Awareness and Perception of Librarians towards Implementation of Blockchain for Library Service Delivery in Federal University Libraries Northern Nigeria

This study examined the awareness, perception, and challenges associated with the implementation of blockchain technology for library service delivery in Federal University Libraries in Northern Nigeria. The research was guided by two research questions and three corresponding null hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, with a population of seventy-two librarians working in the E-library divisions of nine federal university libraries. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.83 and analyzed using mean, standard deviation, chi-square, and one-sample t-test at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that librarians demonstrated a low overall level of awareness of blockchain technology (Cluster Mean = 2.23 ± 0.60), although they showed basic understanding of its concepts and potential benefits for enhancing digital security, transparency, and resource management. However, librarians exhibited a high level of perception (Cluster Mean = 3.44 ± 1.17), indicating strong optimism regarding blockchain’s relevance and transformative potential in improving library operations, record integrity, and service efficiency. The study also identified significant challenges hindering blockchain implementation (Cluster Mean = 3.73 ± 1.18), including high costs, inadequate infrastructure, limited technical expertise, integration difficulties, policy and legal uncertainties, and institutional resistance. Hypotheses testing showed significant differences in librarians’ awareness (?² = 87.68, p < 0.05) and perception (?² = 9.697, p < 0.05) across institutions, while challenges associated with blockchain implementation were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The study concludes that despite librarians’ positive perception of blockchain technology, its adoption in Federal University Libraries in Northern Nigeria is constrained by structural, technical, and institutional barriers. The study recommends professional training, infrastructure development, policy formulation, and strategic planning to enhance blockchain adoption in academic library services.