Applications of Internet of Things in university libraries of Pakistan: An empirical investigation

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the applications of the Internet of Things (IoTs) and highlights the challenges faced to implement IoTs in Pakistani university libraries. This study opted exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach and was completed in two phases. In the first phase, purposefully selected university librarians were interviewed. In the second phase, quantitative data were collected from 122 university librarians across Pakistan. This study found that Pakistani university libraries implemented IoTs-based appliances including smart air conditioners, automatic fire alarms, smart hand sanitizer machines, and smart security doors. Moreover, the university libraries were using limited IoT-based services that are auto notification of check-out, check-in the reading materials, self-check-out and self-check-in system, recognition of user's card, and the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags for security perspective. The major challenges to implementing IoTs applications were found lack of a highly networked and integrated environment, budget problems, unavailability of policy and strategic plan, and the lack of technical personnel. This novel study explains the extent of IoTs applications and the challenges to adopt and implement IoTs in Pakistani university libraries. The research findings would be useful for library and university administrators who are interested to implement IoTs applications in their libraries.