Research data management (RDM) has become increasingly recognized within the research community worldwide as critical in ensuring research quality, transparency, and reproducibility. As such, adequate legislation and policy frameworks are needed to guide the processes and ethical issues that may arise. This study examined the legal and policy framework governing RDM practices to recommend...
In the era of rapid data generation, researchers at Kenyan universities face challenges in effectively navigating, interpreting, and managing data. This study proposes a collaborative data literacy framework to enhance Kenyan data literacy initiatives, addressing critical areas for improved outcomes. Despite data ubiquity, researchers encounter management challenges. The primary objective of...
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Governments and organisations globally have developed legislations and regulations governing records management in general and specific contexts. However, such laws and regulations often fail to adequately address the management of records in digital environments. This study sought to examine legal and regulatory frameworks governing digital archives in selected public universities in Kenya,...
Research data are valuable resources that need to be curated and managed by research libraries as they are intricate and complex, irreplaceable, expensive, and time-consuming to replicate. However, The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Act No.17 of 2013 do not define how research data generated by the research institutes should be managed, resulting in poor mechanisms for data curation...
The increasing demand for information by citizens and the need to protect individual data has impacted the provision of information across the world. Access to information in libraries and information centres in Kenya is governed by several laws and regulations that provide citizens with unhindered access to information. Data Protection Act provides for the protection of individual data by the...
Libraries and staff roles within the research ecosystem are expanding rapidly. Globally, there is a rise in mandates and policies from funders and publishers calling for research and associated research data to be made openly available in a FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) way. Researchers bear the brunt of these policies - according to the annual State of Open Data 2022...
This literature review addressed the transformative impact of AI-enabled virtual assistants on user engagement within library settings. It aimed to investigate the role of AI in enhancing library services and user experiences, resources and expertise regardless of time and location. The study focused on AI technologies such as natural language processing and machine learning to be utilised to...
In the fast-growing educational environment, school libraries meet difficulties in keeping abreast of technological progress and remaining applicable in instituting innovation and teaching modern skills. This research is designed to determine the role of technology in school libraries and the extent of its influence on library productivity while paying attention to the challenges and...
This conference paper delves into the critical theme of empowering libraries and information centres within the contemporary knowledge ecosystem, with a specific focus on the sub-theme of knowledge management. Using Umma University as a case study, the study investigates new trends in knowledge management in the 21st century. The problem at hand lies in the challenges faced by libraries and...
This research presents a study of Remnant Vision School (RVS), which, though it has a designated library space, neither has appropriate books nor a trained librarian. This being a mission school, it aims at influencing the surrounding community and, in the past, opened its doors to welcome not only its pupils but also other school-going children in the community for holiday self-reading...
There has been a profound change in the theory and practice of the library and information science (LIS) profession over the years. Now, the "custodian librarian" has grown into a "knowledge manager" and a "digital librarian." Therefore, there is a need to revamp the LIS curriculum according to the present needs and the changing roles of the LIS profession. The objective was to assess the...
This study examined the accessibility and availability of digital resources by assessing the digital literacy status and information access infrastructure for students with visual and hearing impairments in public universities in Kenya. The research sought to identify the challenges that are encountered by students with visual and hearing impairments in their pursuit of knowledge and education...
The changing user demands require libraries to develop unique capabilities to support the delivery of quality teaching, learning, and research. This shift further requires librarians to develop competencies in handling emergent technologies, dissemination of information, scholarly communication and strategy formulation. Nevertheless, there has been an overreliance on conventional ways that...
The university is the birthplace of life-changing ideas aimed at benefiting society. Prominent university community members are postgraduates with a heavy workload of coursework in their disciplines. However, they require digital literacy skills to ensure they can access information and educational resources online effectively, supporting lifelong learning, coursework, and research. Existing...
The dissemination of knowledge and scholarly communication depends heavily on open-access publishing. Open access refers to free and instant online access to research articles paired with the rights to use these articles fully in the digital environment in the context of scholarly communication. However, financial limitations, antiquated academic infrastructure, and misunderstandings about...
A knowledge ecosystem refers to a dynamic network of interconnected entities, including individuals, organizations, institutions, technologies, and resources, all interacting to create, share, and utilize knowledge. Thrives on collaboration, openness, inclusivity, and continuous learning, adapting to changing needs and contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate academic law...
Sustainable development has become a global priority as societies recognize the need to address environmental degradation, social inequality, and economic challenges. The UN member states endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to transform the world by 2030, covering economic development, social development and environmental conservation. Libraries in developed countries promote...
Unlike in the past, public libraries are now a force to reckon with, a force for societal change that calls for new ways of offering services. With an embrace of different knowledge-sharing activities, public libraries can create a comfortable environment that will enable librarians and other key stakeholders to contribute and benefit from the growth of a solid national knowledge-sharing...
The study aimed to assess the status of information literacy skills (ILS) among medical undergraduate students in two Kenyan public universities and propose a framework to enhance ILS training and learning. Medical students require ILS competencies to effectively identify, locate, retrieve, evaluate, synthesise, and utilise information due to the growing complexity of library collections and...
This case study highlights the communication challenges faced by large library organisations, using an art institution in London with six campus libraries as an example. The focus is on understanding the communication structure across these libraries and addressing the issue in the age of the "great disconnection," where effective communication and connection in disconnected workplaces are...
The digital revolution has ushered in a new era for Kenyan academic libraries, expanding their roles as repositories of knowledge and information. However, this transition has not been without challenges, with data security emerging as a critical concern. This study delves into the multifaceted world of data security in Kenyan academic libraries, aiming to comprehensively assess the current...
This study performs a critical investigation of academic libraries, focussing on their engagement with and responsibilities to the wider society. It examines the roles and contributions which academic libraries make to society beyond their host higher educational institutions, which are often referred to as ivory towers that distance themselves from societal realities. This study is done in...
