Digital Transformation and Change Management in Libyan Libraries: Insights from Business Administration

Abstract

This research study introduces the PACE model (Predict, Align, Create, Evolve), providing the first comprehensive strategic blueprint designed specifically for digital transformation within Libyan university libraries operating in post-conflict environments. While traditional change management frameworks often assume stable organizational conditions, the PACE model integrates elements from Kotter’s Eight-Step Process, the ADKAR model, and Lewin’s Field Theory to address the unique challenges of environments characterized by hierarchical structures, infrastructure deficits, and resistance to rapid change. Through semi-structured interviews with head librarians, technical teams, and senior university administrators across three major Libyan academic institutions, the study identifies four critical barriers: decimated physical equipment, inconsistent funding cycles, a significant digital skills gap, and psychological resistance rooted in years of instability. The findings demonstrate that digital change in such contexts requires more than just technological acquisition; it necessitates a cultural shift and a phased implementation strategy. The PACE model offers a structured fifteen-month roadmap, including specific weekly tasks, an estimated budget of $22,500, and clear performance indicators. This framework emphasizes that sustainable digital evolution in developing nations depends on forward-looking blueprints, cultural sensitivity, and continuous feedback loops. The study concludes that by applying the PACE model, Libyan academic libraries can transition from traditional repositories to dynamic digital hubs, offering a scalable template for other institutions in the Global South facing similar reconstruction challenges.