Digital transformation in higher education and library automation: An analytical study of evolution, barriers, and future trajectories

The study analyses how digital transformation in higher education drives the evolution of library automation, emphasizing the interplay between technological adoption, institutional readiness, and human capacity. Anchored in the Diffusion of Innovation theory this research employs a descriptive–analytical design using secondary data. Comparative trend analysis across global and Indian contexts reveals five automation phases: manual operations, early computerization, integrated systems, digital transformation, and AI-driven automation. Findings show a steady increase in automation adoption from 12% in 2000 to 92% in 2025, but institutional disparities persist due to uneven ICT infrastructure, funding constraints, and skill deficits. The trend indicates while automation has reached technical maturity yet institutional acceptance still remains uneven- the persistence of socio-digital division across Indian higher education. The paper concludes with a framework linking automation maturity to academic innovation outcomes.