PREPAREDNESS AND ADAPTATION OF LIBRARIANS IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LIBRARIES IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA WITH THE 5TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Abstract

This study investigated the preparedness and adaptability of librarians in colleges of education within the context of the 5th Industrial Revolution. The research was driven by the growing use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), FRID systems, and smart devices that are transforming routine and library information service delivery. The researchers employed a descriptive survey research design and sampled librarians from various colleges of education using a two-stage sampling technique. Three institutions were selected: Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State (29 respondents); Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo (53 respondents); and Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos State (18 respondents). The study included all 100 librarians and senior library staff due to the manageable population size. Data were analyzed and interpreted using SPSS version 24, with results presented in terms of simple percentages, means, standard deviations, and correlations. The findings reveal that librarians are aware of the impact of the 5th Industrial Revolution on library service delivery, as indicated by a grand mean of 3.01. Furthermore, the results suggest that librarians in colleges of education in Southwest Nigeria are well adapted to the use of 5IR, with a grand mean of 2.96. The study concludes that respondents are well prepared and effectively adapted to utilizing 5IR technologies. However, inadequate ICT tools and limited resources remain barriers to full adaptation, reflected by a grand mean of 2.49. The study recommends that continuous professional development is essential for librarians to keep pace with emerging information trends and technological advancements in the era of the 5th Industrial Revolution.