Abstract
This paper examines the role of digital data management in enhancing library service
delivery within the context of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR). Drawing on extant
literature and selected Nigerian and global case examples, the study analyses how
emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and big
data analytics are reshaping library operations. The paper focuses on key components of
digital data management, including data governance, digital cataloguing, institutional
repositories, metadata creation, access control, and disaster recovery. Findings indicate
that while global institutions operate within structured governance and technological
frameworks, many Nigerian academic libraries continue to face challenges relating to
inadequate funding, weak digital policies, infrastructural deficits, and limited technical
capacity. The study recommends targeted professional training in digital librarianship,
increased investment in cloud-based infrastructure, the formulation of comprehensive data
governance and disaster recovery policies, and strengthened inter-institutional
collaboration through library consortia. It concludes that effective digital data management
is critical for repositioning academic libraries as resilient, user-centred knowledge hubs in
the 5IR era.
Keywords: Digital Data Management, Library Services, Fifth Industrial Revolution
(5IR) Academic Libraries, Information Technology
Publication Date: 2026-02-05