Enhancing reading culture through library services and digital technology at the newly established Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State

This study explored how It addressed two main research questions: (1) To what extent do library services enhance students' reading culture? (2) How is technology being integrated to support this goal? Using a quantitative crosssectional survey design, the study targeted undergraduate students from the School of Engineering and the School of Science, Information and Communication Technology. A total of 500 copies of questionnaire were distributed, 250 copies in each school. However, where a total of 442 were retrieved. The questionnaire was face validated by experts while internal consistency of the items and achieving a reliability score of 0.89 (Cronbach’s alpha), data collected was analyzed through SPSS version 23 using frequency tables, percentages, for two-way rating scale and mean and standard deviations for Likert-scale metrics. Findings indicate that students appreciate library services such as orientation, borrowing, and printing, which positively impact their reading habits. However, digital services are underutilized and less effective. Participation in non-academic reading activities is also limited. Smartphones are the most commonly used tool for reading (97.2%), while electronic resources like e-books and AI tools are moderately used. More advanced technologies such as VR, AR, and assistive tools have low integration. The study recommends that the university library enhance its digital offerings by integrating advanced technologies to create more engaging and accessible reading experiences.