Nexus between Digital Facilities Usage and Library Users in University Libraries

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between digital service provision and user satisfaction in university libraries in Delta State, Nigeria, addressing a critical gap in understanding technology's role in academic library service quality within developing educational contexts. Employing a quantitative correlational design, the research systematically analyzed associations between digital service delivery and satisfaction metrics among 215 systematically sampled participants from a target population of 2,155 library users and staff. Validated instruments - the Provision of digital facilities Scale (α=0.74) and User Satisfaction Scale (α=0.85) - facilitated robust data collection. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation coefficients and ANOVA (α=0.005), revealed significant positive relationships between digital facilities and satisfaction outcomes. Notably, web-based OPAC services (r=0.72, p<0.005), digital library resources (r=0.68, p<0.005), and electronic document delivery systems (r=0.65, p<0.005) demonstrated particularly strong associations with user satisfaction. These findings empirically validate the critical role of technological infrastructure in enhancing academic library service quality, suggesting that strategic ICT investments significantly influence patron experiences. The study recommends that university administrators prioritize comprehensive digital infrastructure development through sustainable funding models, including public-private partnerships, to maintain service excellence. These results contribute substantially to library science literature by providing empirical evidence from an understudied regional context, highlighting the transformative potential of ICT integration in academic library services within resource-constrained environments.