Understanding the 21st- century library users to enhance service delivery in Nigeria academic libraries
Abstract
This paper explores the library environment where twenty-first-century users (new users) are expected. The skill set of the new users includes critical thinking, communication skills, creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, collaboration, information literacy, technology and digital literacy skills, media literacy, global awareness, self-direction, social skills, literacy skills, civic literacy, social responsibility, and innovation skills. The library users of the 21st century, Nigeria, expect to meet an equally modern library environment comparable to what exists in information societies where electronic resources are sufficiently available. The objective of the paper is to understand the new users and how best to be served by academic libraries in Nigeria. The paper identifies a major concern of non-readiness on the part of academic libraries thus discouraging 21st-century users. It concludes that today’s users are technology savvy and can only be satisfied with automated library services, and user-friendly space with technology-driven library staff. The paper relies on theoretical analysis as a methodology and recommends that library stakeholders should understand the peculiar nature of the new users and improve the funding pattern of libraries to provide all necessary resources and facilities to attract and sustain the patronage of 21st-century library users.
Keywords: Academic libraries, 21st century, new users, information infrastructure, information society, e-resources
