libraries more economically sustainable because they provide environmental advantages. However, such economic and environmental advantages may harm the social sustainability of IT unless adequate regulatory policies and guidelines for specific business operations are established. On the other hand, building a sustainable IT model will enhance the social sustainability of IT in libraries by ensuring equitable access to knowledge for coming generations. According to Chowdhury (2014), the information technology sustainability model had three pillars: economic sustainability, social sustainability, and environmental sustainability. Sustainable IT in libraries hangs on a tripartite economic, social and environmental sustainability model. Thus, library information technology practices should be economically, socially, and environmentally sustained.

Economic Sustainability Information technology projects are costly and demand substantial human, financial, and technical support (Jankowaska & Marcum, 2010). Economic sustainability is a great concern for many information technology projects, particularly libraries. Consequently, libraries should embrace suitable economic sustainability processes to sustain and ensure IT practices meet the demands of the current and future generations of users (Ojukwu & Mutala, 2021). The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Sustainable Digital Preservation and Access (2010) defines economic sustainability as “a set of business, social, technological, and policy processes that promote the accumulation of key resources to support the indefinite existence of information technology systems, allowing access to and use of information assets in the long term.” An economically sustained IT project requires library management to assess the technology’s suitability and appropriateness to the users’ information needs (Newa, 1993). It also involves sorting out the phases of IT projects according to the urgency; proper allotment of human, technical and financial sources to IT projects to ensure their continuity. The economic sustainability strategies of IT operation in libraries consider issues such as non-expensive, simpler, and improved access to information via a viable business/funding model. That is, the economic sustainability of IT in libraries seeks to facilitate affordable and better access to information materials. It creates a long-term business strategy that supports the economic, technological, and human resources required to create, deliver and manage information technology to meet user communities’ and society’s current and potential demands. This is achievable by decreasing direct costs of production and dissemination of information services and reducing indirect costs of information retrieval in terms of time and energy users use to access information (Abduliah, 2017). Furthermore, ensuring a sustainable IT operation in libraries requires long-term planning and commitment (Taylor, 2021). There must be a well-planned long and short time strategic business model that takes into account alternate solutions for funds such as grants application, pay-per-use, license negotiation, collaboration, consortium, and partnership.

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Grants Application Alternative Financial resources constrain libraries all over the world. This invariably impacts their survival and ability to provide quality services. Budgets for libraries are always insufficient, particularly in developing countries where information preservation, sharing, storage, and organisation do not appear to be the primary objectives of most key stakeholders of libraries (Adu-Sarkodee et al., 2016). Ideally, libraries are funded by their parent institutions. Still, the libraries’ projects suffer from continuity due to cuts in budgets due to economic crises in the countries like Nigeria and many other countries of the world. As a result, libraries are increasingly looking for additional funding sources for IT projects, such as grants from non-governmental organisations, charitable organisations, and other organisations. Sandler (2014) disclosed that libraries in the United States, Canada, and Europe received multiple external financial grants to build their automated libraries from consortia, ministries, councils, state legislatures, governors, and university presidents. Similarly, Brown and Malenfant (2016) stated that several charitable organisations in the United Kingdom fund public university libraries. The scenario is different in Nigeria as many libraries have funds from one source (the government) which is always insufficient. Given the difficulty of funding IT services in libraries around the world, several global, national, and regional organisations have stepped in to help libraries by giving funds or meeting some of their material requirements. For example, the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) subsidises publishers’ costs for providing major scientific journal databases accessible to developing countries (Mwai et al., 2014). Non-governmental, philanthropic, and other organisations have long ventured to save libraries. Likewise, Bowles (2016) revealed that public libraries in Toronto and Canada collected US$1.9 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to build and support 588 Internet-accessible workstations. Donations from such foundations help libraries provide services to their clients, enhance access to information, and encourage the usage of information resources. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Libraries Program has been strengthening and improving libraries for years. It spent over a billion dollars on nearly 30,000 libraries in over 20 countries, affecting the lives of over 253 million people. The foundation has also reached out to the South African National Library, giving access to information technology and relevant training (National Library of South Africa, 2018; Department of Arts & Culture, 2014). Likewise, Dangote and Tony Elumelu Foundations supported Nigerian libraries, primarily academic libraries. Few Nigerian university libraries had support from MTN Foundation regarding technology resources and Internet accessibility (Ibrahim, 2014, p.5); more support is needed from various agents. Furthermore, it is one thing to get grants is another thing to channel it appropriately. Therefore, donors of grants need to monitor the IT projects with the recipient libraries for maximum utilisation of the grants to achieve sustainable IT projects. Thus, dedicated and viable strategic funding systems can rescue the current economic condition, hindering libraries’ sustainable delivery of IT services.

