Web 2.0 tools usage: a comparative study of librarians in university libraries in Nigeria and South Africa

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the extent to which librarians in university libraries in Nigeria and South Africa use Web 2.0 tools.Design/methodology/approachThe study is a descriptive survey using comparative method. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 110 librarians from 11 leading university libraries in Nigeria and South Africa.FindingsThe results showed that the librarians from both countries use Web 2.0 tools, but differences exist between the librarians in university libraries in Nigeria and South Africa. It emerged that librarians in South Africa use various Web 2.0 tools frequently, more than the librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. This might be as a result of lack of awareness, lack of interest, lack of skills, and not willing to embrace emerging technologies on the part of librarians in university libraries in Nigeria. The results revealed that librarians in university libraries in Nigeria are confronted with challenges such as power failure, lack of facilities, lack internet connectivity and lack of skills when compared to their South African counterparts in the use of Web 2.0 tools.Originality/valueThese research results can be consulted by interested librarians, mostly in developing countries, when planning for Web 2.0 applications in their libraries.