"The Quality of Information Available on Social Media and Its Impact on the Future of University Libraries from the Users' Perspective"

Abstract

This research explores the quality of information available on social media and its        impact on the future role of libraries, with a particular focus on the perspectives of faculty members, students, and university staff. The rapid rise of social media as a primary source of information necessitates evaluating its credibility and its impact on library interaction. A questionnaire was distributed to 35 faculty members, 120 students, and 150 participants from the Southern Technical University (university staff in its various branches in Dhi Qar Governorate). The research assesses the reliability of social media information and its correlation with library usage patterns. The results revealed significant disparities among the three groups. Faculty members expressed greater skepticism about the reliability of information on social media, while students and staff were more inclined to consider social media a reliable source. This reflects a broader trend toward relying on digital platforms for immediate access to information. Furthermore, the results indicate that social media does not diminish library usage among students and university staff, but rather reflects a growing tendency to turn to digital resources instead of traditional libraries. The research emphasizes the need for libraries to adapt to the digital landscape by integrating comprehensive digital services such as e-books, electronic databases, and digital archives to maintain the importance and role of these libraries. In addition, the research calls for strengthening information literacy programs with the aim of improving users' ability to critically evaluate the credibility of electronic content. The research concludes that libraries must evolve by integrating physical and digital resources to meet the needs of information seekers in the modern era and make them vital institutions for promoting information reliability, digital literacy, and combating media misinformation