Digital transformation and innovation of academic libraries: A content analysis

Abstract

This study reviews literature on the digital transformation and innovation of academic libraries. Content analysis methodology was used to review literature. Various search engines including Alta Vista, Yahoo and Google were used to search for relevant studies carried out  between 2010 and 2022 on the digital transformation and innovation of academic libraries. The literature review also retrieved sources  from books, journals (print) and online databases such as Library and Information Science Abstract (LISA), Science Direct, EBSCOHOST,  Emerald, Africa Journal Online (AJOL) and Google Scholar. Purposive sampling was used for identifying literature on digital  transformation and innovation of academic libraries. Forty Five (45) publications were selected. Digital transformation and innovation of  academic libraries identified in the literature include: Transformation of Digital Resources, Digital Transformation towards Library  Collections, Digital transformation in the management of digital technologies, Digital technology as platforms for innovation and  creativity, Digital Transformation for Interaction. Findings from the articles reviewed show that academic libraries from developed countries have utilized digital technology to transformed library services for development. However, findings also show that academic  libraries from developing countries, especially Africa, are still lagging behind to transform digital contents to provide effective  information services in the library. The paper concludes that despite changes brought by the digital transformation and innovations,  disparities still exist between developed and developing countries in transforming library services with digital contents. The paper  recommends that academic libraries should intensify in rigorous research in areas of digital technologies to transform digital  innovations.