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Digital preservation of theses and dissertations (TDs) is crucial for the archiving (long-term preservation) of intellectual content of undergraduate and postgraduate students in universities. This paper aims to investigate the digitization of TDs in three selected academic libraries in Oyo State, south-west Nigeria.

Descriptive survey research design was used for this study. The instrument for data collection was the questionnaire. The study comprised 78 professionals and paraprofessional librarians in the three selected university libraries in Oyo State.

The study revealed that digital preservation of TDs in university libraries is at the developmental stage. Also, the study revealed that most participants strongly agreed that the main purpose for embarking on the digital preservation of TDs was to influence the web ranking of the institutions. Web archiving was the widely adopted method of digital preservation in university libraries. Poor information and communication technology infrastructure, absence of policy and poor funding were identified as major challenges militating against the effective digital preservation of theses in the libraries. Hence, it was recommended that the management of university libraries should be more committed to providing substantial funds to meet the financial obligation for digital preservation initiatives.

The study provides insight into a case study of digitization of theses and dissertation i academic libraries in three selected universities to serve as a basis for further research.

This study aims to examine the current status and different characteristic features of research data repositories established by BRICS nations in order to understand the research data infrastructure within BRICS countries.

The data were collected from the re3data repository (http://www.re3data.org/), focusing specifically on BRICS nations. The data were analyzed to grasp the current status of research data repositories in BRICS countries. The dataset was retrieved on March 2, 2024. A total of 195 Research Data Repositories (RDRs) originating from BRICS countries were identified and selected for comprehensive analysis.

As of March 2, 2024, re3data.org indexes a total of 3,192 Research Data Repositories (RDRs) worldwide, with BRICS nations contributing 195. China leads among BRICS nations, followed by India, Russia, and Brazil. Scientific and Statistical Formats are the most shared content categories, followed closely by Standard Office Documents. There is notable diversity in the subjects covered by RDRs across BRICS nations. English is the primary interface language, followed by Chinese and Portuguese. “House, tailor-made” software is widely used for creating RDRs, followed by Dataverse and DSpace. Fourteen metadata standards are found, with Dublin Core metadata being the most prevalent, followed by the DataCite Metadata Scheme. Most repositories are disciplinary, followed by institutional ones. Most repositories specify data upload types, with “restricted” being the most common, followed by closed types. Open access is predominant in data access, followed by restricted access and embargo periods, while a small number restrict access entirely.

The present study will help gauge the strengths and weaknesses of the RDRs of BRICS nations and also learn how open these RDRs are for data access and upload provisions. The study contributes to a broader comprehension of the accessibility and usability of research data within the BRICS community, ultimately fostering greater transparency, collaboration, and knowledge dissemination within the scientific community, thus fostering greater innovation and advancement in research endeavors. The study provides a nuanced understanding of the research data infrastructure within BRICS nations, highlighting key trends, strengths, and areas for potential improvement.

This research aims to develop a conceptual framework that explores the influence of open-source software (OSS) on the sustainability of library services within the context of academic libraries in Bangladesh.

The study uses a comprehensive research methodology that includes literature review and analysis to construct a robust conceptual framework. This study investigates the various dimensions of OSS adoption and its impact on library service sustainability.

The research findings reveal the critical factors and mechanisms through which OSS can positively affect the sustainability of library services. This study identifies key drivers and challenges associated with the adoption of open-source solutions in the context of Bangladesh academic libraries.

The framework developed in this research offers practical insights for academic libraries in Bangladesh seeking to adopt OSS solutions. This study guides how to leverage these technologies to enhance the sustainability of library services in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

This study contributes to the academic literature by presenting a novel conceptual framework tailored to the unique context of Bangladesh academic libraries. This study adds value by addressing the specific challenges and opportunities related to OSS adoption and its implications for library service sustainability in this region.

The purpose of this study is to outline the process, procedures and techniques used for digitization and digital preservation of theses and dissertations (TDs) collection at the Central Library of Quaid-I-Azam University, Pakistan.

Since the phenomenon under investigation is exploratory in nature, a case study qualitative paradigm was used to conduct this study.

The findings of the study offer a brief overview of the cost-effective solution that leveraged in-house expertise for the digital preservation of TDs. This led to the establishment of a knowledge repository hosting a substantial collection of approximately 25,857 electronic theses and dissertations, accessible online since August 2023. This project digitally preserved approximately 9,387 TDs on CDs/DVDs, and scanned about 15,000 print TDs, comprising around 1,399,244 pages. The cost incurred per page, including labor and rent of a photocopy machine, was just Rs 0.548 making it a cost-effective technique. The total cost incurred for this process was just 0.768m Pakistani rupees (equivalent to $2,509.55). The findings revealed key challenges, including administrative, financial, technical and copyright issues, that impede the effective execution of the project.

This case study is limited to one Pakistani public sector university library. This case study holds significance in terms of practical insights and implications for academic institutions and library administrators in other developing countries like Pakistan, which have similar economic, social and technical circumstances.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first-ever study conducted to elucidate the cost-effective strategy adopted for digitally preserved TDs without additional financial and human resources while creating a knowledge repository.

This study aims to assess the digital literacy of African library and information science (LIS) professionals. Digital literacy skills are required in the digital library environment.

