Impact of Emerging Technologies in Libraries: Issues and Opportunities

Abstract

The employment of numerous modern technologies is possible in libraries. Emerging technology are technologies that has attained the highest level of acceptance. Technologies that support user services, instructions, library management, and technical services are included in emerging technology. These new technologies have given libraries all over the world fantastic potential to improve user access to library and information services. Libraries in developed countries have been using emerging technologies like Robotics, Cloud Computing, RFID, Big Data, Institutional Repositories, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Book Delivery Drones, and Web 2.0 to provide library and information services. Libraries in Nigeria shouldn't be an exception and should embrace and use these technologies as well in order to better serve their users. This paper describes emerging technology, emerging technology in and for libraries through a survey of the literature that is currently available. There have been several benefits stated for integrating emerging technology in libraries, including an increase in patronage, cost and time savings, and brand loyalty. Also mentioned were the difficulties preventing the widespread application of developing technologies in libraries. The article closed with crucial suggestions for resolving the problems.