Income Generation The other method for sustaining IT in libraries is generating income as an alternative funding means. This is also because academic and public libraries cannot finance their operations without a thriving alternative revenue generation. Again, given the severe financial crisis affecting all parts of the economy, it is reasonable for libraries to seek alternative revenue streams to sustain their services. Libraries must adopt strategies for revenue creation such as finding business opportunities, making enterprise analysis, 29

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product design and advancement and market strategy (Ibegwam & Ogunyade, 2008). Income-generating initiatives include consultancy and brokerages services and fee-based services like indexing and abstracting. Libraries can also engage in short courses and training (on reference managers, search strategies, research proposal writing and so on) for their clients at a fee. They can also conduct data analysis and presentation of research results for their clients and institutions for a fee. Likewise, libraries can generate alternative income by offering their clients a fee for proofreading and editorial services. Providing computer workstations to conduct research activities and interviews and Internet facilities for the clients at a fee can also bring substantial financial relief to the libraries (Adu-Sarkodee et al., 2016). Libraries must discover possible alternative revenue creation to sustain their IT projects. Alternative income-generating feasibility depends mainly on: the availability of policy that permits such adventure; the provision of working tools and equipment such as computer workstations with internet facilities. Also, training library staff on the various income generation initiatives and creating awareness and marketing of these services through orientation services help a lot in achieving income generation initiatives. Despite alternative funds, there must be proper monitoring of fair and efficient use of these funds for sustainable IT operations in libraries.

Consortia Model In legal terms, a consortium means collaboration with an external body to strengthen library projects. The consortium is a critical strategic network for the library’s IT sustainability. The consortium libraries share IT infrastructure, software, data, and personnel. According to Taole (2008), the basic principle of a consortium is “to share IT services among participants by leveraging and sharing national and international IT resources.” A perfect example of a consortium IT model is The HathiTrust digital library. HathiTrust, established in 2008, is a non-profit consortium of academic and research libraries that has preserved over 17 million digitised contents. HathiTrust provides reading privilege to the full text as permitted by US copyright law. It also offers electronic access to the entire collection of scholarly research and other new services based on the combined collection. HathiTrust members manage the collection, which is the most extensive collection of digitised books. Another successful consortia model is the consortium of private colleges and universities in the USA, known as The Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium (HEDS) (Liebst & Feinmark, 2016). Also, American Library Consortia are exceptionally built and functioning and host a considerable member of small–medium and large-sized libraries (Al-Baridi, 2016). These consortiums enable resource sharing, making information generation and dissemination in-expensive and sustainable.

License Negotiation A license negotiation strategy can help libraries improve their IT service delivery. A license negotiation is a contract that binds a memorandum of understanding between two or more individuals or groups to pin a tie or condition of activity or service (Beh & Smith, 2012). As a result of IT, information moves from print to electronic form; thus, absolute information sales are becoming less prevalent, while information leasing is becoming more popular. No library in the world owns all of the electronic information. To improve digital information services, libraries must procure digital information by contractual bargaining arrangements with publishers. In addition, license negotiation binds a content creator and the user

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to the terms and conditions for usage of content, thus, necessitating access to information products and content such as databases of journals, e-books and more (Beer et al., 2017). A good example of license negotiation is LIBLICENSE of the Yale University Library. The project was sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) in Washington, DC, to support the creation of an online tool to support academic research libraries in dealing with electronic licensing contracts. The tool was an online reader or textbook available to any interested organization via any standard web browser from the moment of creation. It gives libraries license to access the abundance of electronic scholarly and scientific resources. Another example is JSTOR, an electronic repository of scholarly journals started by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in 1995. JSTOR licenses this electronic repository to libraries. The licence can be free in the case of open access repositories with different creative common licenses. It can also be limited in nature, binding with copyright. In essence, the license negotiation of any type cuts down the cost of providing electronic information resources by the libraries to their patrons.

