GAMIFYING LIBRARY ENGAGEMENT: A STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE PATRONAGE AT FUTO

Abstract

Libraries have long been hailed as the vibrant epicenters of academic excellence, poised to positively influence students' academic achievements through the wealth of resources they offer. Neglecting these valuable repositories, on the other hand, can lead to detrimental consequences. In this context, Ngozi (2017) defines a library as not just a repository of knowledge but as a dynamic social institution, a critical resource hub providing trustworthy information and dedicated to the preservation of recorded knowledge for the benefit of humanity. Aina (2004) underscores the library's role in collecting, processing, storing, and disseminating recorded information to facilitate reading, study, research, and consultation.

The relentless march of change has ushered in new paradigms in information and knowledge management. This shift has accelerated the transformation of data, information, and knowledge into digital formats. It has witnessed remarkable advances in telecommunication, a deep dive into fiber-optic communication, the proliferation of wireless technology, and the viral growth of software. These developments have provided powerful tools for processing and transmitting information. However, as a consequence of this progress, many scholars have increasingly turned away from traditional libraries, resulting in a decline in the library's patronage and posing a challenge to its fundamental objectives (Abraham and Leavy, 2007).