Perceptions of academic librarians’ use of mobile technology in providing library services at UOTs in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Globally, libraries have begun to change how they provide services. Technology, in particular mobile technology, is one factor that is enormously contributing to how libraries are changing their ways of providing services. In higher education institutions such as academic libraries, employees are now expected to offer support and services in ways that resonate with the current generation. This study investigates the perceptions of academic librarians on the use of mobile technology to provide library services at the UOTs in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The objectives of the study were to determine the social influences contributing to the adoption of mobile technology; the perceptions of academic librarians on the usefulness of mobile technology; the efforts required to successfully adopt mobile technology and the facilitating conditions that may be contributing to the behavioural intention to adopt mobile technology. The study objectives were aligned with the UTAUT theoretical framework and its constructs of social influence, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, and facilitating conditions. Furthermore, the study also aimed to determine if academic librarians are endorsing the adoption of mobile technology and to explore the usefulness and challenges experienced by academic librarians in the process of adopting mobile technology. The target population for this study were academic librarians employed to deliver professional services. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from participants. The results point out that academic librarians are endorsing the adoption of mobile technology as a delivery model for library services. Library managers and users are encouraging librarians to adopt mobile technology. Factors such as global library trends, internal university support, and the COVID-19 pandemic have encouraged the adoption of mobile technology. Further, the study also reveals that some effort is required to successfully adopt mobile technology for library services. However, due to the challenges mentioned in the study, the majority still believe that their libraries are not ready to fully adopt mobile technology. Recommendations are made on several challenges affecting academic libraries with possible solutions to the current challenges.