Collaboration Collaboration is a key strategy in which two or more individuals, companies, or organisations form intentional relationships to share their plans, materials, policies, design, and supply chain management (Anthony, 2000). The desire to effectively provide limited resources and financial management skills is the primary benefit of collaboration. Any library battling to survive at the time of economic meltdown cannot stand alone in offering electronic information services that are increasingly costly. Thus, a collaborative approach can sustain IT services in libraries. For example, the 4C (Collaboration to Clarify the Cost of Curation) project assists organisations across Europe in investing more effectively in digital curation and preservation. The cost and difficulty of digital preservation and curation have been highlighted in the research. 4C’s vision is to improve knowledge of digital curation costs through collaborative efforts (European Union, 2015). Also, IITA Knowledge Center collaborates with other Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) institution members to share an Institutional Repository (IR) known as CGSpace. The CGSpace objective is to share economic benefits, services, personnel and facilities costs among centers. In this age of technological emergence, Pollard and Tucker (2011) promote a collaborative strategy among university libraries to provide sustainable EIRs services. Other authors such as Pedersen (2017) and Stevenson (2018) also advocate for resource sharing, collaborative support, funding for higher education libraries, and professional advancement.

Pay Per Use Initiatives (PPU) The pay-per-use initiative is one of the economic strategies to ensure sustainable IT services provision in libraries. It is a subscription model to access affordable IT services using a pay-as-you-go model to prevent the wastage of funds. The demand for pay-per-use has increased as the libraries seek to go digital as the economy unravels. Pay-per-use is a widely accepted model in the technology industry, especially across Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Libraries have to pay only for specific services they have procured and deployed in their operations by paying monthly or annual subscriptions (Ojukwu, 2020). This ensures that the resources are not wasted. For example, 31

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the IITA Knowledge center subscribes to only the Life Science bundle from the Elsevier database to curb expenses. It also selected journals relevant to IITA mandate crops from the life science bundle and paid the subscription annually. Libraries of all types can absorb this initiative to manage the scarcity of finance by subscribing to information resources that are relevant to them. Libraries can also subscribe to Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms instead of building their software from scratch. E-reference, Ask a Librarian, E-circulation, and collaborative platforms are popular solutions accessible through pay-per-use models (Wada, 2018).

Social Sustainability Economic strategies cannot sustain information technology practices in libraries without strategic social initiatives aimed at providing services to library clients (Goulding, 2017). According to Abdulahi (2017), the perception of social sustainability is that coming generations should enjoy the social well-being of the current generation. However, IT in libraries is to guarantee the equity of access to and ease of use of information in all aspects of life and society (Chowdhury, 2014). In an ideal way, access to information relevant to people’s works or activities should be their right and must be correct and timely. So, the accessibility to information comprises all the related activities from discovery, access, and use/reuse of information for day-to-day activities. The social element includes planning, policy design and application, staff development, information literacy, and library social programs that will enhance equitable access and ease of information use. Here, the chapter looked into several parameters associated with the social sustainability of IT practices in libraries; these include:

Human Information Behaviour (HIB) Since the goal of any information technology in libraries is to satisfy the information needs of the enduser, it is therefore, necessary to study their information behaviour to sustain IT practices in the libraries. Human information behaviour is “the totality of human behaviour in relation to sources and channels of information including both active and passive information seeking, and information use.” It deals with searching or seeking information through information sources and retrieval systems. HIB knowledge will help libraries design policies related to obtaining information resources, improve the services rendered, and adopt required technologies (Tubachi, 2018).

Information and Technology Literacy The ability of a person to singly or otherwise use techniques, resources, operations, and systems appropriately to find and analyse information in any medium and to utilise that information: to solve problems, interact, make wise decisions, and generate new knowledge, products, or systems is referred to as information and technology literacy (Wisconsin, 2017). People’s lack of information and technology literacy can significantly impact their ability to access and use digital information. Thus, to ensure sustainable IT practices, libraries must create platforms for providing adequate and frequent information and technology literacy skills to the concerned stakeholders. According to Endouware and Dushu (2021), digital literacy skills are crucial for library operations in this 21st era. The study revealed a low digital literacy knowledge among librarians in the south-south part of Nigeria. They recommended that

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stakeholders should take practical steps to encourage digital literacy skill development among librarians in Nigeria. (Endouware & Dushu, 2021). In addition, a lack of digital literacy skills leads to social exclusion. Social exclusion can occur due to various elements, including a lack of access to ICT facilities and services and a lack of digital and information skills, which are needed for proper access to and use of digital services. Furthermore, the digital divide, common to developing countries like Nigeria, can significantly affect the adoption and sustainability of IT in libraries.

