Emerging Trends and Impact of Internet of Things in Academic Libraries

Abstract

The advent of smart new technologies, smart mobile connections and online services has a great impact on all  aspects our life and activities. Also this advancement has many impacts on the world around us. Today, libraries  and library services have great impact on the world. The aim of the current study is to introduce readers with new  technologies applied to Internet of Things (IoT) that can help libraries to improve their services and increase users’  satisfaction. This study also tries to present about the possible areas of implementing the concept of IoT in academic  libraries and user satisfaction on the IoT based library services and resources. Online survey from selected  Educational Institutions was conducted and Data collected from a survey of a sample of 183 library users to analyse  the importance and satisfaction of IoT based services and resources. Possible areas for implementing IoT in libraries  - improve access to the library and its resources, collection management, recommendation service, location-based  service, appliances management, usage statistics, and information literacy. The IoT technology will notify and fulfils  the user-related queries through on internet i.e., self-check-in, self-check-out, overdue reminders, online fine  payment, misplaced books on shelves, etc. The study observed that the maximum number of respondents used  WhatsApp and Facebook respectively. Meantime, the libraries should concentrate more on interaction through  videoconferencing like, Google Meet, Zoom etc. and library tutorial. 73% of the respondents are highly using the Swayam and the second highest is e-Pathshala with 48%. The institutes provide remote based library resources and  services through cloud-based access on the basis of IoT i.e. Deep knowledge – remote access, Bookshelf - Mobile App  and Ezproxy –Server. Most of the higher educational institutes prefer to subscribe the Deep knowledge portal on the  basis of users’ satisfaction. In IoT based modern library services, it is understood that three parameters such as  Academic Performance Support and Infrastructure are having significant association with the satisfaction level of  5% and training is having significant association with the satisfaction level of 1% respectively. IoT based library  services and resources can be implemented in the all sections of libraries functions and services i.e. collection  management, Library Marketing services, Information literacy programs, effective utilization of online learning  portals, accessing of library resources, etc. ICT and Information literacy should be compulsorily included as part of  the curriculum in order to equip the students and faculties for face the current digital IoT environment efficiently.