Influence of Social Media Devices on Level of Competency and Readiness among Tertiary Institution Librarians in Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the influence of social media devices on level of competency and readiness among tertiary institution librarians in katsina state, Nigeria. The study specifically investigated whether librarians’ competencies and readiness influence the use of social media for information service delivery. A quantitative research approach using a descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study comprised all one hundred and forty one librarians in the thirteen (13) tertiary institutions in Katsina State. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and was validated by experts in Library and Information Science, statistics, and English language. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-test analysis with the aid of SPSS version 23. Findings revealed that librarians possessed moderate levels of competency (overall mean = 3.38) and readiness (overall mean = 3.31) in the use of social media for information service delivery. The t-test results indicated that librarians’ competencies significantly influenced the use of social media for information services (t = 2.118, p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. However, librarians’ readiness did not significantly influence social media use (t = 0.277, p > 0.05). The study concludes that while librarians demonstrate positive attitudes and willingness toward social media adoption, practical skills and professional competencies are more critical determinants of effective utilization than readiness alone. The study recommends continuous professional training for librarians and improved institutional support, including adequate ICT infrastructure and clear social media policies, to enhance the effective use of social media for information service delivery in academic libraries.