AWARENESS AND UTILISATION OF CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES BY LIBRARIANS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES OF NORTH EAST ZONE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the awareness and utilisation of cloud computing technologies by librarians in academic libraries of the North-East Zone, Nigeria. The study pursued four objectives and tested one null hypothesis, adopting a survey research design. The population comprised 209 librarians drawn from three federal university libraries in the zone, namely Ramat Library, University of Maiduguri; Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Library, Yobe State University, Damaturu; and Zubairu Mohammed Library, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. The entire population was studied given its manageable size. Data were collected using a self-designed questionnaire titled the Questionnaire on Awareness and Utilisation of Cloud Computing Technologies by Librarians in Academic Libraries (QEAUCTLAL), which was pilot-tested among 30 library staff at Federal University Kashere Library, Gombe State, yielding a Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of 0.87. A total of 157 questionnaires were returned and used for analysis, representing a 75.1% response rate. Descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentages were used to answer research questions one to three, while simple linear regression was used to answer research question four and test the hypothesis at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed an overall awareness level of 58.3%, indicating that librarians were generally aware of cloud computing technologies, although awareness of institutional repositories, Google Apps, Dropbox, and WorldCat remained below average. However, utilisation of cloud computing technologies for service delivery was found to be generally low, with 66.1% of responses indicating low or zero extent of use, apart from web-based email, which recorded the highest utilisation. Major challenges identified included slow internet connectivity, epileptic power supply, inadequate technical skills, data security concerns, irregular staff training, and data privacy issues, with 64.6% of respondents affirming these as significant barriers. Regression analysis showed that awareness had a very strong positive influence on utilisation of cloud computing technologies (R = 0.813, R² = 0.661, F(1,155) = 85.85, p < .05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concluded that although librarians in the North-East Zone possess a reasonable level of awareness of cloud computing technologies, this awareness has not translated into extensive professional utilisation, largely due to infrastructural, technical, and institutional constraints. The study recommended enhanced awareness campaigns, provision of reliable power and internet infrastructure, sustained staff training, and stronger institutional support to improve the utilisation of cloud computing technologies in academic library service delivery in the zone.