Harnessing Emerging Technologies in Polytechnic Libraries in North-Central Nigeria for Sustainable Development

Polytechnic libraries in North-Central Nigeria occupy a strategic position in the production of the technical and vocational manpower on which the region's development agenda depends, yet their capacity to harness emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, radio-frequency identification, and chatbot-mediated reference services remains constrained. This paper interrogates how emerging technologies can be deployed by polytechnic libraries to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to quality education, industry and innovation, and partnerships. Anchored on the Technology-Organisation-Environment framework and Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory, the paper adopts a desk-review methodology, synthesising recent empirical and conceptual literature on ICT and emerging technology adoption in Nigerian academic and polytechnic libraries. The discussion establishes that while emerging technologies hold considerable promise for expanding access, improving research support, and repositioning polytechnic libraries as knowledge hubs for sustainable development, adoption is impeded by epileptic power supply, weak internet infrastructure, inadequate funding, limited digital competence among library personnel, and institutional resistance to change. The paper argues that harnessing these technologies for sustainable development requires deliberate policy attention, sustained investment in infrastructure and staff capacity, and stronger collaboration between polytechnic management, government agencies, and development partners. The paper concludes with practical recommendations for library managers, polytechnic administrators, and policymakers in the sub-region.