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The purpose of this paper is to investigate open access practices (OAPs): a roadmap to research paper publications in academic institutions. The rationale that necessitates this scenario was the dwindling nature of the inability of researchers and lecturers/academics in African academic institutions to access related materials in their subject areas, while also advancing effort to publish their research papers in open access.

This paper applied a qualitative research approach, in which literature was harvested from Web of Science for developing and writing the research paper.

This paper establishes that OAP, when embraced, could advance and transform research paper publication in higher education institutions because its practices are globally welcome. The authors reiterate that considering the benefits accrued to OAPs, knowledge gap in terms of literature and methodological approach still exists in academic institutions in Africa; hence, the authors promote OAPs as a roadmap for research paper publications in academic institutions. It is expected that by OAPs, researchers would no longer struggle to harvest literature, of theses, dissertations and other research papers, deposited in institutional repositories required for deepening their research activities because those literature studies or those documents have to be paid for through subscription fees of published papers and publishing in open access by journals. This is what most academics have experienced because, most times, the literature which academics harvest from the internet and different institutional repositories and databases is already paid for by the different institutions that housed the literature where it is domiciled. For instance, most academic library institutions in the world pay for subscription fees of research papers and documents. This is to advance and facilitate deepened research activities in their institutions, when researchers, academics and students want to harvest materials through their university library websites.

This paper, which considers OAP as a roadmap to research paper publications in academic institutions in Africa, is insightful and unique considering the wave of OAP globally.

Libraries are currently undergoing a significant transformation, emerging as dynamic advocates for environmental sustainability, surpassing their conventional roles as mere repositories of knowledge. In today’s world, dominated by the growing climate crisis, these evolving institutions are poised to play a pivotal role in addressing climate change. However, they confront a range of challenges, including the need to establish sustainable operations, provide accessible climate information, engage diverse audiences and uphold ethical standards.

The research methodology used for this study involves an extensive review of literature. The authors analyze existing studies concerning green libraries and their role as catalysts for climate change action globally. This analysis draws from a variety of scholarly sources, encompassing articles, books and reports, to provide a comprehensive overview of the subject.

The findings indicate that despite the aforementioned challenges, libraries in developed countries worldwide have demonstrated noteworthy success through initiatives such as green building projects, community engagement programs, collaborative partnerships, expansion of digital resources, innovative climate literacy initiatives and a commitment to ethical stewardship. These achievements serve as a source of inspiration, fostering hope and spurring action as libraries empower communities to embrace environmental stewardship. They showcase the potential of libraries as catalysts for positive environmental change.

The originality and value of this research lie in its insights into the potential of green libraries initiative as a catalyst for climate change action. Ultimately, this study opens the door to untold literary exploration, revolutionizing the art of green library capacity in the ever-evolving technological landscape. To augment their impact, libraries are encouraged to broaden the scope of their climate education initiatives, expand their digital resources, cultivate strategic collaborations, prioritize ethical responsibility and implement thorough evaluation and communication practices.

The purpose of this study is to investigate artificial intelligence (AI) as enabler of future library services, with consideration to how prepared are librarians in African university libraries.

This study applied the interpretive content/document analysis of literature harvested from different databases of Scopus and Web of Science. AI could be used to perform daily routines in circulation, serial, reference and selective dissemination of information among others. It could also be applied to the provision of innovative services of recognition of library activities such as answering research quarries, cataloguing and classification of library materials and management of library system software of different databases within the library systems.

It could be deduced from the study that AI would continue to serve as a panacea to future library services irrespective of its geographical context. Due to the evolving nature of knowledge growth, AI having its roots in the field of engineering has been found useful to support future library services. The support accrued from library service delivery in the library profession has made librarians continue to interact with other intelligent machines that can demonstrate human behaviour even though they are not real human beings. The behaviour of machines and AI where human beings play a significant role has brought many renovations in the management of complex tasks of processing, communication, knowledge representation, decision making and suggestions, on potentials of diverse work operations.

The understanding that the present paper portrays in the context of future library services is that there is no way the AI could function without a human interaction perspective when drawing an analogy from computer science, information science and information systems fields of study.

The interest of users across their background would be strengthen if AI advances transformed the handling complex tasks of processing, communication, knowledge representation, decision-making and giving suggestions, among other things. The possibilities of diverse work operations from empirical evidence of studies consulted in recent times gave the authors the impetus to consider AI as the enabler of future library services.

The increasing demands from library patrons have prompted librarians to adapt their methods of delivering services. These emerging technologies have also brought about shifts in approaches to teaching and learning. Consequently, the recent surge in digital technology-driven service innovations has ushered in a fresh paradigm for education and research. In response to these changes, librarians are actively seeking novel and innovative technologies to enhance user experiences within their libraries. They serve as catalysts for introducing modern and advanced technologies, consistently adapting to contemporary tools that enhance their offerings.

The purpose of this study is to investigate WhatsApp application for teaching and learning in higher education institutions (HEIs). The consideration for the use of the WhatsApp is based on its usefulness, ease of use, low cost of data and maintenance practices for the functionality of the mobile device used for the WhatsApp.

