Abstract
This study examined the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness, digital
competence, and institutional support on innovative service delivery in selected public
university libraries in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory
design was adopted. The target population comprised 199 academic librarians across
Ahmadu Bello University Library (n = 121), Kaduna State University Library (n = 64),
and Nigerian Defence Academy Library (n = 14). Total population sampling was
employed; 191 usable questionnaires were returned (97.0% response rate). The AI
Readiness, Digital Competence and Innovative Service Delivery Questionnaire
(ARDCISD-Q, Cronbach alpha = 0.89) was used for quantitative data collection, while 12
in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions (n = 18) provided qualitative
data. Findings revealed that AI readiness (Grand Mean = 2.74), digital competence
(Grand Mean = 2.86), and institutional support (Grand Mean = 2.50) all significantly
influenced innovative service delivery (Grand Mean = 2.77). Multiple regression
confirmed that the three predictors jointly explained 68.6% of variance in innovative
service delivery (R² = 0.686, F(3,187) = 136.44, p < 0.001), with institutional support as
the strongest predictor (β = 0.412), followed by digital competence (β = 0.338) and AI
readiness (β = 0.267). The study recommends a National AI Readiness Framework for
Academic Libraries, mandatory digital competence certification, dedicated innovation
funding, and formal institutional AI policies.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence readiness; digital competence; institutional support;
innovative service delivery; university libraries
Publication Date: 2026-05-03