SOCIAL MEDIA USE: A CATALYST FOR SERVICE DELIVERY IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The study examined social media use: A catalyst for service delivery in academic libraries in south-south Nigeria. Four objectives and research questions guided the study.Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study (197) comprises of 82 library staff in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Edo State, 90 in the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, and 25 in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Akwa Ibom State all in South-South Nigeria. No sample was used for the study due to the manageable size of the population. A structured questionnaire titled "Social Media Use For Service Delivery Questionnaire" (SMUSDQ) was developed in line with the research questions. Copies of the questionnaire which contained questions and thirty-five items were distributed to the respondents and collected on the spot while 100 percent return-rate was achieved. Data collected was analysed using frequency tables and simplle percentages. The findings of the study indicated that social media platforms used by library staff for services delivery include Whatsapp, Facebook, Telegram, Twitter, also that the services rendered by library staff using social media include current awareness services, display of new arrivals, reference service, posting of library and instituition's events, overdue reminder user education, document delivery service, reservation service.