Empowering Librarians in the Fifth Industrial Revolution: Navigating Skills, Challenges, and Strategies for Effective Library Services in Open and Distance Learning

Abstract

The study aimed at investigating librarians and the fifth industrial revolution skills, challenges, and strategies for effective library services delivery in an Open and Distance Learning. The research employed the descriptive survey design, and the entire population of sixty (60) librarians in National Open University of Nigeria was used. The Google Form questionnaire was used for the collection of data. The Google Form questionnaire was sent to all the librarians’ email and in their WhatsApp group account. Forty-five (45) out of sixty (60) respondents filled the form correctly and submitted. The study utilized Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyse the responses, which were coded in a spread sheet. Many surveyed librarians affirmed their possession of the necessary skills and competencies to implement the 5th Industrial Revolution in library services provision, with mean scores and Standard Deviation (SD ranging from 3.64:0.484 to 3.00:0.798. Findings revealed that librarians exhibit collaborative and digital skills essential for working with both people and machines in delivering library services to learners. However, many respondents acknowledged that there are challenges associated with the implementation but agreed that improved power supply, continuous learning, training and retraining of librarians in conference and workshops to acquire necessary skills could be strategic factors for libraries to effectively implement the 5th Industrial Revolution and enhance library services delivery for their learners.