Open Access Initiative Open access has been identified as one means of assuring social sustainability. Peer-reviewed scholarly papers and literature are made accessible online to interested readers through open access. There are two types of open access: gratis and libre. Gratis open access makes articles available for free for others to read. However, it does not authorise the user the right to copy, disseminate, or alter the work beyond fair use. Libre open access is free, but it does so by affording users additional rights via a Creative Commons license, allowing them to reuse and remake the studies (Holm & Chernoff, 2022). Many research funders and organisations are now encouraging open access strategies by requesting that researchers self-archive their published research papers. For example, NIH-funded researchers must send an electronic copy of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central upon acceptance for publishing. They must be made publicly available within twelve months of the official publication date (US National Institute of Health, 2021). Similarly, all researchers funded in whole or part by The Wellcome Trust must send electronic copies of their peer-reviewed journal articles to be made available as early as possible after the official publication date through PubMed Central (PMC) and Europe PubMed Central (Europe PMC). The self-archiving process has resulted in the creation of several specialised electronic libraries, such as PubMed Central, as well as institutional repositories at many different institutional levels to improve equality of access and ease of use of information (Chowdhury, 2014). However, Chowdhury (2014) noted that the social sustainability of open access still has countless issues comprising economic sustainability and acknowledgement of open access publishing that require investigation to come up with consistent datasets. When we consider how the criteria for social sustainability affect and are being affected by the factors associated with the economic and environmental sustainability of digital information systems and services, social sustainability issues become more complex.

Policy and Legal Issues Several policies and legal issues influence the development and application of information technology in libraries. A strategic policy is a written plan that guides actions like decision-making. It provides a general framework for operation and is used by an organisation to carry out its goals. ‘Policies are working rules that define how to maintain order, offer security, and continuity while achieving or promoting a goal’ (Jose et al., 2011). It is a framework for coordinating members and their activities in an organisational structure to ensure efficiency and productivity. For instance, different research funding bodies’ open access policies can significantly impact the economic and social sustainability of information technology practices in libraries. Many research donors and organisations now endorse the axiom of open access

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and encourage researchers to self-archive their publications; some even make it mandatory. For example, the public access policy of the US National Institute of Health (NIH) states that all investigators funded by the NIH submit or have submitted for them to the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed Central an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication. (USNIH, 2021) Regarding regulation concerning information services, the National Library act and Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and agencies under the ministry of education, like the Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), design information communication policies. Thus, to achieve the social sustainability of IT practices in libraries, there must be enabling policies and regulations that enhance easy and unrestricted access to information.

Environmental Sustainability Environmental sustainability of information technology in the library considers the effect of various IT infrastructures and equipment used throughout the information life cycle, i.e., creation, access, use, storage, preservation, and re-usable on the environment (Abdulahi, 2017). The environmental component assesses the ecological impact, technological facilities, shared space, etc. For libraries to deploy efficient, effective and sustainable IT in their operations, attention must be on environmental strategies (green space, information commons, computer infrastructure upgrade and update, constant electricity supply and many others (Ujukwe, 2020). According to Chowdhury (2012), IT infrastructures deeply affect the environment, causing about two percent of Greenhouse Gas emissions. The information services sector generates significant GHG emissions due to the extensive use of IT infrastructures and equipment. A good example was Google in 2020; its overall energy consumption has increased over the last few years, reaching 15.4 TWh (Jaganmohan, 2022). Thus, this section aims to increase the understanding of cloud computing and how libraries can make the most of its solutions to produce services that use less energy and re-usable resources to reduce waste and preserve the environment. Ensuring environmentally sustainable IT practices involves combining a series of strategies to reduce environmental impact through optimising cloud solutions. Turek et al. (2021) revealed that modern technologies like cloud computing solutions significantly reduce the economic and environmental impacts of digital information. According to their study, the impact of cloud computing on an organization’s carbon footprint is a significant area of concern in environmental safety. It is thus believed that technology such as cloud computing can lessen energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to environmental protection.

