Digital Transformation of Academic Libraries in Developing Countries in Africa

Abstract

The concept of digital transformation in academic libraries and academic institutions is pretty new, especially, in developing countries. Digital transformation process is more common in businesses and entrepreneurship, where the focus is on increase of revenue and profits as opposed to academic libraries, where the focus is on user satisfaction and efficiency in service delivery. Digital transformation in academic library focuses mainly on user satisfaction as such, this paper offers valuable information to academic libraries and academic institutions in the implementation of digital transformation processes. The paper critically analyses and explores the digital transformation process in academic libraries and its implementation in developing countries in Africa, it establishes appropriate digital transformation process that academic libraries can adopt so as to ensure a smooth digital transformation process. Using the Disruptive Technology theory, the paper clearly explains and highlights the relationship between implementation of digitalization and the digital transformation processes. From the paper, the importance of digital transformation processes in academic libraries and academic institutions from developing countries is established. The paper concludes by sharing factors and challenges that will enable the implementation of digital transformation process in academic libraries.