Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Role of Infrastructure Adequacy in the Adoption of Digital Book Production and Distribution Hardware
Date of this Version
8-7-2018
Document Type
Article
Citation
Ifeduba, Emmanuel and Christopher, Nkechi (2018).Role of Infrastructure Adequacy in the Adoption of Digital Book Production and Distribution Hardware, Library Philosophy and Practice
Abstract
Digital book production machines are adopted in many academic and educational environments to enhance book production and distribution beyond what could be accomplished through the printed book. In developing economies like Nigeria where book production and distribution is badly affected by poor infrastructure, adoption of these machines is likely to make a positive difference, but it appears that publishers are not eager to adopt them for reasons yet to be clearly understood. Explanations in available literature revolve around infrastructure deficit in the areas of power supply, telecommunication bandwidth, postal facilities, Internet service providers (ISP) facilities, digital content developers, venture capital and e-payment instruments. This study, therefore, investigated the extent of adoption of print on demand (POD) distribution machines and compact disc (CD/DVD) replicating machines in Nigeria using a survey design involving 109 publishers selected purposively. Findings indicate that adoption level is low (POD, 9.2%; CD/DVD, 12%) and interest very high (POD, 61.5%; CD/DVD, 61.5%). Only the perceived adequacy of digital contents development facilities and financial facilities played statistically significant roles in the adoption level of print on demand machines and CD/DVD replicating machines. Thus, it could be inferred that infrastructure adequacy plays a significant role in digital hardware adoption but not as extensively as the literature purports.