Cloud Computing Cloud computing is an emerging model in which large distributed systems are interconnected in private or public networks to provide a rapidly scalable infrastructure for application, data, and file storage. The emergence of this technology has dramatically improved the quality of computation, application hosting, content storage, and delivery. Cloud computing is a realistic way to realise immediate cost savings, and it can change a data center from a capital-intensive set-up to a variable-priced environment (Khan, 34

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2017). Also, The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defined cloud computing as “a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction (Mell & Grance, 2011, p. 2)”. Cloud computing is a model of shared services over a network to maximise the efficiency of the resources. These resources are distributed among several users worldwide, thus maximising the computing power and reducing environmental harm. In short, cloud computing is a sophisticated model that enables outsourcing IT solutions such as storage, computation, and software such as enterprise resource planning through the Internet (Al-Fouri, et al., 2018). Most organisations are shifting towards cloud computing due to its ease of management and administration involving software upgrades and bug fixes. Cloud computing allows companies especially those who lack the financial capability for large IT architectural investments, to take advantage of the economy of scale provided on the cloud. Cloud computing provides subscription-based services accessible on-demand via the Internet to host users’ applications. Also, the cloud providers ensure that the cloud components, such as servers, network devices, and storage devices, are operational 24/7 to ensure service availability and reliability (Gill & Buyya, 2019). The provider is accountable for the proper operation of IT solutions available in the cloud to many recipients and has the equipment to enable the measurability and accountability of services used by a given recipient. Therefore, libraries can also leverage this to sustain their IT projects. Many organisations choose cloud computing because of its cost-effectiveness, especially for entrepreneurs, because they do not need to purchase new hardware, software, or licences. Cloud computing saves time and money for businesses by increasing efficiency, fostering coordination, and encouraging innovation (Chauhan, 2020). Aside from that, cloud computing is a more eco-friendly approach. Even more businesses are reducing their carbon footprint to develop a long-term sustainable growth strategy that does not harm the environment. Instead of each company having its hardware, companies share the same hardware to maximise utilisation. For instance, Microsoft Corporation and WSP Global Inc found that cloud computing significantly reduces energy consumption and wastage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 93% and 98%, respectively than on-premises data centres (Chauhan, 2020). By moving to the cloud, libraries can derive the following environmental benefits regarding the sustainability of IT projects (Walleit, 2021).

Reduction in Energy Use An on-site IT center needs a substantial amount of power to operate effectively. It requires a regular energy supply for the server and a cooling system to avoid high temperatures. Also, when the equipment becomes obsolete, it must be disposed of–increasing e-waste. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) confirms that data centres use roughly 1.8% of total power utilisation in the US each year which translates to around 70 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually (Spicer, 2019). The cloud platform helps lower these statistics considerably. Research funded by Google and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in collaboration with Northwestern University showed that IT using cloud solutions would reduce electricity usage by 87%. According to Walleit (2021), the cloud’s efficiency and scalability reduce power consumption and waste. Companies can cut costs and reduce the need for maintenance and upgrades by reducing the need for hardware. As more and more industries shift to cloud platforms, energy consumption drops 35

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drastically. Thus, libraries can save 60-85% in energy costs by switching to the cloud. If companies in the developed world are shifting to cloud technologies, how much more are libraries in the developing world. Therefore, African libraries can achieve economic and environmentally sustainable IT projects using cloud solutions instead of on-site applications. Wada (2018) said that libraries could adopt several service models such as the Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) for their IT solutions pertinent to their needs. 1. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a licensing model in which the solution is accessed via the internet. Clients who choose the SaaS model do not have to worry about installing, configuring, running, or maintaining the applications. The vendor is in charge of security, availability, and updates. Examples include Alma, Primo, Aleph, Voyager, Meet 360, RapidILL, Rapido, Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365, etc. 2. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a service that delivers computing infrastructure, virtual machines, networking, and storage modules on-demand via the internet. Google Compute Engine, Amazon EC2, and Microsoft Azure are examples of IaaS models. 3. Platform as a Software (PaaS) offers a robust environment (i.e. an operating system, a database and a programming interface) as a service upon which clients can build their applications. Amazon Elastic Beanstalk, Windows Azure, and Google Compute Engine are all examples of PaaS (Ransom, 2021).