This paper applied systematic literature review in conceptualizing how WhatsApp application could be used for enhanced teaching and learning in HEIs. Most of the articles used in carrying out this study were harvested from Google Scholar. This study was carried out within three weeks internal

This study established that WhatsApp has also served as a learning and teaching tool which has made majorities of university students, irrespective of their geographical locations, become tech-savvy, self-expressive and open to new ways of doing things, including the use of social network applications. The exposition of the authors based on the findings from this study indicates that through the use of WhatsApp, activity theory of mobile learning postulated by Vygotsky and theory of connectives by George Siemens gave them the understanding surrounding how humans interact with technology through continuous use of tools.

This research carried out has a lot of implications to global HEI due to innovation and practices of teaching learning and research.

WhatsApp application has become the avenue through which people learn and retain and share information and knowledge among themselves for a better quality live scenarios. It has brought a shift from traditional to virtual platform of user experience (UX) in the use of digital technologies.

WhatsApp application for teaching and learning in HEIs established that the impact of WhatsApp on teaching, learning and retention of collocation of knowledge among school students or learners cannot be undermined. The result revealed from this study indicates that there is a shift from traditional to virtual platform which has brought diverse opportunities of transformation the educational systems, enhance productivity and quality service delivery and challenges, where lecturers would have to learn and unlearn through UX of the use of digital technologies.

The purpose of this study is to investigate data literacy (DL) for teaching and learning in higher education institution, as data has become a crucial component in the accomplishment of task and decision-making in diverse sector, specifically higher education institutions (HEIs), where students’ records, results and research activities are managed in data form.

This study adopted the interpretive content/document analysis harvested from database of Web of Science in this study. The use of content/document analysis became essential to establish appropriate empirical evidence that relates to this study. This was to support the argument of detailed systematic examination, which the author establishes in the study. The interpretive content/document analysis was based on systematic literature review on specific objectives.

Findings indicates that DL is crucial in HEIs. Different types of data collection methods, such as rating scale, reporting, questionnaire, interview, observation, checklist, project, registration, assignment and performance test, were noticed in specific institutional cases. Subsequent conceptual and pedagogical foundations in processing data were obtain through continuous reskilling to acquire adequate knowledge and skills of DL. Social media and institutional repository are now used to digitise data. Different types of skills and abilities were used to search, analyse, adopt and share data in HEIs. This study recommends strategies of the use of different databases for data digitisation and creation of awareness on DL education in HEIs in Africa, specifically Nigeria.

This study is insightful with the understanding of DL in HEIs. The significance in this era of digital literacy become essential, as the need to have the knowledge and application of the use of data is important because of how it serves scholar in decision-making and planning in organisational productivity. The rationale towards this study on DL was on the basis that the world is a global village and without data, no organisation or HEIs could function adequately. Several types of data collected, such as rating scale, reporting, questionnaire, interview, observation, checklist, project, registration, assignment and performance test, have transformed institutional cases, for better and quality management operations. The subsequent conceptual and pedagogical foundations in processing data resulted in continuous reskilling, to sharpen learn and unlearn enterprise.

As traditional physical spaces grapple with evolving reading habits and information consumption patterns, the notion of libraries within the metaverse poses intriguing questions about accessibility, knowledge dissemination and the evolving role of librarians. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of metaverse in virtual libraries.

This paper analyzes various literature relating to libraries and the metaverse in the virtual worlds through a review of the literature.

In the ever-evolving landscape of information and technology, the emergence of libraries in virtual worlds presents a transformative paradigm that brings forth both tremendous advantages and intricate challenges. These advantages are underscored by enhanced accessibility for a global audience, interactive engagements that cater to diverse learning styles and the unprecedented scalability that digital environments provide. Virtual libraries hold the potential to reshape the way people access, share and engage with knowledge, while also fostering a sense of community that transcends geographical boundaries.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the original idea that highlights the importance of metaverse in virtual libraries.

This study aims to examine Big Data and the management of libraries in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its implications for policymakers in Nigeria.

A qualitative methodology was used, involving the administration of open-ended questionnaires to librarians from six selected federal universities located in Southwest Nigeria.

The findings of this research highlight that a significant proportion of librarians are well-acquainted with the relevance of big data and its potential to positively revolutionize library services. Librarians generally express favorable opinions concerning the relevance of big data, acknowledging its capacity to enhance decision-making, optimize services and deliver personalized user experiences.

This study exclusively focuses on the Nigerian context, overlooking insights from other African countries. As a result, it may not be possible to generalize the study’s findings to the broader African library community.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is unique because the paper reported that librarians generally express favorable opinions concerning the relevance of big data, acknowledging its capacity to enhance decision-making, optimize services and deliver personalized user experiences.

This paper sets out to elicit the patterns of information storage and retrieval in Nigerian university libraries.

A descriptive survey method was adopted in looking at the various patterns of information storage and retrieval in Nigerian university libraries.

The findings of the research revealed that storage and retrieval devices such as computer hard disks, audio‐tapes, video‐tapes, video‐players, television, Internet, Xerox, database management systems, microforms, CD‐ROM, worm‐disk, magnetic‐optical disk, magnetic tapes, flat files, memory cards and many others are the various patterns through which information/data can be stored and retrieved in Nigerian university libraries. This has brought about widespread technological resources for effective and efficient routine library operations.

This research and its findings will assist Nigerian university libraries and beyond to know how best to care for their information/data storage and retrieval, and ensure that adequate facilities are provided and experts/librarians are trained in such contexts, so as to meet changing trends in the world and in order to satisfy users' information needs.