USING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN LIBRARY SERVICE DELIVERY: AVENUES FOR INFORMATION DISSEMINATION AND BUILDING USERS’ CONFIDENCE IN LIBRARY

Abstract

This research paper focused on ‘Using Social Media Platforms in Library Service Delivery: Avenues for Information Dissemination and Building Users’ Confidence in Library’. It is a conceptual research article which adopted systematic literature review, a method that entails critical review of relevant scholarly publications in order to collect relevant data. National and international journal articles, conference papers & proceedings, textbooks, online information sources etc. were accessed and reviewed accordingly. Findings on research objective one revealed that SMPs are known and widely used for library service delivery, especially, among the academic and national library clients. On research objective two, findings show that various types of SMPs are involved in library service delivery, which include social networking sites, media sharing networks, discussion forum, blogging and publishing networks, messaging and private community platforms and visual bookmarking & curation sites. On the third research objective, findings revealed that users build confidence in using library where SMPs are integrated to library service. However, this is more prominent among the digital native. On the fourth research objective, findings revealed that, as adoption of SMPs to library service delivery has certain challenges and consideration. For instance, inadequacies in connectivity infrastructure, issue of training librarians, issue of user privacy, cyber bullying, fraud and addiction. It is recommended that other type of libraries should adopt SMP in library service delivery. Adopting SMP relevant to peculiar need of the library is recommended. Adoption of SMP among libraries should be encouraged and sustained.