Relevant literature was reviewed on this topic; previous study questionnaires, various university LIS curriculum, content analysis and job advertising were used for preparing the survey questionnaire. This study used an ex post facto research design. Purposive sampling was adopted in this study, and data were collected from Google form by sharing the research questionnaire by hyperlink which was undertaken from March 15, 2022 to May 24, 2022. The data were collected by a structured questionnaire. A four-point Likert scale was used to measure how library professionals acquired digital literacy skills. Content analysis of more than 500 job vacancies over the past three years (2018–2022) of library job advertisements was taken randomly.

This study’s findings show that the majority of the good at basic level of digital literacy skills at the same time have less in advanced digital literacy skills. The finding of this study shows the majority of them have to upgrade and learn about advanced digital literacy skills.

This study recommends adopting a new syllabus and updating a LIS curriculum based on the library’s technological development. Furthermore, this study’s potential result suggests more practical classes instead of theoretical study and it is useful to the library schools, associations, MOOC providers and lifelong learners.

This study is conducted with 102 African library professionals from 13 countries. This study discusses futuristic digital literacy skills and basic literacy skills. This study is beneficial to those who are preparing a new curriculum in LIS fields.

The purpose of this study is to navigate the process of transforming Wikipedia articles into audio files for library readers. The system provides a feasible manner of listening to Wikipedia content, accommodating diverse learning preferences and enlarging knowledge in education society.

This framework has been constructed using the Python programming languages in the Linux operating platform. Application programming interface and Google text-to-speech (TTS) are required as additional software packages to design this prototype system. Transform any Wikipedia pages into audio files through Wikitrola for libraries and information centers. Wikipedia articles are directly transformed into audio, as these integrate the content seamlessly for the user experience. The whole system has been designed and configured on the basis of machine learning to provide dynamic services among the readers.

The viewer could use the machine learning system to turn Wikipedia articles into audio files, allowing them to listen to Wikipedia content in audio format. This would make information more accessible and adaptable to diverse learning modes, allowing written content to be engaged in novel and visionary ways.

The insightful observation in connection with the paper is that it shows how to convert text-based material into audio through the Google TTS and machine learning Python programming and finally incorporate them in Wikipedia articles. A harmonious system of information dissemination and technical education is established. This approach shows the effectiveness of imagination and the use of programming tools to enhance learning and knowledge-seeking processes.

Kerala is considered to be the must-see locations in a life time of a tourist. Tourism has become an important vital cog in the economy of the state of Kerala. The state boasts of an excellent road and rail networks, lakes and natural canals and the backwaters. The study was done in the back water destinations – Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam and Kuttanad. The study was carried out to learn about the relationship between the brand name of the backwater tour operator, the offers they give and the selection of backwater destination post-COVID-19. This descriptive study was conducted through a survey method. The study used qualitative approach by using a questionnaire and the total sample composed of 400 respondents. Analysis was done with the help of chi-square. The researcher found that there exists a significant relation between offers in tour package and backwater destination, but there is no significant relation existing between brand name and selection of a backwater destination.

Given that Indian languages in general are under-represented on the internet and that languages of minority linguistic groups find very little space on digital platforms, it is imperative for institutions such as libraries to cater to smaller communities and their educational needs while also reaching out to them in their own languages. This study aims to deliberate on strategies for enlisting community support for gathering diverse learning resources in different languages and for enlisting participation in activities such as crowdsourcing in initiatives such as annotations and transliteration.

This paper calls for interventions that imagine and create infrastructure for the flourishing of smaller libraries that can draw from and feed into large-scale national and international libraries. Offering a conceptual framework to rethink the country’s approach toward minor languages, it first offers an overview of policies and initiatives relevant to the concerns of minor languages in digital libraries in India. Based on the policy analysis, it then goes on to suggest starting points for policy designers and custodians of libraries to help them work toward better representation of languages in their resources.

The existing frameworks analyzed here for the greater or representation of minor Indian languages reveal a culture of silence toward the issue of language. With some advocacy, these frameworks can be mined to craft different ways that are critical not just for enriching libraries but also for preservation of cultural heritage of the communities concerned, thus adding a larger social dimension to the question of access.

While a lot of socio-political discourse on minority languages in India exists, this study pushes for their bearing on digital libraries, educational frameworks and cultural heritage.

Although universities have extensive research and initiatives in place that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is still a significant gap in documenting and assessing these efforts. This paper aims to discuss how academic libraries can apply their information management skills and open-access platforms, to facilitate the discoverability and retrieval of evidence on SDGs.

Introduced by a brief literature review on the role of libraries in contributing to the SDGs in general, the authors draw on their personal experiences as metadata specialists, participating in a project aimed at linking their university’s research output to the SDGs. A case study, from the University of Pretoria’s Veterinary Science Library, is used as an example to demonstrate the benefits of resourceful metadata in organising, communicating and raising awareness about the SDGs in the field of veterinary science.

Through practical examples and recommended workflows, this paper illustrates that metadata specialists are perfectly positioned to apply their information management skills and library platforms to facilitate the discoverability and retrieval of evidence on SDGs.

Although there are increasing reports on the contributions of libraries to support the successful implementation of the SDGs, limited information exists on the role of metadata specialists, as well as those with a practical focus.