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The Library and Information Science (LIS) discipline face challenges such as technology applications and information overload in its effort to remain relevant in the challenging job market. This study aims to determine the skills and knowledge needed for LIS professionals in the job market to rethink the current syllabus and offer better future employability.

The research used a survey method to collect data concerning personal information, LIS employment opportunities, job titles and skills needed. Content analysis followed to determine librarianship job listings and the need for LIS graduate jobs in Kuwait.

The findings suggested difficulties and challenges; they also compiled a comprehensive list of skills needed and recommended courses and institutions hiring LIS graduates. The research improves decision-making in syllabus development and experiences recommended by employers.

Academic departments can follow this research to develop and update their syllabuses according to the requirements of the job market, thus offering better future job opportunities.

As LIS graduates are provided with better education, the updating of their employability skills will help them socially by recognising their employment status and economically by raising their pay.

The research is the first in Kuwait to collect LIS job titles and analyse employability needs.

The purpose of this paper is to understand the pervasiveness of mobile devices in ubiquitous access of information. Moreover, the study tries to ascertain the growing demands of mobile devices in library settings.

A survey was administered to gain in-depth information regarding the use of mobile devices and their use in information access. Further, it investigated the general uses of mobile devices in day to day life. The survey also contained some questions aimed at obtaining more comprehensive information about the impediments faced by the students in library settings and the way out.

The study highlights the rapid growth of mobile device usage among students at the College of Basic Education, Public authority for Applied Education and Training, Kuwait, and indicates the urgent need of libraries to the embrace mobile web.

The use of mobile devices in comfort zones demands libraries to disseminate information anytime, anywhere. This study examines the academic library users’ insistence for such services and the competence of libraries to provide services “on the go”.

This paper aims to find out how people use hashtags as a medium of information retrieval and dissemination, and how they are used in social media tools, such as Instagram.

A quantitative question estimated the participants’ use of the hashtags during the workshop. Statistical data of the participants and their posts were collected from social network analysis tools. The posts that included the workshop’s designated hashtags were retrieved, recorded, coded and analysed to collect qualitative data.

In total, 74 (46 per cent) participants used the workshop’s hashtags to share posts, the retrieval of the hashtags declined by time and Google search engine retrieved the maximum results. It was found that a hashtag would be common when associated with descriptors, and that its use depends on its popularity, followers and its survival time. Finally, hashtags connect people, allow them to express their enthusiasm to reveal common interests and networks them through social media tools such as Instagram.

The research limitations were in relation to the participants’ demographic information, the non-identification of their gender and hashtags being misspelt.

The research project summarises the experiences that social media has made connecting easier through the right use of hashtags by providing 24/7 free feedback, the possibility to exchange ideas and by their involvement in promoting and organising events. It also indicates interaction among people sharing the same interest by retrieving subject-based hashtags.

When retrieving information related to hashtags, it is recommended that multi-retrieval systems, social media tools and search engines should be consulted and not depend on a solo system or tool. Future research is recommended in search for a multi-retrieval social media and search engine tool that standardises the use of hashtags and will retrieve information from different platforms.

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive literature review on information and communication skills (ICT) of library and information science (LIS) students in worldwide LIS education and compare them with those skills needed by the job market in Kuwait.

Published literature – articles that may describe the LIS education situation in Kuwait – on the subject were reviewed and compared. In addition, content analysis of relevant web sites, reports, and LIS syllabus were used to provide further documentation and interpretation. The paper reviews ICT skills from the published research perspective; curricula review; professional association guidelines; employers' ICT skills needs; barriers and challenges of ICT adaption; and the ICT situation in Kuwait.

ICT skills have been recognised as essential qualities for LIS graduates’ employment. Various authors have stressed this in different publications. Few reviews on ICT skills were conducted, especially in developing countries such as Kuwait. A more comprehensive literature review on the importance of ICT skills and the job market needs is attempted.

This review will help professionals in reviewing/adding to their curriculum and collaborating with employers to know their ICT skills needs. It will help employers and stakeholders to understand the ICT skills needed for LIS employability. It will also help students and graduates to improve their ICT skills to meet the needs of the job market.

The paper was built upon previous articles, reviews of literature, and has identified certain gaps that have set the ground for further research in ICT skills, curriculum review, and employers’ skills needs.