Decrease Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions The information center emits considerable Green House Gas (GHG) from their energy consumption, but this could be reduced drastically with the Cloud platform. According to Spicer (2019), a survey conducted by Accenture, Microsoft, and WSP in 2016 revealed that cloud computing substantially reduced carbon emissions. It affirmed that large companies could reduce their per-user carbon footprint by 30% and up to 90% for small enterprises using cloud solutions. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) report contends that offsite services can reduce 85.7 million metric tons of annual carbon emissions. In 2010, Salesforce, an American cloud computing firm reduced its carbon footprint by 170,900 tons. Therefore, with these reports, libraries could ensure the environmental sustainability of their IT projects by adopting cloud solutions.

Virtualisation for Sustainability Virtualization is used in cloud computing to enhance environmental sustainability. Virtualization is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model which enables organisations to use online servers to create virtual machines (VMs) and run multiple applications. It helps companies reduce their overall carbon footprint and energy consumption by replacing high-carbon physical machines with virtual equivalents (Spicer, 2019). The use of machines and hardware that use less energy with lower environmental impact is achievable through virtualisation. That is, migrating an on-premises IT infrastructure to cloud-based means using fewer servers, which consume less energy and have lower environmental impacts. According to Derek, Eisenbrown & Sobrinski (2018)), changing computer resources from traditional on-premises data centers to hyper-scale data centres that power the cloud reduces the carbon footprint of information and communication technologies and help responsibly power the IT 36

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revolution. As a result, cloud computing reduces waste from the disposal of obsolete IT equipment by reducing physical equipment and hardware usage. Consequently, with cloud solutions, libraries can lower the cost of energy consumption and reduce the IT cost in the long run. Also, cloud solutions relieve libraries from the stress of daily IT tasks and issues and allow them to concentrate their time and efforts on more critical projects. Also, cloud computing can assist libraries in going paperless. One no longer needs to print documents to sign them when using cloud-based services like DocuSign. Libraries can become paperless by adopting cloud storage platforms such as DropBox, SharePoint, Google Drive, etc. Going paperless reduces the need to dispose of harmful documents to the environment (Walleit, 2021). Good examples of cloud computing in libraries are the United States of America Green Library Movement (GLM) started in the early 1990s to ensure that libraries are environmentally friendly. GLM consists of librarians, cities, towns, college and university campuses to ensure that libraries are environmentally friendly. This can be realised through initiatives such as building green libraries, providing green library services, greening the existing library facilities, and adopting eco-friendly and sustainable procedures within libraries (Antonelli, 2008). Thus, cloud-based information services can enhance the environmental sustainability of IT practices in libraries. However, cloud-based information services are associated with several social-cultural and user-related issues, such as access and management issues related to sensitive data and information, information behaviour of users vis-à-vis remote access to data and content, institutional and user culture concerning access and use of remote digital content and data, and so on. (Chowdhury, 2014; Chauhan, 2020).

CONCLUSION This chapter has explored some strategic initiatives libraries can adopt to ensure sustainable information technology practice. To build sustainable IT operations in libraries, attention must be given to the three sustainability models (economic, social and environmental). The economic sustainability of IT considered issues such as non-expensive, easier, and better access to information via a sustainable business/funding mechanism. Alternative sources of funding IT in libraries such as grant applications, income generation, a consortia model, License negotiation, collaboration, and Pay Per Use are the recommended strategies for achieving economically sustained IT in libraries. The social sustainability of IT aims to ensure equity of access to and ease of use of information by all people. Thus, social elements such as human information behaviour, information and technology literacy, open access/open source initiatives, and policy and legal issues were considered necessary to ensure the social sustainability of IT practices in libraries. Lastly, the environmental sustainability of information technology in the library considers the effect of various IT infrastructures and equipment used throughout the information life cycle. Cloud solutions were examined as a better choice to ensure environmentally sustainable IT practices in libraries. The benefits of cloud solutions that guarantee sustained IT in libraries include: energy use reduction, decreased Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, virtualisation, and renewable energy sources. Generally, the strategies and initiatives to ensure sustainable IT practice in the library can serve as bases for future study and development with a complete assessment of IT in libraries and the different issues that have repercussions for all three types of sustainability.

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