Technologies in Two Academic Libraries During the Covid-19 Pandemic The Case of the Alma Jordan Library and the Open Campus Libraries and Information Services, The University of the West Indies

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new environment described as the ‘new normal,’ changing the way people live, learn, work, and communicate. Academic libraries have followed the lead of other sectors – business, government, health, and education – in adopting Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to re-engineer operations and re-imagine services which are supportive of teaching, learning, and research. This chapter presents case studies that highlight existing and potential applications of 4IR technologies at two academic libraries in the Caribbean, the Alma Jordan Library (AJL) and Open Campus Libraries and Information Services (OCLIS) at The University of the West Indies (UWI). The chapter discusses the short-term implementation of an artificial intelligence-driven digital assistant responsive to first-line reference and research queries at the AJL and explores the future potential deployment of 4IR technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, robotics, the internet of things, and 3D printing in academic libraries to enhance experiential teaching and learning experiences. The chapter concludes by showing how academic libraries’ adoption of a best practice model can enable the seamless integration of 4IR technologies into programmes, products, and services.