Academic libraries are undergoing a paradigm shift in the current ICT era. Obstacles in information services, particularly regarding facilitating secure and transparent real-time data access, continue. Blockchain technology-based services (BCTBS) could boost novel solutions and have the potential to boost dissemination and retrieval security, transparency, and information access in academic libraries. This study focused on investigating the elements fostering the adoption of BCTBS in academic libraries using the TOE framework and TAM. This study employed a quantitative approach and a survey-based research design. An internet-based survey was designed to get responses from library personnel across postgraduate colleges, public and private universities (Pakistan). This stratification ensured representation from diverse library environments within the country. We targeted key personnel having direct involvement in process decision-making. A survey questionnaire was meticulously designed based on the hypothesis to analyze the librarian’s willingness to adopt BCTBS in academic libraries. The collected data comprised 258 respondents and were used for rigorous analysis on PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling), Smart-PLS (v.4.1.0.3). In this study, we found that the application of BCTBS adoption in academic libraries of Pakistan is significantly influenced by the following elements/factors such as Comparative Benefit (CB), Suitability (SUIT), Institutional Strategy (IS), and Trust (TRU). PEOU (Perceived ease of use) and PU (Perceived Usefulness) have a significant mediating effect and have a strong foundation among the elements of TOE and TAM toward the Adoption Readiness BCTBS in academic libraries. Furthermore, statistical analysis strengthened reliability and validity by using PLS-SEM for data analysis, which provides solid insights into the determinants influencing BCTBS.
Ali et al. (Thu,) studied this question.