Use and Impact of Social Media Tools for Information Services: A Lens on Librarians in State Polytechnics of North - East Nigeria

Abstract

This study employed an ex post facto descriptive survey research design to examine the use and impact of social media tools (SMTs) in the provision of library services among academic librarians in state-owned polytechnics in North-East Nigeria. The instrument's reliability was confirmed with a robust Cronbach's Alpha value of 0.89. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed a high adoption rate and significant experience in social media use among librarians in the region. WhatsApp and Facebook were identified as the most popular and user-friendly tools for library services. While librarians overwhelmingly reported a positive perception and high impact of social media on their services, a critical analysis of the data showed a weak and statistically non-significant positive relationship between social media use and its perceived impact (r=0.184, p>0.05). The study found a statistically significant impact only on specific services, such as teaching basic library search tools and facilitating user inquiries. The study recommends that future research with a larger sample size be conducted to bridge the gap between perception and verifiable outcomes